Geography of South Korea

The Republic of Korea or South Korea is located at the east of the Asia, on the southernmost half of the Korean peninsula projecting advancing out of Far East of the Asian ground mass. The only adjacent country is the democratic Popular republic of Korea in north with 238 km of border along the demilitarized zone (DMZ). South Korea is especially surrounded by water and thus has 2.413 km of littoral along three seas. The Yellow Sea in the west, the China Sea of south-west in south-east, and the east the Sea of Japan (or Sea of the east for the Koreans). With 98.480 km ², South Korea is slightly larger than the American state of the Indiana. 290 km ² of South Korea are occupied by fresh water. The approximate coordinates are 37° northern, 127° 30 is. South Korea has nearly 3.000 islands distributed in the east and the south of the peninsula.

Physical geography

The South Korean territory is composed to 70% of mountains, directed in the North-South axis, making the communications East-West difficles. The mount Hauled (Hallasan), on the island of Jeju, is the culminating point of the South Korea with 1950 Mr. On the continent the mount Jiri (Jirisan) is the culminating point in South Korea with 1915 m, follow-up of the mount Seorak (Seoraksan) with 1708 Mr. With the difference of Japan or Scandinavian provinces of China, the Korean peninsula is geologically stable. There is no active volcano and there was no strong earthquake.

The Nakdong is the longest river of South Korea (521 kilometers). The river of Han, which crosses Seoul, 514 kilometers length is, and the river of Geum 401 kilometers length is. Other principal rivers include the Imjin, which crosses the North Korea and South Korea and forms an estuary with the river of Han: the Bukhan, a tributary of Han which also leaves the North Korea and the Somjin. The principal rivers run north in the south or East-West and finish in the yellow sea or the strait of Korea. They tend to being broad and not very deep with great seasonal variations of water flow. For the North Korea one can take again the same criteria exactly.

Climate

The South Korea has a climate moderated with four distinct seasons.

The winters are cold and dry from December to February with falls of occasional rain and snow.

Spring starts at the end of March at the beginning of April when the trees reverdissent. From March to May, time is very lenient.

The summers are hot and wet with an abundant vegetation. In June the temperatures reach 20 °C. The Mousson usually starts towards the end of June finishing towards the end of July. August remains hot and wet with less precipitations.

The autumn starts at the end of September, the continental winds arrive and a clear and dry climate makes it possible the autumnal season to be with spring the most pleasant period of the year. In October the coloured panorama of the trees becomes dazzling.

Natural resources

South Korea produces coal, Tungstène, Graphite and Molybdène.

Use of the grounds

arable lands: 19%
permanent harvests: 2%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and wooded areas: 65%
others: 13% (1993 are.)

irrigated Grounds: 13.350 km ² (1993 are.)

Human geography

There is approximately 48 million inhabitants in South Korea, with a density of 492 inhabitants to the km ². The population is especially located in the cities, mainly the agglomerations of Seoul and Pusan.

30.000 Mongolian live and work in South Korea, from where they send their wages to their family remained in Mongolia.

References and notes

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