Durmstrang School & Hogwarts.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 155039

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Geoff Bannister"
<gbannister10 at ...> wrote:
>
> Durmstrang School
> 
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn@> wrote:
> 
> hagrid:
> > > Where do you think Drumstrang is?
> 
> bboyminn:
> >
> > After carefull analysis, here is where I think Durmstrang is
> >  ...
> >
> > "Where in the World is Durmstrang?"
> > http://bluemoonmarket.homestead.com/files/murmansk/pg1.htm
> >
> > It is on the Murmansk/Kola Peninsula of North Western Russia,
> > north of St. Petersburg in an area just east of Finland. 
> > ... it is more likely in a large unpopulated area south west
> > of Murmansk in a mountainous region near the Finland boarder
> > - see maps.
> 
> Geoff:
> Steve, this is not the first time you have raised this question.
> 
> Back in message 84004, which was in a long thread about the location
> of Hogwarts, you slipped in the following comment::
> 
> "bboy_mn:
> 
> <snip>
> 
> Durmstang-
> Surely the Russian Murmansk peninsula just east of Northern
> Finland.
> 
> <snip>
> 
> Can I prove that? No! But all three locations fit the books 
> very closely.
> 
> Just a thought.
> 
> bboy_mn"

> Geoff continues: 
> In the Hogwarts discussion, I tried to present specific 
> evidence which pointed to such places as Rannoch Moor or
> the Knoydart peninsula.
> 
> Can you expand on why you particularly favour the Murmansk
> area against other places in that sort of location, such 
> as parts of Finland or further east in Russia?
> 
> I'm not questioning your choice, because I don't know the
> area, but am interested to know the clues which led you to
> that conclusion.
>

bboyminn:

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond, I find if very difficult to
keep track of threads under the new Yahoo format.

First regarding Hogwarts -

Where in the World is Hogwarts?
http://www.homestead.com/BlueMoonMarket/Files/Hogwarts/hogwarts1.htm

I've picked areas that are Inland, are vast open areas with limited
populations, but still moderately close to rail lines.

I've chosen inland areas because we get no references or inference in
the books to the sea being even remotely close by.

If you look at my maps you will see Yellow Dots that represent towns
and villages, white lines for rail, and red lines for roads. I've pick
vast expanses that do not have villages in them. The ones I like best
are in the Highlands (1a and 1b), though the Grampian Mountains (3)
areas appeal to me on various occassion depending on my mood.

So, vast expanses of inland areas with mountains and lakes, near but
not right on a rail line, and generally far from roads. Also, keep in
mind that I've made my judgements without direct knowledge of
Scotland; I've done it strictly with maps, so certainly my logic could
be flawed.

I reject the two areas that you suggest because they are too coastal,
and they appear to be popular tourist areas. 

Rannoch Moor-
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/rannoch/rannochmoor/index.html
See map; upper right.

Knoydart Peninsula-
http://www.wildernessscotland.com/trip-29
Scroll down a bit; map on left.

Though I admit from the photos I've found both areas you suggest look
very rugged. Note that both locations can be Googled to see more photos.

As far as Durmstrang, it seems to have an Eastern European/Russian
feel to it, that in my mind eliminates Scandinavia (Finland, Sweden,
Norway). Many people have suggested Russia, but apparently the only
place in Russia they know of is Siberia which is completely wrong in
my mind. So, the Kola Peninsula is very close to Scandinavia, it is
Russian, it has forests, mountain (of sorts), and lakes, is very far
north, and is a very remote desolate area, an area where a magic
school could easily be hidden.

I've also stayed away from coastal towns in the Kola Peninsula because
most of those are Russian Military Ports.

It could be in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, or Belorussia but those are
all very small countries that seem to lack the geographic fretures we
are looking for, and they don't seem far enough north.

Also, when the books speak of the three major schools of magic in
Europe, I don't think Scandinavia is included in that expression of
'Europe'. Scandinavia seems, from the various reference books, to have
it's own tradition of magic, and would most likely have it's own
schools of magic. So again, in my mind, that eliminates Scandinavia as
the location for Durmstrang. 

For the record, I am also making a website "Where in the World are
Giants?", and given Hagrid's description and geographic references,
they are most likely to be found in the Ural Mountains of Russia.
Sadly, it is very difficult to come up with good pictures of the Ural
Mountains because the Russians have some secret military bases there
and don't like people taking pictures. None the less, the geographic
references are drawing a line straight toward the Ural Mountains.

One last and final point, I also located Grimmauld Square in London,
as was wondering if anyone was familiar with this area.

I posted my speculation in the Off-Topic Group-

"Found! Grimmauld Square, London"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/message/30244

Photo-1
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/photos/view/8d26?b=1

Photo-2
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/photos/view/8d26?b=2

Photo-3 (650Kb)
http://www.homestead.com/BlueMoonMarket/Files/Hogwarts/12grim.jpg
Top right side of this photo between Islington and Barnsbury, and just
left of Liverpool Road.

Of course, I know the place doesn't actually exist, but you must
admit, the place I found comes pretty close.

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn