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64-562: The Capital Area occupies a plain in the Han River valley. Covering only about 12% of the country's area, the Seoul Metropolitan Area is home to more than 48.2% of the national population, and is the world's ninth largest urban area . This percentage has risen steadily since the mid-20th century, and the trend is expected to continue. Currently more than half of the people who move from one region to another are moving to

128-548: A continuous increasing trend, with 1299 types of plant life dispersed around the river in 2022. The number of newly planted species in parks and flower beds has significantly increased, and the number of native aquatic plants is also steadily rising. Fish: A total of 19 families and 69 species were recorded, similar to the 2017 survey. The main river's fish species were relatively abundant, and Seoul's protected species, Gyeongmochi(Microphysogobio jeoni), Kkeokjeongi( rachidermus fasciatus Heckel), and Hwangbok( Takifugu obscurus) ,with

192-400: A new river, to be given its own name, perhaps one already known to the people who live upon its banks. Conversely, explorers approaching a new land from the sea encounter its rivers at their mouths, where they name them on their charts, then, following a river upstream, encounter each tributary as a forking of the stream to the right and to the left, which then appear on their charts as such; or

256-460: A primary target in the power struggles among the three kingdoms, and controlling the Han River basin provided a strong foundation for territorial expansion and national development. As historical records show, Goguryeo , Baekje , and Silla alternately ruled the Han River basin. Occupying the Han River basin led to national prosperity, while losing it resulted in decline. Baekje was founded in

320-483: A result, during heavy rains—such as monsoons or torrential downpours—the Jamsu Bridge becomes submerged, and even the expansive riverbanks and Hangang Park are entirely flooded. This illustrates the significant fluctuations in the river's water volume. Conversely, during the dry winter season, the river's width decreases considerably. The Han River helps to reduce and mitigate the urban heat island effect. When

384-521: Is an archaic term used to refer to both the Han River and the Amnok River . Because of this historical significance, today it is also used as the brand name for tap water sourced from the Han River. The term seems to derive from ari, meaning "big" or "great", combined with su (水), which means "water". During the Goguryeo period, Arisu referred to the Han River. In the "Samguk sagi" ( History of

448-641: Is believed that these people engaged in intensive foraging activities in hills and low mountains, utilizing primitive fishing techniques like handline fishing or spear fishing from an early period, using tools such as spears or harpoons to catch fish. However, while handline and spear fishing were individual efforts with limited catch yields, net fishing enabled large-scale catches through collective labor in conjunction with foraging methods. Evidence of net fishing has been found at numerous archaeological sites. These communities accumulated surplus production through such collective activities, enhancing their adaptability to

512-550: Is classified as a national first-class river in South Korea. The Han River currently has eight river islands: Nanjido , Yeouido , Ttukseom  [ ko ] , Nodeulseom , Seoraeseom  [ ko ] , 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

576-485: Is home to the most affluent and livable cities and apartments in Korea but there are significant discrepancies between cities and districts, particularly between those built in the older and newer generations. Newer areas with more modern and luxurious apartments and infrastructure are more expensive, along with proximity to Gangnam District , the commercial center of the region. Various agencies have been set up to deal with

640-638: The Gwanggaeto Stele —an ancient stone monument erected in 414 AD. In the kingdom of Baekje , it was called "Ungniha" (郁利河). The Samguk sagi ("History of the Three Kingdoms"), a historical text, records the river as "Hansanha" (漢山河) or "Bukdok" (北瀆). The name "Han River" began to be used around the time when Baekje started interacting with China's Eastern Jin Dynasty; from then on, it was called "Hansu" (漢水) or "Hangang" (漢江). Arisu (阿利水)

704-424: The west to the east There are 11 subway crossings below the river. 37°45′N 126°11′E  /  37.750°N 126.183°E  / 37.750; 126.183 Tributary A tributary , or an affluent , is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream ( main stem or "parent" ), river, or a lake . A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean . Tributaries, and

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768-610: The Bronze Age in the Han River basin was influenced by the northeastern regions of the Korean Peninsula (Hamgyeongbuk-do and Hamgyeongnam-do) and the northwestern regions (Pyeongannam-do and Hwanghae-do). This led to the establishment of the Bronze Culture in the Han River basin. The cultures of these two regions developed uniquely through their own progress and blending, creating a distinctive Bronze Age culture in

832-575: The Goryeo Dynasty, it was also known as "Yeolsu." Among the old names of the Han River, "Arisu" is the most familiar to modern Koreans. In the 19th century, the river was attested to in one English-language source as the Han River or Hang Kang . At one time, the Standard Korean Language Dictionary listed "Arisu" as a dialectal term for "deception", but due to insufficient data and lack of clear evidence, it

