The Nakdonggang flows from the Taebaek Mountains to the South Sea or Korean Strait, which separates Korea from Japan. The river originates from the junction of the Cheolamcheon and Hwangjicheon streams in Dongjeom-dong, Taebaekcity, Gangwon province. From there to its mouth it winds for about 506 kilometres (314 mi). The width of the river ranges from only a few metres in its upper reaches, to several hundred metres towards its estuary.
The Nakdonggang River has played an important role throughout Korean history. The river basin has been a favored dwelling-place for as long as people have inhabited the Korean peninsula. Numerous Neolithic remains have been found in the valley.
Around the 1st century, the valley is believed to have been inhabited by the Byeonhan confederacy tribes. During the Three Kingdoms period, the Gaya confederacy controlled the valley, until they were overrun by Silla in 562. These states exploited the river's potential for navigation and commerce, operating a thriving trade in armor and weapons with neighboring countries, including Yamato period Japan. Through the Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon periods, the river continued to serve as a major transportation corridor in the Gyeongsang region. It was especially used for transporting fresh seafood inland, such as mackerel, which were salted and dried in order to prevent them from spoiling. The city of Andong was the farthest inland the fish could be brought before going bad, so many people flocked there during the Joseon Dynasty to eat fish.[5]
As a barrier to movement, the Nakdonggang River gained sudden prominence during the Korean War. The southern length of the river formed the western portion of the Pusan Perimeter, which the UN forces fought to maintain during the autumn of 1950. The bridge over the Nakdonggang River at Waegwan was blown up on August 3, 1950 in an effort to prevent North Korean forces from advancing on Daegu. A large number of South Korean refugees were killed in the explosion.[6] Although some North Korean forces did cross the Nakdonggang River in places, for the most part the river still marks their furthest advance.
Nakdonggang river phenol contamination incident
Main article: 1991 Nakdonggang river phenol contamination incident
In 1991, there were two incidents where phenol was leaked into the river from Doosan Electronics. There were two leaks, the first thirty tons on March 14, 1991 and the second 1.3 tons on April 22. The phenol ended up at a water processing facility used for drinking water in Daegu and began to smell after becoming chlorophenol when the water was sanitized with chlorine.
Ecology
The Nakdonggang valley includes numerous floodplain wetlands, the most well-known of which are the Joonam Reservoirs near Changwon City and Upo Ramsar site, in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang. These wetlands, while significantly degraded and overdeveloped, still provide habitat to a significant number of rare and threatened species, most especially birds (such as the Baikal Teal, Anas formosa, and White-naped Crane, Grus vipio), fish and plants. Despite being home to the bustling Port of Busan, the Nakdonggang Estuary is also internationally important for waterbirds, despite recent ecologically-destructive developments including reclamation for housing and industry (e.g. the Busan New Port), the ongoing construction of a major bridge (the Miyeonji Bridge) and most recently the threatened construction of the Korean Grand Canal project.
The Nakdonggang and its tributaries also serve as a major source of drinking water for the inhabitants of the river basin and others nearby. However, water pollution due to domestic and agricultural wastewater remains a serious concern.
Economic role
Andong dam
Although all but the southernmost reaches of the Nakdonggang River have ceased to serve as a major commercial waterway, the river continues to feed those dwelling near it, both directly through fishing and indirectly through irrigation. Substantial amounts of snails and catfish are taken from the waters and used in local cuisine.
Near Andong, a series of massive hydroelectric dams have been constructed, creating a small chain of artificial lakes of which Andong Lake is the largest. These lakes also support a substantial recreational industry. Bass fishing is especially popular, since the lakes have been artificially stocked with bass.
In the early 2010s, the Nakdonggang River was to be part of former South Korean president Lee Myung Bak's canal project, the Grand Korean Waterway. The project would link the Nakdong with the Han River to the north, creating a shipping canal spanning length of the country, from Seoul to Busan. Encountering considerable controversy nationwide as well as from residents along the Nakdonggang, the Waterway project was scrapped by the end of Lee's presidency.
