Absolute Location Of South Korea

Geographical features of South korea

Coordinates: 36°N 128°East / 36°N 128°E / 36; 128

Due south Korea is located in Eastern asia, on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula located out from the far east of the Asian landmass. The only country with a country border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with 238 kilometres (148 mi) of the border running along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Republic of korea is generally surrounded by water and has two,413 kilometres (1,499 mi) of coast line along three seas; to the west is the Yellow Ocean (chosen Sohae Korean: 서해 ; Hanja: 西海 ; in Due south Korea, literally ways west ocean), to the southward is the Due east Communist china Ocean, and to the eastward is the Sea of Japan (chosen Donghae Korean: 동해 ; Hanja: 東海 ; in Republic of korea, literally means eastward bounding main). Geographically, Republic of korea's landmass is approximately 100,032 foursquare kilometres (38,623 sq mi).^[one] 290 square kilometres (110 sq mi) of South Korea are occupied past water. The approximate coordinates are 37° North, 128° E.

Country expanse and borders [edit]

Satellite epitome of South Korea.

The Korean Peninsula extends southward from the northeast part of the Asian continental landmass. The Japanese islands of Honshū and Kyūshū are located some 200 km (124 mi) to the southeast across the Korea Strait; the Shandong Peninsula of Red china lies 190 kilometers to the west. The due west declension of the peninsula is bordered by the Korea Bay to the north and the Yellow Sea and Korea Strait to the south; the due east declension is bordered by the Sea of Nippon. The viii,640-kilometer coastline is highly indented. Some 3,579 islands lie adjacent to the peninsula. Most of them are constitute forth the s and west coasts.

After World State of war II and before June 25,1950, the line between the two Korean states was the 30-8th parallel of latitude. Subsequently the Korean State of war, the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) formed the purlieus between the 2. The DMZ is a heavily guarded, 4,000-meter-wide strip of land that runs forth the demarcation line established by the Korean Armistice Agreement from the e to the west coasts for a distance of 241 kilometers (238 kilometers of that line from the land boundary with Northward Korea).

The total land area of the peninsula, including the islands, is 223,170 square kilometers. Some 44.8 percent (100 210 square kilometers) of this total, excluding the area within the DMZ, constitutes the territory of the Republic of Korea. The combined territories of Democratic people's republic of korea and Republic of korea are about the same size as the United Kingdom. Republic of korea alone is near the size of Portugal or Hungary, or the U.S. land of Indiana.^[ii]

The largest island, Jeju-practise, lies off the southwest corner of the peninsula and has a land expanse of ane,825 square kilometers. Other important islands include Ulleung and Liancourt Rocks in the Sea of Japan and Ganghwa Island at the mouth of the Han River. Although the eastern coastline of Republic of korea is by and large unindented, the southern and western coasts are jagged and irregular. The departure is caused by the fact that the eastern coast is gradually rising, while the southern and western coasts are subsiding.

Topography and drainage [edit]

Topography of Republic of korea

Convulsion epicenter map in Republic of korea from Jan 2000 (M2.0 or higher).

Early European visitors to Korea remarked that the land resembled "a sea in a heavy gale" because of the big number of successive mountain ranges that crisscross the peninsula. The highest mountains are in Democratic people's republic of korea. The highest mount superlative in Southward Korea is Hallasan (1,950 m (6,398 ft)), which is the cone of a volcanic formation constituting Jeju Island. At that place are two major mountain ranges inside Republic of korea: the Taebaek Mountains, and the Sobaek Mountains.

Dissimilar Japan or the northern provinces of China, the Korean Peninsula is geologically stable. There are no active volcanoes (bated from Baekdu Mount on the edge between Democratic people's republic of korea and China, most recently agile in 1903), and at that place have been no potent earthquakes. Historical records, however, describe volcanic activity on Mount Halla during the Goryeo Dynasty (no having kissits lowlands are the production of mountain erosion. Approximately 30 percent of the area of Republic of korea consists of lowlands, with the rest consisting of uplands and mountains. The great majority of the lowland surface area lies along the coasts, particularly the west coast, and along the major rivers. The most of import lowlands are the Han River plain around Seoul, the Pyeongtaek coastal plain southwest of Seoul, the Geum River basin, the Nakdong River basin, and the Yeongsan River and the Honam plains in the southwest. A narrow littoral plain extends along the eastward declension. A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 1,833 km² of tidal flats in South Korea, making it the 17th ranking state in terms of how much tidal flat occurs there.^[3]

The Nakdong is Republic of korea'due south longest river (521 km (324 mi)). The Han River, which flows through Seoul, is 514 km (319 mi) long, and the Geum River is 401 km (249 mi) long. Other major rivers include the Imjin, which flows through both Democratic people's republic of korea and South Korea and forms an estuary with the Han River; the Bukhan, a tributary of the Han that as well flows out of Democratic people's republic of korea; and the Somjin. The major rivers flow north to south or eastward to west and empty into the Yellow Bounding main or the Korea Strait. They tend to be wide and shallow and to have wide seasonal variations in h2o flow.