896-464: The Han River ," referring to South Korea's rapid economic growth, originates from this river. The name Han River originates from the Korean word "Hangaram". In old Korean , "han" means "big" or "great", and "garam" refers to a river—The Hanja character Han (漢) is a phonetic transcription. Until the early Three Kingdoms period, the Han River was called "Daesu" (帶水). It is recorded as Arisu (阿利水) on

960-542: The Han River area surrounding Seoul. During the first few decades of South Korea's existence, the Han River became very polluted, as burgeoning industry and an impoverished populace used it as a convenient spillway for industrial and urban refuse. Though it no longer plays a central role in commerce or transportation, it is a prime fixture in the life of the South Korean capital. During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul,

1024-473: The Han River basin and further extended to the southern regions. During the Three Kingdoms period, the fortunes of nations were closely tied to the gains and losses of the Han River basin. This was because the Han River, as a major river flowing through the central part of the peninsula, became the central stage of the Korean Peninsula. Additionally, it was considered important for military, economic, social, and diplomatic reasons. Consequently, this region became

1088-484: The Han River basin. Additionally, the Han River basin served as an intermediary region that facilitated the spread of culture to the southern regions of the Korean Peninsula. By this stage, agriculture had further advanced compared to the Neolithic period. Carbonized grains such as rice, barley, millet, and job's tears were excavated from habitation sites, indicating that mixed grain farming had become widespread across

1152-402: The Han River near Gimpo in Seoul to Incheon . On November 4, 2018, a team of ten people from North Korea and ten from South Korea began a joint inter-Korean survey which will lead to the development a Joint Utilization Zone along the Han River's estuary. The zone will allow civilians to access the estuary for tourism, ecological protection and the collection of construction aggregate under

1216-693: The Han River that flows through Seoul maintains a water level above a certain point due to the Singok Submerged Weir installed in Gimpo . This maintained water level is referred to as the "low water level" (jeosu-wi), and the filled section is called the "low water channel" (jeosu-ro). This is aesthetically pleasing and facilitates the operation of boats. Following the Han River Comprehensive Development Project, extensive aggregate extraction deeply excavated

1280-524: The Han River was the site of the Olympic rowing regatta. It became the focus of government-sponsored environmental efforts to clean it up. There have been fears, such as the 1986 Water Panic in South Korea, that North Korea could attack Seoul by releasing waters from upstream dams, creating floods downstream. In July 2000, the US military admitted to dumping 20 gallons (75.7 liters) of diluted formaldehyde in

1344-532: The Han River's wide expanse and its suitability for river transport, highlighting its geographical features and advantages. Among them, Noryangjin (Nodeul Naru) was renowned as a key transportation hub, managing both passenger and grain transport on the Han River, leading to grain warehouses and fishing ports being established there. Even in the 2020s, Noryangjin is home to the Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market. The section of

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1408-516: The Korean Peninsula. It is also inferred that rice farming had become quite common in both the northwestern regions and the southern areas. Rice farming in the Han River basin is closely related to the southward movement of residents from the Pangyi ( 팽이 ) Pottery culture in the northwestern regions. As these southern-moving Pangyi Pottery people interacted and blended with the local Minmuni-toki-in ( 민무늬토기인 ) communities, rice farming became widespread in

1472-829: The Korean Peninsula—such as the Taedong River, Geum River, Yeongsan River, and Nakdong River—and the shipping routes of the southwestern sea. After the unification of the Three Kingdoms, Silla designated the Hansanha (another name for the Han River) in the north as one of the nation's four great rivers, alongside the Hwangsanha (Nakdong River) leading to the South Sea, the Ungcheonha (Geum River) leading to

1536-535: 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

1600-527: The Three Kingdoms ), Baekje Annals Volume 3, in the account from early September of the 21st year of King Gaero, there is a record similar to that on the Gwanggaeto Stele in which the Han River is referred to as "Ungniha" (郁里河). According to historical records from the Three Kingdoms period, Baekje referred to it as "Ungniha" or "Hansu," while in Silla, it was called "Wangbongha" or "Hansanha." During

1664-672: The West Sea, and the Tojiha (Gokgangcheon in Heunghae-eup, Pohang) leading to the East Sea. These were collectively known as the "Four Waterways" (四瀆). The state held regular rituals (Jungsa, 中祀) for these rivers, underscoring their ideological importance. In the 21st year of King Munjong 's reign, the importance of the Han River basin was recognized, and Yangju (now Seoul) was promoted to Namgyeong (Southern Capital), making it one of