Festival
Nakdonggang River Bicycle Festival - The Nakdong River Cultural Center hold bicycle festivals that everyone can enjoy the healthy leisure culture of local residents. It is composed of flat courses about 20Km in the vicinity of Eulsukdo and Nakdonggang River Cultural Center.[7]
^In the 19th century, it was also known in English sources as Nam-tong River or Nam-tong Kang.[4] The name was romanized as Naktong during the Korean War.
References
^ [List of Rivers of South Korea, 2013] (PDF) (in Korean). Han River Flood Control Office, Republic of Korea. 31 December 2012. pp. 22, 25, 29, 136–137. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
^ abHRFCO 2012 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, pp. 22, 25, 33, 136-137.
^ ab [Monthly Status & Predictions Report on Water Resources, January 2014] (in Korean). Han River Flood Control Office, Republic of Korea. 13 January 2014. p. 3. Archived from the original (HWP) on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
nakdong, river, nakdonggang, river, nakdonggang, korean, pronunciation, nakt, oŋgaŋ, longest, river, south, korea, passes, through, major, cities, such, daegu, busan, takes, name, from, role, eastern, border, gaya, confederacy, during, korea, three, kingdoms, . The Nakdonggang River or Nakdonggang Korean pronunciation nakt oŋgaŋ d is the longest river in South Korea and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea s Three Kingdoms Era Nakdonggang RiverThe Nakdonggang in Andong North GyeongsangThe Nakdonggang RiverNative name낙동강 Korean LocationCountrySouth KoreaProvincesGangwon North Gyeongsang Daegu South Gyeongsang BusanPhysical characteristicsSourceTaebaek Mountains locationEundae Peak Taebaek Gangwon a 1 MouthSea of Japan locationEstuary Bank Gangseo BusanLength510 km 320 mi 2 Basin size23 384 km2 9 029 sq mi 2 Discharge locationJindong Haman b 3 average383 m3 s 13 500 cu ft s c 3 Basin featuresTributaries leftBanbyeoncheon Geumhogang River Miryanggang River Yangsancheon West Nakdonggang River rightNaeseongcheon Gamcheon Hwanggang River Nam River Distributary of NakdonggangNakdong RiverHangul낙동강Hanja洛東江Revised RomanizationNakdonggangMcCune ReischauerNaktonggang Contents 1 Geography 2 History 2 1 Nakdonggang river phenol contamination incident 3 Ecology 4 Economic role 5 Festival 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 BibliographyGeography EditThe Nakdonggang flows from the Taebaek Mountains to the South Sea or Korean Strait which separates Korea from Japan The river originates from the junction of the Cheolamcheon and Hwangjicheon streams in Dongjeom dong Taebaek city Gangwon province From there to its mouth it winds for about 506 kilometres 314 mi The width of the river ranges from only a few metres in its upper reaches to several hundred metres towards its estuary Major tributaries include the Yeong Geumho and Nam rivers Together with its tributaries the Nakdonggang drains most of North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang provinces along with small portions of North Jeolla South Jeolla and Gangwon The total watershed is 23 384 square kilometres 9 029 sq mi History Edit Hahoe Folk Village The Nakdonggang River has played an important role throughout Korean history The river basin has been a favored dwelling place for as long as people have inhabited the Korean peninsula Numerous Neolithic remains have been found in the valley Around the 1st century the valley is believed to have been inhabited by the Byeonhan confederacy tribes During the Three Kingdoms period the Gaya confederacy controlled the valley until they were overrun by Silla in 562 These states exploited the river s potential for navigation and commerce operating a thriving trade in armor and weapons with neighboring countries including Yamato period Japan Through the Silla Goryeo and Joseon periods the river continued to serve as a major transportation corridor in the Gyeongsang region It was especially used for transporting fresh seafood inland such as mackerel which were salted and dried in order to prevent them from spoiling The city of Andong was the farthest inland the fish could be brought before going bad so many people flocked there during the Joseon Dynasty to eat fish 5 As a barrier to movement the Nakdonggang River gained sudden prominence during the Korean War The southern length of the river formed the western portion of the Pusan Perimeter which the UN forces fought to maintain during the autumn of 1950 The bridge over the Nakdonggang River at Waegwan was blown up on August 3 1950 in an effort to prevent North Korean forces from advancing on Daegu A large number of South Korean refugees were killed in the explosion 6 Although some North Korean forces did