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Geography

Views 46812 Votes 0 2009.06.03 09:52:21

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Korea is situated on a peninsula between the East Sea and the Yellow Sea spanning 1,100 kilometers north to south. The Korean Peninsula lies on the northeastern section of the Asian continent, in the northwestern corner of the Pacific Ocean. The peninsula shares its northern border with China and Russia. To the east lies the East Sea, and beyond neighboring Japan. To the west is the Yellow Sea. In addition to the mainland peninsula, Korea also includes some 3,000 islands.

Korea encompasses a total of 222,154 square kilometers - approximately the same size as Britain or Romania. Excluding reclaimed land areas, almost 45 percent of the country - some 99,000 square kilometers - is considered arable. Mountainous terrain accounts for some two-thirds of the nation's territory, giving the landscape an appearance similar to Portugal or Hungary.

The Taebaeksan Range runs the full length of the east coast, where the lashing waves of the East Sea have carved out sheer cliffs and rocky islets. The western and southern slopes are rather gentle, with wide plains and offshore islands honeycombed with inlets.

The peninsula features many scenic mountains and rivers so that Koreans have often likened their country to beautifully embroidered brocade. The highest peak is Mt. Baekdusan in North Korea, which rises 2,744 meters above sea level along the northern border facing China. Mt. Baekdusan is an extinct volcano where a large volcanic lake, named Cheonji, has been formed. The mountain is regarded as an especially important symbol of the Korean spirit and is mentioned in Korea's national anthem.

Considering its territorial size, Korea has a relatively large number of rivers and streams. These waterways played crucial roles in shaping the lifestyle of Koreans, and in the nation's industrialization. The two longest rivers in North Korea are the Amnokgang River (Yalu, 790 kilometers) and the Dumangang River (Tumen, 521 kilometers). These rivers originate from Mt. Baekdusan and flow to the west and the east, respectively. They form the peninsula's northern border.

In the southern part of the peninsula, the Nakdonggang River (525 kilometers) and the Hangang River (514 kilometers) are the two major waterways. The Hangang River flows through Seoul, the capital of Korea, and serves as a lifeline for the heavily concentrated population in the central region of modern Korea, just as it did for the people of the ancient kingdoms that developed along its banks.

Surrounding the peninsula on three sides, the ocean has played an integral role in the life of Koreans since ancient times, contributing to the early development of shipbuilding and navigational skills.

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Geography Korea is situated on a peninsula between the East Sea and the Yellow Sea spanning 1,100 kilometers north to south. The Korean Peninsula lies on the northeastern section of the Asian continent, in the northwestern corner of the Pacific Ocean. The peninsula shares its northern border with China and Russia. To the east lies the East Sea, and beyond neighboring Japan. To the west is the Yellow Sea. ... Views 46812
Location Korea lies adjacent to China and Japan. Its northern border is formed by the Amnokgang (Yalu) and Dumangang (Tumen) rivers, which separate the peninsula from Manchuria. A 16-kilometer segment of the Dumangang River to the east also serves as a natural border with Russia. The west coast of the Korean Peninsula is bounded by the Korean Bay to the north and the Yellow Sea to the south; the east coast is bounded b... Views 37342
Landforms Mountains and Hills Korea's territory coincides with the Korean Peninsula. Between the peninsula and Manchuria flow, in opposite directions, the two largest rivers of the region, the Amnokgang (Yalu) and Dumangang (Tumen) both originating at Mt. Baekdusan (2,744 meters), the highest mountain throughout Korea and Manchuria. The Yellow Sea, the East Sea and the South Sea surround the other three sides of the penin... Views 43130
Climate Weather Covering about 70% of the Earth's surface, the oceans are a fundamental component of the climatic and seasonal variations in the weather. In East Asia, interactions between the rapidly mixing atmosphere and the slowly changing oceans are largely responsible for the monsoon season, particularly as they affect Korea, China and Japan. In order to better understand these patterns and to better prepare for their ... Views 44015
Flora Due to the Korean Peninsula's long north-south stretch and topographic complexity, there are wide variations in temperature and rainfall. The mean temperature throughout the four seasons ranges from 5oC to 16oC and rainfall from 500 to 1,500 millimeters. Such an environment makes the land a diversified floral region. Lee Woo-tchul's Lineaments Florae Korea (1997) listed 190 families, 1,079 genera, 3,129 species, 8 sub... Views 39284
Fauna Zoogeography Korea belongs to the Palearctic zoogeographical realm. Its geographical history, topography and climate divide the peninsula into highland and lowland districts. Included in the former are the Myohyangsan Range, the Gaema Plateau and the more rugged terrain of the Taebaeksan Range, all areas that are high in altitude and similar in climate to the Amur River region. Most of this area lies about 1,000 kilo... Views 34852
Geology Introduction The first geological map of Korea, with a scale of 1:1,000,000, was published in 1928. In 1974, geological maps with a scale of 1:250,000 covering the whole of the Republic were published. The Geological Survey of Korea started to publish geological quadrangles with a scale of 1:50,000 from 1961, and by 1996, 83% of the landmass was covered. The Geological Society of Korea was established in 1964, the Ko... Views 40848
Climate Korea has four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are rather short, summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold and dry with abundant snowfall. Recently, global climatic changes have been affecting the Korean Peninsula, causing summers to be rainier and winters to be less snowy. Temperatures differ widely from region to region within Korea, with the average being between 6ºC (43ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF). The average ... Views 32204
People & Population The Koreans are one ethnic family and speak one language. Sharing distinct physical characteristics, they are believed to be descendants of several Mongol tribes that migrated onto the Korean Peninsula from Central Asia. In the seventh century, the various states of the peninsula were unified for the first time under the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935). Such homogeneity has enabled Koreans to be relatively ... Views 34242

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