Niflheim

Niflheim ("Mist-home") was the darkest and coldest region, mentioned in the Edda. It was the first of the nine worlds, created in the empty Abyss Gunnungagap. Niflheim was placed in the northern region of Gunnungagap and Muspellheim in the southern region.

In Niflheim there was located the eldest of the three wells, called Hvergelmir, protected by the dragon Nidhogg. Hvergelmir was the origin of all being and the place where every being will go back.

Elivagar ("unknown waves" or "poisonous stream") were the twelve streams, flowting out the Hvergelmir. The Elivagar filled the emptyness of Gunnungagap and freezed in the regions of Niflheim.

Like the primal cow Audhumla, the giant Ymir (or Aurgelmir) was created when the hot fire of Muspellheim spray to the Elivagar's glacier. The cow Audhumla licked the salty ice-blocks, till Buri came forth from the blocks.

Niflheim was sometimes called Helheim ("Home of Hel") or Hel ("Hell"). The ruler of Helheim was Hel, daughter of Loki and Angrboda and its guardian was the hell-hound Garm ("Howl"), who was curt in front of Gnipahellir, the cave before Gjöll, the entry of Helheim.

Nastrond ("Corpse-Strand"), the land of the dead, was placed in Niflheim and there stands Eljudni ("Plague"), the hall of Hel.

I'm not sure if Helheim was really the same place as Niflheim, or just a place within it. Maybe Helheim was located under Niflheim and Muspellheim.

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