The Nyr Dyv, also known as the "Lake of Unknown Depths," is a fictional fresh water

Fresh Water

Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...

 lake

Lake

A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...

 in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting

Campaign setting

A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

 for the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

roleplaying game. Centrally located in the Flanaess

Flanaess

The Flanaess is the eastern part of the continent of Oerik, one of the four continents of the fictional world of Oerth in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The Flanaess has been the setting of dozens of adventures published between the 1970s...

, the Nyr Dyv is the largest known body of fresh water known to the people of that region of Oerik

Oerik

In the Dungeons and Dragons World of Greyhawk Campaign setting, Oerik is the largest continent on the world of Oerth, where the Greyhawk campaign takes place.Oerik is named after the Oeridians, a human people who settled much of the continent...

.

Geographically, the Nyr Dyv is located north of the Free City of Greyhawk

Free City of Greyhawk

The Free City of Greyhawk, also known as Greyhawk City and the "Gem of the Flanaess," is a fictional city-state in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...

, which can easily be reached from the lake via the Selintan River. As such, Rhennee

Rhennee

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Rhennee are one of the major races of humans inhabiting the Flanaess....

 barges may be found navigating on the lake, along with commercial or naval traffic bound to or from the Free City.

The city of Dyvers

Dyvers

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Dyvers, the "City of Sails," is a free city and political state in the central Flanaess...

, the Cairn Hills, and the Duchy of Urnst

Duchy of Urnst

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the Duchy of Urnst, properly known as the Duchy Palatine of Urnst, is a political state of the Flanaess.-Geography:...

 also border the southern shores of the Nyr Dyv. To the west lies the Kingdom of Furyondy

Furyondy

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Furyondy, properly known as the Kingdom of Furyondy, is a feudal kingdom of the Flanaess, and a successor state of Ferrond.-History:...

, to the east the County of Urnst

County of Urnst

The County of Urnst is a political state in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It is situated on the east coast of the Nyr Dyv, and bordered by the Duchy of Urnst to the southwest, The Kingdom of Nyrond to the south and east, and the Bandit Kingdoms...

, and to the north the Shield Lands and the Empire of Iuz.

Ecology

As its nickname suggests, the true depth of the lake is unknown, but certainly significant. Its waters support a variety of aquatic life, some of it quite dangerous. Piracy is also a concern, though the waters are patrolled by ships from Dyvers, Furyondy, Greyhawk, and the Urnst states.

Features and settlements

The Nyr Dyv has three major navigable inlets: the Velverdyva to the west, and the Veng and Artonsamay to the north. Its two major navigable outlets include the Selintan to the south and Nesser to the southeast. Major ports on or near the Nyr Dyv include Dyvers, Greyhawk, Nyrstran, Leukish, High Mardreth, Radigast City, Alhaster, Admundfort, Critwall, and Willip.

The Nyr Dyv is rumored to hold the remains of an ancient civilization known as the Isles of Woe, which sank beneath the waves prior to the Great Migrations

Great Migrations (Greyhawk)

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Great Migrations is a general term applying to the migration of great hordes of Oeridians and Suel humans into the Flanaess from western Oerik...

. Many explorers have fruitlessly searched the lake for evidence of this civilization. Though unusual pieces of jewelry, strange silver coins, and alien carvings of obsidian reputed to be remnants of the Isles of Woe are sometimes found in the markets of surrounding cities, most are regarded as forgeries.