Forodwaith or Forod was the name of the northern, frozen wastelands of Middle Earth, beyond the Grey Mountains and the latitude of the Mountains of Angmar. The extended to the Icebay of Forochel at the north-western corner of Eriador, and were sparsely inhabited by the Forodwaith people.
The region was once inhabited by a hardy Mannish folk, the Forodwaith who gave the region its name. One of the Ringwraiths was said to have been a lord of Forod. However in later years (possibly suffering by the Witch-king of Angmar) their remnants retreated to the Cape of Forochel.
The Northern Waste also housed many evil creatures during times in whic the Dark Lord lie dormant. Orcs lived here after Sauron's defeat in the Second Age, before being recruited into the service of the Witch-King of Angmar. Dragons multiplied in the Withered Heath, beside the Grey Mountains, of which Smaug was the last great Fire drake. Cold-drakes came from the Northern Waste and drove the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains out of their homes, and most of the Dwarves then moved to Erebor and the Iron Hills.