1728-641: The banks of the Han River during events such as Jeongwol Daeboreum (the first full moon of the lunar year). Modern History Within the first week of the start of the Korean War , the South Korean Army destroyed the Hangang Bridge in a bid to stem the advance of the invading North Korean military . In early 1951, there was a fair amount of fighting between Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops and US-led United Nations forces in

1792-434: The basin of the Han River, and from the Three Kingdoms period onward, the zenith of each kingdom was determined by who controlled the middle and lower reaches of this river. Controlling the Han River was so crucial that it essentially defined a nation's golden age. Initially, Baekje held control, followed by Goguryeo, and later by Silla. As each kingdom rose to prominence, the other two would invariably form alliances to balance

1856-403: The capital area. In 2020, it was reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Area's population had exceeded 50% of the country's total population, with 25,925,799 people living in the area (50.002% of the total 51,849,861). In 2020, Seoul Metropolitan Area's Gross Regional Product was around US$ 900 billion, generating around half of the country's total GDP . It is the fourth largest urban economy in

1920-501: The capital was moved back to Gaeseong , effectively ending the issue of relocating the capital (to Hanyang,or Seoul) within the Goryeo Dynasty. The eventual relocation of the capital to Hanyang(Seoul) was achieved in 1394 when Yi Seong-gye founded the Joseon Dynasty . After ascending to the throne, Taejo Yi Seong-gye ordered the relocation of the capital to Hanyang on August 3, 1392, sixteen days after his coronation. This

1984-471: The capital were largely supplied by ships through the Han River. With the implementation of tax reforms and the introduction of the Daedong Law  [ ko ] in the late Joseon period, the Han River's importance increased further, facilitating the transportation of rice collected from regions including Honam and Chungcheong Province by water. Thus, the Han River became a vital supply route for

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2048-759: The confluence at Yangpyeong , Gyeonggi Province , of the Namhan River (South Han River), which originates from Daedeoksan , and the Bukhan River (North Han River), which originates on the slopes of Mount Kumgang in North Korea. The river flows through Seoul and then merges with the Imjin River (or "Rimjin River") shortly before it flows into the Yellow Sea . Broad tidal flats can be found at

2112-671: The country's railroad lines, most notably the Gyeongbu Line , terminate in the region. In addition, rapid transit is provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Subway , which has lines that serve all districts of Seoul, as well as the city of Incheon and other surrounding cities within Gyeonggi Province. The region is a nexus for travel by air and water. The country's two largest airports, Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport , are in

2176-401: The environment and increasing their chances of survival. Consequently, their populations grew, settlements expanded, and stable, sedentary lifestyles emerged, leading to further cultural development. This progression laid the foundation for the emergence of ancient states in the Han River basin following the advanced cultures of the Bronze Age. Geographically encompassing most of central Korea,

2240-482: The first and last being Korean endemics, were found. In the main stream of the Han River, Tridentiger brevispinis, Barbel steed, and Acheilognathus were the dominant species, while in the tributaries, Pale chubs, Stripe False Gudgeons, and Crucian carp were predominant. A total of 13 species, including water deer , raccoon dogs, moles, otters, and lynx, were identified. In the main stream, water deer were frequently observed, while wild cats and dogs were commonly found in

2304-535: The following February. During the reign of the last Goryeo monarch, Gongyang (1390), the capital was moved back again to Hanyang in September 1390. However, after the establishment of Hanyang, significant storms, thunder, lightning, and disasters struck the nation,causing frequent misfortunes like people being swept away by the river,alongside bad omens such as tigers killing men. As a result, in February 1391,

2368-451: The handedness is from the point of view of an observer facing upstream. For instance, Steer Creek has a left tributary which is called Right Fork Steer Creek. These naming conventions are reflective of the circumstances of a particular river's identification and charting: people living along the banks of a river, with a name known to them, may then float down the river in exploration, and each tributary joining it as they pass by appears as

2432-498: The intergovernmental problems of the region. Proposals for consolidating some or all of the cities of the capital area into a handful of metropolitan cities have thus far not been implemented. Development in the area is currently governed by the Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act ( 수도권정비계획법 ), first passed in 1982 and last revised in 1996. The Seoul Metropolitan Area is divided among

2496-424: The joining of tributaries. The opposite to a tributary is a distributary , a river or stream that branches off from and flows away from the main stream. Distributaries are most often found in river deltas . Right tributary , or right-bank tributary , and left tributary , or left-bank tributary , describe the orientation of the tributary relative to the flow of the main stem river. These terms are defined from

