Detail

The last installment of the “Rivers of Korea Series,” features the Han River following the Nakdong River, Seomjin River and Geum River. The Han River traverses the very heart of the Korean peninsula originating from Taebaek city, Gangwon-do province and winds through Gangwon-do province, Chungcheongbuk-do province, Gyeonggi-do province and Seoul to finally flow into the Yellow Sea. Having also been called the Arisu (阿利水), Sapyeongdo (沙平渡), Hansu (漢水), etc., the Han River has long served as a focal point for the Korean people thanks to its geographic location, Chinese geomantic principles, and to its being a source of convenient transportation. With the movement of the capital city to Hanyang by King Taejo of the Joseon Dynasty, the Han River has occupied the position of the political, economic and cultural center of the Korean peninsula. Winding 494.44km in length and containing 25,953 ㎢ in its basin, the Han River is the largest river in South Korea, in terms of the amount of flowing water. Boasting stunning bountiful nature, the Han River embraces a variety of fauna and flora. The ecosystem of the part of the Han River that meanders through the Seoul city contains a total of 1,600 species: an extensive variety of plant species such as reed, common reed and phragmites japonica Steud.; 71 types of fish including river puffer, Korean rose bitterling, Chinese minnow and rough-skin sculpin; such endangered species as the Chinese egret, wood-sandpiper, whooper swan, gold frog, narrow-mouthed toad, Chinese water deer, and raccoon dog.