In The Beginning.

Ancient Norse Mythology states that before the Earth existed the world Muspell was present in the South. It was depicted as a flaming, burning region and was so hot that anything not from there was immediately destroyed; and that sparks danced within the eternal flames. It was believed that at the end of this world sat the giant named Surt who possessed a flaming sword; Surt was believed to be the one who would destroy the whole world with fire when the time arose.

(Image sourced from: http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/rage-of-the-norsemen/wikis/muspell)

Alongside Muspell there was the dark world Niflheim to the far North. This was the polar opposite of Muspell, a ice cold land in which the world was dark; within the middle of this barren land was the large well Hvergelmir (Which when translated means The Bubbling-Cauldron), it was out of Hvergelmir that eleven rivers filled with poisonous waters flowed. Together the rivers were called Elivogar.

(Image sourced from: norse-mythology.org)

And between these two worlds was the void; Ginnungagap. (Not the void from the Elder Scrolls that I know some will have thought of!)

(Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eotiv/393733255/)