2560-401: The largest cities, sorted by their population size: The four gu of Suwon ( 수원 ; 水原 ). The three gu of Goyang ( 고양 ; 高陽 ). The three gu of Yongin ( 용인 ; 龍仁 ). The three gu of Seongnam ( 성남 ; 城南 ). The two gu of Ansan ( 안산 ; 安山 ) The two gu of Anyang ( 안양 ; 安養 ) The cities of the capital area are tightly interconnected by road and rail. Many of

2624-595: The main stem river into which they flow, drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater , leading the water out into an ocean. The Irtysh is a chief tributary of the Ob river and is also the longest tributary river in the world with a length of 4,248 km (2,640 mi). The Madeira River is the largest tributary river by volume in the world with an average discharge of 31,200 m /s (1.1 million cu ft/s). A confluence , where two or more bodies of water meet, usually refers to

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2688-519: The metropolitan area. International and domestic ferries depart from Incheon's ferry terminals several times a day. Seoul Ring Expressway (Expressway No. 100) connects satellite cities around Seoul. Han River (Korea) [REDACTED] The Han River ( Korean :  한강 ; RR :  Hangang ) is a river in the central region of the Korean peninsula, with some of its tributaries and drainage basin in North Korea . It

2752-493: The mouth of the Han River, where it meets the sea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone that divides South and North Korea. The total length of the Han River is approximately 514 kilometres (319 mi). Although it is not a long river, the lower Han River is remarkably broad. Within Seoul city limits, the river is more than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) wide. Prior to the construction of several major dams,

2816-469: The opposite bank before approaching the confluence. An early tributary is a tributary that joins the main stem river closer to its source than its mouth, that is, before the river's midpoint ; a late tributary joins the main stem further downstream, closer to its mouth than to its source, that is, after the midpoint. In the United States, where tributaries sometimes have the same name as

2880-476: The perspective of looking downstream, that is, facing the direction the water current of the main stem is going. In a navigational context, if one were floating on a raft or other vessel in the main stream, this would be the side the tributary enters from as one floats past; alternately, if one were floating down the tributary, the main stream meets it on the opposite bank of the tributary. This information may be used to avoid turbulent water by moving towards

2944-409: The power. This power dynamic continued throughout the entire Three Kingdoms period. The importance of the Han River stemmed from its numerous advantages: the agricultural productivity of its basin, the securing of transportation routes through river navigation, and the establishment of maritime trade routes with China. It was the only region that could simultaneously connect major rivers flowing through

3008-589: The protection of militaries from both sides of the Korean border. On November 5, 2018, the councils of South Korea's Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces, which border the DMZ , signed a "peace working agreement" at Dorasan Station in Paju , giving local approval to the Joint Utilization Zone. The Han River has an exceptionally high flow variability coefficient and is known for its excessively narrow basin. As

3072-445: The river flows normally, the kinetic energy of the water collides with the air to create wind, which helps circulate the surrounding air. Several places in Seoul bear names derived from former boat crossings, such as Gwangjin (Gwangnaru), Mapo, Sangam Naru, Ttukseom Naru, Gongam Naru, Songpa Naru, Hangangjin, Yanghwajin (Yanghwa Naru), Sambat Naru, Dongjak Naru, Seogang Naru, Noryangjin (Nodeul Naru), and Yeongdeungpo. These names reflect

3136-666: The river into which they feed, they are called forks . These are typically designated by compass direction. For example, the American River in California receives flow from its North, Middle, and South forks. The Chicago River 's North Branch has the East, West, and Middle Fork; the South Branch has its South Fork, and used to have a West Fork as well (now filled in). Forks are sometimes designated as right or left. Here,

3200-450: The river the second most scenic location in the city, following Mount Namsan in the top spot. The riparian zones of the Han River are predominantly dominated by willow species in most areas, and locust trees are frequently found in some sections. Additionally, through planting efforts, species such as poplar, Eastern cottonwood, lacebark elm, pin oak, birch, and metasequoia are widely distributed. The found number of plant species has shown

3264-625: The river was known for its huge coefficient of river regime (ratio between the maximum and minimum amount of flow) of 1:39. (For comparison, The Thames and the Rhine have coefficients of 1:8 and 1:18, respectively.) Tributaries are listed in order from the mouth of the Han River to the source. Subtributaries are listed accordingly. A total of 31 bridges cross the Han River in Seoul National Capital Area ( Seoul , Gyeonggi Province , Incheon ), South Korea. They are: From

