The Northgate River (Also known as Earl'forth or formerly as the River Arevass), refers to the river that flows through Gilneas, having its delta in the Great Sea and its source in the southern portion of Silverpine Forest. The river is one of the five largest rivers in all of the Eastern Kingdoms, and along it are numerous militaristic fortifications along the river, which serve as a testament to its geo-political importance in ancient times.
Earl'forth near Emberstone Mine. (Wildriverpeak.jpg, photograph, source unknown)
In the time before House Greymane arrived in Gilneas, the river served as a nature border between the kingdoms of the Duathe and the Eldir'thiirn and was referred to as Earl'forth. Today, the river serves to split the munipicalities of the Headlands and the Northern Headlands, while also providing an opening to trade. It was renamed from the River Arevass to the Northgate River following the erection of the Greymane Wall and the dissolution of Arevass as a proper state. It flows from the mountain basins near the Greymane Wall all the way out towards the sea, through the canalworks of Gilneas City.
The River Arevass once flowed heavily into the areas beyond Gilneas, into the Silverpine Forest, near Pyrewood Village. This was due to the Greymane Wall damming the heavy flow of the river that came from the mountain basins; leading to it diverting down the mountains of Silverpine instead. Kael'thas Sunstrider and Tyrande Whisperwind used a bridge over this river during their ventures in the ruins of Lordaeron, and Tyrande was swept downstream and nearly out to sea before being rescued by Malfurion Stormrage and Illidan Stormrage. This fork of the river dried out when the Greymane Wall was destroyed along the mountain basin by the Cataclysm; causing the former river bank area to become marshy and swamp-like. While it had been renamed Northgate beyond the wall, those outside of it continued to use its old name.