In the early role of the 20th century and especially the period during and after Globe War 2 and the Korean State of war, much of the existing Korean forests were cut downwards, which led to problems with flooding and soil erosion. Combination of reforestation efforts (due east.g. Arbor 24-hour interval was historic as a national vacation starting in 1949) and policies designed to reduce the apply of firewood as a source of free energy (e.chiliad. restriction of arrival of firewood into Seoul and other major cities starting in 1958) helped to spark a recovery in the 1950s.^[4] Comprehensive reforestation programs starting in the 1970s and standing into the late 1990s aided in an acceleration of woods volume increment,^[5] and the forest cover reached a peak of 65% of national state expanse in 1980 as opposed to a low of 35% in 1955.^[4]

News that Democratic people's republic of korea was amalgam a huge multipurpose dam at the base of Geumgangsan (one,638 k (5,374 ft)) north of the DMZ caused considerable consternation in South Korea during the mid-1980s. South Korean authorities feared that one time completed, a sudden release of the dam's waters into the Pukhan River during due north–south hostilities could flood Seoul and paralyze the upper-case letter region. During 1987 the Geumgangsan Dam was a major issue that Seoul sought to heighten in talks with Pyongyang. Though Seoul completed a "Peace Dam" on the Pukhan River to counteract the potential threat of Pyongyang's dam projection before the 1988 Olympics, the Due north Korean projection still was in its initial stages of construction in 1990.

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.two km; thirteen.8 mi); between 3 nmi (five.six km; iii.five mi) and 12 nmi (22.ii km; thirteen.8 mi) in the Korea Strait
face-to-face zone: 24 nmi (44.four km; 27.6 mi)
exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
continental shelf: non specified

Meridian extremes:
lowest point: Sea level 0 m
highest point: Hallasan ane,950 m (half-dozen,398 ft)

Climate [edit]

Satellite paradigm of Korean Peninsula on 3 January 2010, before a record snowfall since 1937 in Seoul area

Part of the E Asian Monsoon region, South Korea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The movement of air masses from the Asian continent exerts a greater influence on South Korea'southward weather condition than does air movement from the Pacific Body of water. Winters are usually long, cold, and dry out, whereas summers are curt, hot, and boiling. Bound and autumn are pleasant but short in duration. Seoul's hateful temperature in Jan is −5 to −2.5 °C (23.0 to 27.5 °F); in July the mean temperature is about 22.5 to 25 °C (72.5 to 77.0 °F). Because of its southern and seagirt location, Jeju Island has warmer and milder weather than other parts of Republic of korea. Hateful temperatures on Jeju range from ii.5 °C (36.5 °F) in January to 25 °C (77 °F) in July.

The country generally has sufficient rainfall to sustain its agriculture. Rarely does less than 750 millimeters (29.five in) of rainfall in any given year; for the near part, rainfall is over one,000 millimeters (39.4 in). Amounts of precipitation, however, tin can vary from year to year. Serious droughts occur almost once every eight years, especially in the rice-producing southwestern part of the country. Nearly two-thirds of the annual precipitation occurs between June and September.

South korea is less vulnerable to typhoons than Japan, Taiwan, the east coast of China, or the Philippines. From one to three typhoons can be expected per year. Typhoons usually pass over Southward Korea in late summer, particularly in August, and bring torrential rains. Flooding occasionally causes considerable damage, as do landslides, given the state's generally mountainous terrain.

In September 1984, tape floods caused the deaths of 190 people and left 200,000 homeless. This disaster prompted the North Korean government to brand an unprecedented offer of humanitarian aid in the form of rice, medicine, clothes, and building materials. South Korea accepted these items and distributed them to flood victims.^[6]

Graphically the seasons can be represented this way:

Month	Dec	Apr	Jun	Oct
Rainfall	Dry/snowy		Rainy
Temperature	Cold	Hot		Cool
Flavor	Cold/dry out	Hot/dry	Rainy

Climate data for Republic of korea
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	December	Yr
Record high °C (°F)	23.6 (74.5)	24.v (76.1)	28.ii (82.eight)	33.7 (92.7)	37.iv (99.3)	38.0 (100.iv)	39.ix (103.8)	41.0 (105.8)	37.5 (99.5)	32.i (89.8)	28.0 (82.iv)	23.iii (73.9)	41.0 (105.eight)
Record low °C (°F)	−32.6 (−26.vii)	−27.9 (−18.2)	−23.0 (−9.4)	−xiv.6 (5.7)	−4.7 (23.5)	−1.7 (28.ix)	four.4 (39.9)	3.iii (37.ix)	−2.three (27.nine)	−9.9 (14.ii)	−18.vii (−i.7)	−26.8 (−16.2)	−32.half-dozen (−26.seven)
Source: ^[7]

