
Dorne's true military numbers have not yet been revealed, though George R. House Martell has never corrected this claim, in order to make Dorne appear stronger. However, when, following his conquest of Dorne, King Daeron I Targaryen wrote his book called The Conquest of Dorne, he exaggerated the quantity of his opponents to enhance his victory. The Martells are believed to be able to raise fifty thousand soldiers, both by Dornishmen and people from other provinces of the Seven Kingdoms. Military strengthĪ phalanx of House Martell spearmen, by Diego Gisbert © Fantasy Flight Games As the port is located at the mouth of the Greenblood, often the orphans of the Greenblood come to trade, spreading the goods up and down the river. Ships from across the narrow sea find the Planky Town a convenient harbor and come there to trade. Before crossing the deep sands of the Dornish desert for the Prince's Pass, caravans take on supplies at Sunspear. In Sunspear's shadow city, numerous bazaars can be found.

Though they are smaller than regular warhorses and lightboned, unable to bear the weight of armor, they can run for near two days and a night before tiring, needing only a few drinks of water over the course of a day and a night. They are considered to be the most beautiful horses in the Seven Kingdoms. These horses are slim and swift, with elegant heads, long necks, and flowing manes. įabled are the sand steeds bred by the Dornish. Strongwines from Dorne are as dark as blood, with a sweet taste. These wines are generally sour, though they occasionally can be more rich of taste. The Dornish produce their own wines, often called "Dornish reds". Harvesting oranges in Dorne, by Paolo Puggioni © Fantasy Flight Games Martin, Dorne is partially inspired by Wales, Spain, and Palestine. It is ridden with cliffs, whirlpools, and hidden shoals, with few safe landings. The southern coast is some four hundred leagues long. There is another river in northern Dorne which flows near Yronwood to the Sea of Dorne, but its name is as yet unknown. The Wyl flows across the Boneway in northern Dorne to the Sea of Dorne. The Torentine has its source in the Red Mountains of western Dorne and ends at Starfall along the Summer Sea. The Brimstone in southern Dorne flows past the Hellholt to the Summer Sea. The trading port called Planky Town is located at the mouth of the Greenblood along the Summer Sea. The major Dornish river is the Greenblood in southeastern Dorne, which is formed by the Vaith and the Scourge near Godsgrace. Inland water is almost as valuable as gold, and wells are jealously guarded. Sun stroke in the sands of Dorne, by Jarreau Wimberly © Fantasy Flight Gamesĭorne's rivers provide some fertile lands and even during a long summer there is enough rain and other supplies of water to keep Dorne habitable. The lords of House Vaith, for instance, are known as the Lords of the Red Dunes, while nobles of old who settled desert oases called themselves the Lords of the Wells. Eastern Dorne largely consists of dry, stony soil ill-suited for agriculture, while western Dorne contains deserts of red and white sand. Most of Dorne south of the Red Mountains is an arid wasteland.
Sunspear and the Water Gardens, both controlled by the ruling House Martell, are located in southeastern Dorne.

The Prince's Pass leads to Nightsong, while the Boneway leads to Summerhall. There are two major passes, the Boneway and the Prince's Pass, which go through the Red Mountains to the Dornish Marches of the stormlands. Stretched between them is the mountain range known as the Red Mountains, which separates Dorne from the stormlands to the north and the Reach to the northwest and west. Dorne is bordered by the Sea of Dorne to the north, the islands known as the Stepstones to the east, and the Summer Sea to the south.

The region is rocky, mountainous, arid and dry, and features the only desert on the continent.
