Han River (Korea)
| Han River | |
|---|---|
Satellite image of the Han river flowing through Seoul (upper half of image; 2006) | |
The Han River watershed | |
| Etymology | Baekje Hanja, "Hansu" (漢水) |
| Location | |
| Country | South Korea (KOR), North Korea (PRK) |
| Provinces | Gangwon Province (KOR), Gyeonggi Province (KOR), Seoul (KOR), North Hwanghae Province (PRK) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Taebaek Mountains |
| • location | Geumdae Peak, Taebaek, Gangwon Province, South Korea |
| Mouth | Yellow Sea |
• location | Northwestern tip of Gimpo peninsula, KOR-PRK border |
| Length | 508 km (316 mi) |
| Basin size | 35,770 km2 (13,810 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Hangang Bridge, Seoul |
| • average | 613 m3/s (21,600 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Dalcheon, Cheongmicheon, Bokhacheon, Gyeongancheon, Anyangcheon, Ara Canal † |
| • right | Seom River, Bukhan River, Jungnangcheon, Gongneungcheon, Rimjin River |
| † : Distributary of Han | |
| Han River | |
| Hangul | 한강 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 漢江 |
| RR | Hangang |
| MR | Han'gang |
The Han River (Korean: 한강) is a river in the central region of the Korean peninsula, with some of its tributaries and drainage basin in North Korea. It is classified as a national first-class river in South Korea. The Han River currently has eight river islands: Nanjido, Yeouido, Ttukseom, Nodeulseom, Seoraeseom, Sebitseom, Bamseom, and Seonyudo.
The Han has the highest flow rate of any river on the Korean Peninsula and also has the largest basin area. In terms of length, It is the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Tuman, and Nakdong rivers. The river begins as two smaller rivers in the eastern mountains of the Korean peninsula, which then converge near Seoul.
Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, is the only example of a major metropolis with such a wide river running through it; few large cities are divided by a massive river approximately 1.2 kilometers wide. The term "Miracle on the Han River", referring to South Korea's rapid economic growth, originates from this river.