1. How do the Dwarves keep water from coming down their
light-shafts? For that matter, how do they arrainge drainage
throughout the whole of Moria? It’s a major concern in human mines of any
serious depth.
Do you live in an old house with an attic? Ventilation shafts can be
somewhat leaky, but only have to be angled correctly to discourage water from
ter away. Helps to have a slope away from the mountain at the base of the
shaft opening. A decent army ranger could build one today. BTW, if
the shaft is high enough above ground and in a curvature it could leak like a
sieve and you wouldn't notice much at ground level.
As far as drainage, it's only a concern if the mine lies under the top of the
water table. Very common in the US with limestone as bedrock, but we
don't have any evidence of this in Moria. In fact G and the Balrog fall
about 2 miles before they hit water. If there is a water table, given the
size of Moria, a decent Dwarf would build a housing section on top of it, and
then burrow under it, but wouldn't go right thru it. My guess is water
tables determine the layout of Moria.
4. Is it really feasable to have such a large city with only two rather
constricted exits? Should we not presume many dwarf-doors, secret and now
forgotten?
yes, many many many secret doors.
5. What could that bridge be made of ? A single slender arch of
fifty feet that has stood unmaintained for over a thousand years?
the secret is the arch shape, not the material. a paper bridge with the
right dimensions could last 1000 years - well with the right amount of
formaldehyde and plastic
coating.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