Calendar month	Temperature	Date	Location
January	23.6 °C (74.v °F)	seven Jan 2020	Jeju City, Jeju Province
Feb	24.5 °C (76.ane °F)	21 Feb 2004	Jeju City, Jeju Province
March	28.2 °C (82.eight °F)	9 March 2013	Jeonju, North Jeolla Province
April	33.7 °C (92.7 °F)	28 Apr 2005	Uljin, North Gyeongsang
May	37.4 °C (99.3 °F)	31 May 2014	Daegu Urban center, Daegu Province
June	38.0 °C (100.four °F)	26 June 1958	Daegu Metropolis, Daegu Province
July	39.9 °C (103.8 °F)	27 July 2018	Uiseong, Northward Gyeongsang
August	41.0 °C (105.8 °F)	1 August 2018	Hongcheon, Gangwon Province
September	37.v °C (99.5 °F)	one September 1944	Daegu City, Daegu Province
October	32.1 °C (89.8 °F)	one Oct 1977 1 October 1999	Mokpo, South Jeolla Province Jeju City, Jeju Province
November	28.0 °C (82.4 °F)	8 November 1920 ii Nov 2010	Jeonju, Due north Jeolla Province Seogwipo, Jeju Province
Dec	23.3 °C (73.9 °F)	three December 2018	Jeju City, Jeju Province

Calendar month	Temperature	Appointment	Location
January	−32.6 °C (−26.7 °F)	5 January 1981	Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province
February	−27.9 °C (−18.2 °F)	6 February 1969	Chun Cheon, Gangwon Province
March	−23.0 °C (−9.4 °F)	viii March 1983	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
Apr	−14.six °C (5.7 °F)	2 April 1972	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
May	−four.7 °C (23.5 °F)	xvi May 1977	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
June	−1.7 °C (28.9 °F)	i June 2010	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
July	4.four °C (39.9 °F)	5 July 1976	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
Baronial	iii.3 °C (37.9 °F)	27 August 1977	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
September	−2.3 °C (27.ix °F)	23 September 1980	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
October	−9.nine °C (14.2 °F)	25 October 1982	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
Nov	−18.7 °C (−i.seven °F)	22 Nov 1973	Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang Province
December	−26.8 °C (−16.2 °F)	24 December 1973	Wonju, Gangwon Province

Resources and land use [edit]

Natural resources: South korea produces coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, pb, and has potential for hydropower.

Country use: ^[8]; Arable land: fifteen.3%; Permanent crops: 2.ii%; Permanent pasture: 0.six%; Forest: 63.9%; Other: 18.0%

Irrigated state: ^[9]; viii,804 km²

Total renewable h2o resources: 69.7 km^three

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agronomical)^[9]: Full: 25.47 km³/year (26%/12%/62%); Per capita: 548.7 grand^three/year

Ecology concerns [edit]

Natural hazards [edit]

There are occasional big typhoons that bring high winds and floods. In that location is also low-level seismic activity, which is common in the southwest.

Volcanism [edit]

Hallasan (elev. i,950 m (6,398 ft)) is considered historically active although it has not erupted in many centuries. Convulsion activity is minimal; nonetheless, since 2016, there have been 2 earthquakes over v.4 magnitude.

Environment [edit]

Current issues [edit]

Habitat loss and degradation, especially of wetlands, through coastal reclamation (e.g. Saemangeum, Shiwa, Song Practise, Namyang Bay, Asan Bay, in the southward-west, Gwangyang Bay and the Nakdong Estuary) take caused huge declines in fisheries and of biodiversity. Most riverine wetland in Korea is now threatened by the proposed K Korean Waterway projection. There are also some problems air pollution in large cities; likewise every bit h2o pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents. Drift netting is another upshot.

International agreements [edit]

Due south Korea is a party to: Antarctic-Ecology Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Chancy Wastes, Constabulary of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Transport Pollution (MARPOL 73/78), Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

References [edit]

This article incorporates public domain material from World Factbook . CIA.

^ "Korea'due south Geography (Land, Territory...)".
^ "Size of South korea compared to Indiana".
^ Murray, Northward.J.; Phinn, S.R.; DeWitt, M.; Ferrari, R.; Johnston, R.; Lyons, M.B.; Clinton, N.; Thau, D.; Fuller, R.A. (2019). "The global distribution and trajectory of tidal flats". Nature. 565 (7738): 222–225. doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0805-viii. PMID 30568300. S2CID 56481043.
^ ^a ^b Bae JS, Joo RW, Kim YS (2012). "Wood transition in Republic of korea: Reality, path and drivers". Land Use Policy. 29 (1): 198–207. doi:x.1016/j.landusepol.2011.06.007.
^ Kim EG, Kim DJ (2005). "Historical Changes and Characteristics of Rehabilitation, Direction and Utilization of Forest Resources in Due south Korea". Journal of Mountain Science. two (2): 164–172. doi:x.1007/BF02918332. S2CID 128400061.
^ Haberman, Clyde (thirty September 1984). "North korea Delivers Flood Aid Supplies to the South". The New York Times . Retrieved 27 Feb 2018.
^ "Korea Meteorological Administration". Retrieved vi September 2020.
^ (2011)
^ ^a ^b (2003)