cross the Nakdonggang River in places for the most part the river still marks their furthest advance Nakdonggang river phenol contamination incident Edit Main article 1991 Nakdonggang river phenol contamination incident In 1991 there were two incidents where phenol was leaked into the river from Doosan Electronics There were two leaks the first thirty tons on March 14 1991 and the second 1 3 tons on April 22 The phenol ended up at a water processing facility used for drinking water in Daegu and began to smell after becoming chlorophenol when the water was sanitized with chlorine Ecology EditThe Nakdonggang valley includes numerous floodplain wetlands the most well known of which are the Joonam Reservoirs near Changwon City and Upo Ramsar site in Changnyeong County South Gyeongsang These wetlands while significantly degraded and overdeveloped still provide habitat to a significant number of rare and threatened species most especially birds such as the Baikal Teal Anas formosa and White naped Crane Grus vipio fish and plants Despite being home to the bustling Port of Busan the Nakdonggang Estuary is also internationally important for waterbirds despite recent ecologically destructive developments including reclamation for housing and industry e g the Busan New Port the ongoing construction of a major bridge the Miyeonji Bridge and most recently the threatened construction of the Korean Grand Canal project The Nakdonggang and its tributaries also serve as a major source of drinking water for the inhabitants of the river basin and others nearby However water pollution due to domestic and agricultural wastewater remains a serious concern Economic role Edit Andong dam Although all but the southernmost reaches of the Nakdonggang River have ceased to serve as a major commercial waterway the river continues to feed those dwelling near it both directly through fishing and indirectly through irrigation Substantial amounts of snails and catfish are taken from the waters and used in local cuisine Near Andong a series of massive hydroelectric dams have been constructed creating a small chain of artificial lakes of which Andong Lake is the largest These lakes also support a substantial recreational industry Bass fishing is especially popular since the lakes have been artificially stocked with bass In the early 2010s the Nakdonggang River was to be part of former South Korean president Lee Myung Bak s canal project the Grand Korean Waterway The project would link the Nakdong with the Han River to the north creating a shipping canal spanning length of the country from Seoul to Busan Encountering considerable controversy nationwide as well as from residents along the Nakdonggang the Waterway project was scrapped by the end of Lee s presidency Festival EditNakdonggang River Bicycle Festival The Nakdong River Cultural Center hold bicycle festivals that everyone can enjoy the healthy leisure culture of local residents It is composed of flat courses about 20Km in the vicinity of Eulsukdo and Nakdonggang River Cultural Center 7 See also EditGeography of South Korea List of rivers of Asia West Nakdong RiverNotes Edit Eundae Peak 1 442 3m Korean 은대봉 Hanja 銀臺峰 RR Eundaebong The peak is also known as the Sanghambaek Mountain 상함백산 or Cheonui Peak 천의봉 Discharge average from 2004 to 2013 Discharge average from 2004 to 2013 In the 19th century it was also known in English sources as Nam tong River or Nam tong Kang 4 The name was romanized as Naktong during the Korean War References Edit 2013년 한국하천일람 List of Rivers of South Korea 2013 PDF in Korean Han River Flood Control Office Republic of Korea 31 December 2012 pp 22 25 29 136 137 Archived from the original PDF on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 7 July 2014 a b HRFCO 2012 Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine pp 22 25 33 136 137 a b 2014년 1월 월간 수자원 현황 및 전망 Monthly Status amp Predictions Report on Water Resources January 2014 in Korean Han River Flood Control Office Republic of Korea 13 January 2014 p 3 Archived from the original HWP on 15 July 2014 Retrieved 17 July 2014 EB 1878 p 390 Archived copy Archived from the original on 2012 04 02 Retrieved 2011 11 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link 1950 Retrieved October 10 2019 낙동강자전거페스티벌 2018 korean visitkorea or kr in Korean Retrieved 2018 06 12 Bibliography Edit Corea Encyclopaedia Britannica 9th ed Vol VI New York Charles Scribner s Sons 1878 pp 390 394 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nakdong River Coordinates 35 03 06 N 128 55 21 E 35 05167 N 128 92250 E 35 05167 128 92250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nakdong River amp oldid 1131065309, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
