Why is northern Eriador (Lake Evendim, Fornost) deserted at the end of the 3rd Age?

[Snowdog]

Originally Posted by Arathul

Annuminas were not abandoned when Angmar defeat the Dunedain like Fornost. it was abandoned before that and the king moved the capital to Fornost. I believe it was because of the increase threat from angmar. Annuminas, assumably less fortified then Fornost (it's a city, not a fortress) were exposed to an attack by Angmar forces. and so the king moved the capital to Fornost. The same thing happen in Gondor when the capital moved from Osgiliath to Minas Anor and the City over the great river were abandoned.

Yer right. Thats why I said it was simply abandoned sometime in the first milenium of the third age. Exactly when it was abandoned is open to speculation but by the time if the split in the kingdom of Arnor in Third Age 861, it had been completely abandoned. Elrond mentions the city at the Council of Elrond, saying only that

'...after the war and slaughter of the Gladden Fields the Men of Westernesse were diminished, and their city of Annúminas beside Lake Evendim fell into ruin; and the heirs of Valandil removed and dwelt at Fornost...'

So by saying 'heirs' it could be anytime between Third Age 249 and 861.