Geum River

Geum River
The Geum River (Keum river)
The Geum River is the thick blue line.
Native name금강 (Korean)
Location
CountrySouth Korea
ProvincesNorth Jeolla Province, North Chungcheong Province, Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong Province
Physical characteristics
SourceSobaek Mountains
  locationSinmusan Mountain, Jangsu, North Jeolla Province
MouthYellow Sea
  location
Esturay bank, Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province
Length397 km (247 mi)
Basin size9,912 km2 (3,827 sq mi)
Discharge 
  locationGongju Bridge, Gongju
  average132 m3/s (4,700 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftGapcheon, Ganggyeongcheon
  rightMiho River
Geum River
Hangul
금강
Hanja
錦江
RRGeumgang
MRKŭmgang

The Geum River is a major river of South Korea that originates in Jangsu-eup, North Jeolla Province. It flows northward through North Jeolla and North Chungcheong Provinces and then changes direction in the vicinity of Greater Daejeon and flows southwest through South Chungcheong Province before emptying into the Yellow Sea near Gunsan.

The river is 397 kilometres (247 mi) long, making it the third longest in South Korea. The area of the Geum River Basin is 9,859 square kilometres (3,807 sq mi). The upper part of the river flows slowly through part of the Noryeongsanmaek Mountains and is marked by extensive stream meandering. On the other hand, river curves on middle and lower parts of the river are more gradual and there is comparatively less stream meandering.

Tributary streams of the Geumgang include the Gap-cheon, Yugu-cheon, Miho-cheon, Unsan-cheon, Seokseong-cheon, and Nonsan-cheon. Several small alluvial plains including the Honam and Nonsan Plain have been formed by the flow of the Geumgang and its tributaries.