The west coast of Essos, separated from Westeros by the Narrow Sea.
Essos is the immense landmass to the east of Westeros. The Free Cities are located on its north-western shores.
Locations of note in Essos
- The Free Cities, former colonies of Valyria before its fall.
- The Disputed Lands - between Lys and Myr.
- The River Rhoyne.
- The ruins of Valyria.
- The ruins of Ghis, Valyria's old great rival.
- Slaver's Bay - founded by descendants of Ghis just as the Free Cities are descended from Valyria.
- The slaver cities of Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen.
- The Dothraki sea - the vast grasslands of the interior.
- The Red Waste - harsh deserts east of the Dothraki sea.
- Lhazar - between the Dothraki sea and Slaver's Bay.
- Qarth - a great trading hub east of Slaver's Bay, south of the Red Waste, and west of the Jade Sea.
- Asshai - in the far east, across the Jade Sea.
- The Shadow Lands - east of Asshai.
In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, Essos is a vast continent, several times larger than Westeros. It is oriented further south and is separated from the northern polar icecap by a body of water known as the Shivering Sea. It is divided into several regions.
The western coastal region is controlled by the nine Free Cities (Braavos, Pentos, Norvos, Qohor, Tyrosh, Lorath, Lys, Myr and Volantis) and contains several other features of note, such as the Velvet Hills and the region known as Andalos (the ancient homeland of the Andals). This area is watered by the immense River Rhoyne and its numerous tributaries. In the south of this region is the Disputed Lands, so-called for they are contested over by several of the Free Cities. The island of Ibben lies off the northern coast and the islands of the Stepstones lie off the south-western coast.
The continental interior is held by the warrior clans known as the Dothraki, who control a vast central region of steppe and plains known as the Dothraki Sea.
The south-central region of the continent is an area known as Slaver's Bay, with the shattered peninsular of Valyria located to the west and the great slave cities of Meereen, Astapor and Yunkai located to the east. East of this region, further along the coast, lies the great trading city of Qarth. Beyond Qarth lies the vast and fabled Jade Sea. The forbidding Red Waste separates the Dothraki Sea from Qarth and the north-western shores of the Jade Sea. Beyond the Jade Sea, although still reachable by land, lies the exotic city-state of Asshai and the mysterious Shadow Lands that lie beyond.
The name 'Essos' is obscure and little-known, with 'the east', 'the eastern continent' or 'beyond the Narrow Sea' more often used to describe the landmass.