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3328-546: The riverbed, providing sufficient depth for tour boats even without the submerged weir. However, to accommodate docking and other activities, the submerged weir remains necessary unless additional dredging is performed near the docks. The lower stretches of the Han River are lined with pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths, public parks and restaurants, particularly in Seoul. In a 2011 survey conducted by Seoul Development Institute of 800 residents and 103 urban planning and architectural experts, 51% of residents and 69% of experts voted

3392-484: The sewer system connected to the river. As the river serves as a drinking source for some 12 million South Koreans, some South Koreans launched large protests and accused the US military of ignoring South Korea's environmental regulations. Activists lobbed toy rockets—filled with water from the river—into the main US Army base. The political party Green Party Korea had earlier accused the US of dumping nearly 60 gallons of

3456-418: The smaller stream designated the little fork, the larger either retaining its name unmodified, or receives the designation big . Tributaries are sometimes listed starting with those nearest to the source of the river and ending with those nearest to the mouth of the river . The Strahler stream order examines the arrangement of tributaries in a hierarchy of first, second, third and higher orders, with

3520-465: The special city of Seoul , the metropolitan city of Incheon , and province of Gyeonggi . Seoul has 25 gu (local government wards), Incheon has 8 gu and 2 counties, and Gyeonggi Province has 28 cities and 3 counties as the subdivisions. The 25 districts of Seoul. The eight districts and two counties of Incheon. There are twenty-eight cities and three counties in Gyeonggi-do. Below are seven of

3584-588: The state's grain reserves and national finances. As mentioned above, during the Joseon Dynasty when river transport was central, the Han River served as a vital route through which goods from the Gyeonggi , Chungcheong , and Jeolla Provinces flowed into Hanyang. Additionally, when conducting rituals such as praying for rain at famous mountains and great rivers, the Han River was always included. Even today people set up ritual tables and offer prayers along

3648-432: The streams are seen to diverge by the cardinal direction (north, south, east, or west) in which they proceed upstream, sometimes a third stream entering between two others is designated the middle fork; or the streams are distinguished by the relative height of one to the other, as one stream descending over a cataract into another becomes the upper fork, and the one it descends into, the lower ; or by relative volume:

3712-399: The three major strategic locations alongside Kaegyeong (New/Open capital) and Seogyeong (Western Capital). Later, in September 1382 (8th year of King U), the capital was moved to Hanyang (Another name for now Seoul). However, due to political and social unrest, along with the prevalence of geomancy and the belief that the new capital was inauspicious, the capital was returned to Gaeseong

3776-407: The time were mostly paid in commodities. The capital's position along the Han River meant that the allocation and transportation of grains and various commodities from various provinces to the capital was made much easier, allowing landlords residing in the capital to transport sharecropped grains from provincial (non-capital regions) farms to Hanyang via the river. Additionally, general goods within

3840-416: The toxic chemical into the river, and said that "... if people are exposed to the chemical for a long period of time, it could cause lung cancer [and when] dissolved into water, it could kill fish and other aquatic creatures." The events inspired Bong Joon-Ho 's acclaimed 2006 film The Host . In 2012 the 18-kilometer Ara Canal , suitable for large container and passenger vessels, was completed, linking

3904-405: The tributaries. Legally protected species include otters, which are designated as natural monuments and classified as Category I endangered wildlife, and lynx, classified as Category II endangered wildlife. Otters serve as indicator species for assessing ecosystem health and act as regulators of aquatic ecosystems by consuming non-native species such as bass and bluegill. The Han River is formed by

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3968-445: The world after Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles but ahead of Paris and London. The region hosts headquarters of 59 Forbes Global 2000 companies. As the economy of Seoul Metropolitan Area transformed to knowledge economy from the manufacturing -based economy of the 20th century, there are a number of high-tech business parks in Seoul Metropolitan Area, such as Digital Media City and Pangyo Techno Valley . The Seoul Metropolitan Area

4032-692: Was deleted. There are records during the Goryeo period, that the Han River was also called Yeolsu (洌水),Sapyeongdo (沙坪島) and Sarijin. During the Joseon period, also as Gyeonggang (京江). Various Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts have been discovered in the Han River basin, with Amsa-dong Prehistoric Site in Gangdong District representing the local area's Neolithic culture . Artifacts such as pottery, stone tools, and spearheads, which provide insights into their dietary habits, have been unearthed. It

4096-429: Was done on October 25, 1394 (lunar calendar). After the capital relocation, the first time Seoul was the capital since any Korean nation since Bakjae's Wiryeseong , the Han River grew in importance alongside the city's new prestiege. The Korean peninsula, being a very mountainous region,has traditionally relied heavily on canal- and river-based water transport for everything from inter-province trade to taxes, which at

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