Great Forest a.k.a. Forbidden Forest

The Great Forest of Valaris is a broad and dense band of trees stretching from the east coast to the west, thereby literally dividing the continent into north and south. This is why it is also known as the Great Dividing Forest. The north regards the band of trees as dangerous (the why of that is explained in Gathering of Rain) and northerners therefore refer to the forest as Forbidden.

However, all is not what it seems...

Yes, in case you wonder why I post about a band of trees frequently, I do like my Great Forest!