When was Lord of the Rings filmed?

The Lord of the Rings films were filmed over a long period:

* The Fellowship of the Ring: Filming began in October 1999 and finished in December 2000.

* The Two Towers: Filming began in March 2001 and finished in December 2001.

* The Return of the King: Filming began in February 2002 and finished in December 2002.

So, while the release dates are spread out over a few years, the actual filming took place mostly in 2000, 2001, and 2002.