Map of the Nine Norse Worlds

Map of the Nine Norse Worlds - A3 - 2014

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This is a map of the Nine cosmic worlds of the Norse mythology, as if those were continents. In fact, it isn't written in the lore that the Nine realms of the Norse cosmology are actual worlds, I think that concept may have been created by Marvel and other sources. In the lore its actually written that there are oceans, rivers, mountains, plains and bridges that separate the realms and one might get across through land or water. I have created this map by reading the lore; the ancient writings left by those who knew and spread the knowledge of the Nine cosmic realms of the Norse mythology.

Asgard - It is the smallest of the continents but the most detailed. The land of the Aesir; where Valhalla lies, and many other famous Halls such as Folkvangr (in the land with the same name), Fensalir, Sessrumnir, Bilskirnir, Vingolf, Noatun, Valaskjalf, Thrymheim, Himinbjorg, Gladsheim (and the plains to the east with the same name) Thrudheim II, Landvidi, Glitnir, Breidablik and so on. Also the land of Idavoll and Vigrid are there, the yew forest Ydalir and the islands of Vidblair and Andlavg.

Jotunheim - To the East of Asgard the immense continent of Giants, Ogres, Trolls among other beings. This is the only continent that I have misinterpreted, I forgot that the southern parts of Jotunheim not only cover the North of Midgard, but also the East. The natural barrier between Jotunheim and Asgard is the river Thunder Twitter and the natural southern barrier with Midgard is the river of salt water (coming from the ocean) the Elivagar. People often mistake Jotunheim with Niflheim. Contrary to what people might think, Jotunheim is actually a beautiful land and not at all covered with ice and snow, but it is a very dangerous realm and forbidden to most. Everything in this realm is quite big, everything is larger than usual.  In this continent in the northern parts lies Hyndla's Hall, Thrymheim, the forest of Galgvid, the Mountain chain of Nidfjoll, Gastropnir, Mimirsbrumr, etc. To the south lies the famous city of Utgard, the Jarnvidur forest (Ironwood), Grotte, the river Elivagar and to the West in the ocean between Jotunheim and Ljossalfheim and Vanaheim, Aegir's Hall - Aegirheim and many islands, among which the Laufey island and Allgron.

Ljusalfheim / Alfheim - To the south of Asgard the land of the Elves, in which many races of Elves live, but the Light-Elven race has more power. An ever changing land, beautiful but too divided amongst the Elves kind. It is filled with rivers, lakes and forests. Here lies one of Freyr's Hall and to the south there is a underground entrance in the mountains that leads to Svartalfheim.

Vanaheim - To the West of Asgard and Ljusalfheim, the land of the Vanir. It stretches all the way to the eastern ocean that divides Vanaheim with Jotunheim. This land doesn't have any city nor big towns, just an handful of villages dotting the landscape. Njord also has an Hall in here facing Asgard. There are also many other Halls in Vanaheim, such as Freyr's Hall, the Hall of Freyja, Nehalennia/Nehallenia, Frodi, Nerthus,  Billing and so on. There aren't many forests in Vanaheim, however, Barri forest is the most famous and the biggest there.There are many rivers, rolling hills and farmlands and right in the center of Vanaheim, a huge lake with and island that also has a lake with another island where Nerthus Hall stands.

Svartalfheim / Svartaheim - To the South of Vanaheim. Most people think that near Svartalfheim there is also another world/realm called Nidavellir, but in truth, that is part of Svartalfheim. Here lies the land of Joruvellir and its southern swamps, where Aurvangar and its many burial mounds were built. Here the Dokkalfar (Dark Elves) and the Duergar (Dwarves) share the land, but each of the races live under a tenuous peace and have their own places where both races don't have to deal with each other. Ivaldi has an Hall here, somewhere above a great mountain, and the goddess Niorun also dwells in these lands, along with the blind god Hodr which was sent there after his death. Finally, this is where the great Dwarven city Nidavellir was built long ago; beneath the cold and rocky soil of Svartalfheim. From every corner of the Nine realms, all come here to trade with the Dwarves. Only a small part of Nidavellir is known, because most of it is a huge labyrinth of alleys, halls, temples, houses, workshops that stretch for miles underneath Svartalfheim.

Midgard - According to the lore, Midgard isn't just our world, apparently, there is also a land where the human specie lives. Midgard lies to the southwest of Jotunheim, north of Muspelheim and to the east of Vanaheim and Svartalfheim. Here the Aesir built a fortress called Ysetur to watch over the North and the river Elivagar. There is also a land to the north, called Ulfdalir (Wolf dales), but not because this is a land filled with wolves, on the contrary, this is a land filled with renegade dangerous humans. To the South and Southeast lies the forest of Myrkwood, a natural barrier between Midgard and Muspelheim.

Niflheim - To the South of Svartalfheim, the land of snow, ice and frost. Living creatures can only be seen in the northernmost parts, where the ice melts and the land breaks, and forms thousands of islands, including Lyngvi island with its lake called Amsvartnir, where the Wolf Fenrir is kept in chains. Niflheim is also the home of the frost giants and where the great well Hvergelmir lies. The major rivers that flow from Hvergelmir are so named: Svol, Gunnthra, Fiorm, Fimbulthul, Hrid, Sylg and Ylg, Vid, Leiptr, Sid, Vid, Sekin, Ekin, Gipul, Gopul, Gomul, Geirvimul, Thyn, Vin, Tholl, Boll, Grad, Gunnthrain, Nyt, Not, Nonn, Hronn, Vina, Veg, Svinn, Thiodnuma, Slidr and the great river Gjöll that flows into Helheim.

Muspelheim - The land of fire and dust, to the South of Midgard and North of Helheim. Not much is known about this realm, except for the fact that in the North the Myrkwood forest is one of the barriers between Midgard and Muspelheim, and its southern half (Entering Muspelheim) is scorched. It is only relatively safe to walk along the western coast. To the South, the ocean rips the land and the only way into Helheim is through the great Naglfari bridge. In Muspelheim, the great fire giant Surt rules over all who live there.

Helheim - Finally, to the South of Muspelheim and to the East of Niflheim, the realm of the dead and the goddess Hela is shrouded by the mists coming from the West, and the hot winds from the North. Most people associate this realm to sorrow, darkness and evil, but that's just the christianised point of view. Helheim is protected by black stone walls, towers and gates, including the famous Helgrind gate and the road of the dead that passes through it and goes right into the center of this realm, the Helvegr road. There are a lot of hidden passages in Helheim, that lead to the lands of the dead. Unlike what people think, the lands of the dead are beautiful, and it's always Autumn there. However, the sky is indead dark, because half of the year it's night there. In Helheim lies the Hall of Nastrond by the northeastern bay. Eljudnir (Hela's Palace/Hall) in the lore is in the realm of Niflheim and not Helheim, but these two realms are attached in the west, in the land where the great waterfall of Franangr pours its water and the river Gjoll keeps running into the heart of Helheim. "Hel" isn't just a name, its also a title given to the one who rules  and keeps the dead and takes care of them, so it is possible that the previous Hel had her palace in Niflheim. Hel/Hela, the daughter of Loki, now rules over the entire realm and her Hall is in Helheim.

This is a summary of each of the Nine realms. If you want more information about them, please feel free to ask me or ask me anonymously at ask.fm/ArithHarger