Saemangeum is an estuarine tidal flat on the coast of the Yellow Sea in South Korea. It was dammed by the government of South Korea's Saemangeum Seawall Project, completed on April 27, 2010, after a long fight between the government and environmental activists, and is scheduled to be converted into either agricultural or industrial land. Prior to 2010, it had played an important role as a habitat for migratory birds. The completion of this seawall is likely to be a major contributor to the decline of many species. Around 400,000 shorebirds depended on the Saemangeum estuarine as an important feeding ground on the 24,000 km migration between Asia and Alaska and Russia,[1] including the two endangered waders Nordmann's greenshank and spoon-billed sandpiper (each species with fewer than a thousand surviving birds).[2] A conservation organisation has accused authorities of having failed to monitor the project's impact on local wildlife in a transparent way, and carried out an independent monitoring program in 2006.
Satellite image of Saemangeum taken in October 2006
A comparison of the Saemangeum Estuary between 1989 and 2006
The Saemangeum lay at the mouths of the Dongjin and Mangyeong Rivers, on the coast of Jeollabuk-do. It is just south of the estuary of the Geum River. Neighboring districts include Gunsan City, Buan County, and Gimje City.
The project of filling in the estuary began in 1991, but was slowed by a series of court actions by environmentalists. The completed seawall is some 33 kilometers long, and replaces a coastline that was once more than 100 kilometers long. After the estuary has been completely filled, an area of about 400 km2 (roughly two-thirds the size of Seoul) will have been added to the Korean peninsula, making it one of the biggest land reclamation projects in history.[3]
The estuary was originally called "Mangeum" (萬金). This name was probably formed from combining the first character of "Mangyeong" and that of "Gimje."[4]
Saemanguem was completed on April 27, 2010, officially becoming the longest seawall ever built with the length of 33.9 km, breaking the record of Zuiderzee Works from 1932.[5]
On August 2, 2010, Saemanguem was certified by Guinness World Records as the longest man-made sea barrier in the world.[6]
^"Birds Korea - Saemangeum - Mainpage". www.birdskorea.org. Retrieved January 28, 2008.
^"Birds 'starve' at S Korea wetland". BBC News. May 12, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
^. Chosun.com. April 21, 2006. Archived from the original on May 13, 2006. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
^ [Daegang-ri (大項里): Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Daegaksan (大角山): Sinsi-dori, Okdo-myeon, Gunsan-si]. Korea Landportal. June 2003. Archived from the original on November 25, 2004. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
^"세계최장 33.9 km... 새만금방조제 달려보니" [The world's longest 33.9 km... I ran the Saemangeum seawall]. Seoul.co.kr (in Kanuri). April 28, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
^. Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
^"sae man guem, korea 2023" (in Korean). Retrieved July 25, 2017.
Further reading
Moores, N.; Battley, P.; Rogers, D.; Park M-N; Sung H-C; Van de Kam, J.; & Gosbell, K. (2006). Birds Korea – AWSG Saemangeum Shorebird Monitoring Program Report, 2006. Birds Korea publication: Busan.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saemangeum Seawall.
Korea's government official website : Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency
Chosun Ilbo report on the completion of the seawall, 2006-04-21
Saemangeum reference page from Birds Korea
Korea Rural Community Corporation Saemangeum Website
Article in New York Review of Books Mentions Saemangeum Seawall as prime example of bird habitat loss
saemangeum, estuarine, tidal, flat, coast, yellow, south, korea, dammed, government, south, korea, seawall, project, completed, april, 2010, after, long, fight, between, government, environmental, activists, scheduled, converted, into, either, agricultural, in. Saemangeum is an estuarine tidal flat on the coast of the Yellow Sea in South Korea It was dammed by the government of South Korea s Saemangeum Seawall Project completed on April 27 2010 after a long fight between the government and environmental activists and is scheduled to be converted into either agricultural or industrial land Prior to 2010 it had played an important role as a habitat for migratory birds The completion of this seawall is likely to be a major contributor to the decline of many species Around 400 000 shorebirds depended on the Saemangeum estuarine as an important feeding ground on the 24 000 km migration between Asia and Alaska and Russia 1 including the two endangered waders Nordmann s greenshank and spoon billed sandpiper each species with fewer than a thousand surviving birds 2 A conservation organisation has accused authorities of having failed to monitor the project s impact on local wildlife in a transparent way and carried out an independent monitoring program in 2006 SaemangeumHangul새만금Hanja新萬金Revised RomanizationSaeman geumMcCune ReischauerSaeman gŭmA view of the Saemangeum Seawall Sinsi sluice gate of Saemangeum Seawall Before reclamation Taken in March 1989Satellite image of Saemangeum taken in October 2006A comparison of the Saemangeum Estuary between 1989 and 2006 The Saemangeum lay at the mouths of the Dongjin and Mangyeong Rivers on the coast of Jeollabuk do It is just south of the estuary of the Geum River Neighboring districts include Gunsan City Buan County and Gimje City The project of filling in the estuary began in 1991 but was slowed by a series of court actions by environmentalists The completed seawall is some 33 kilometers long and replaces a coastline that was once more than 100 kilometers long After the estuary has been completely filled an area of about 400 km2 roughly two thirds the size of Seoul will have been added to the Korean peninsula making it one of the biggest land reclamation projects in history 3 The estuary was originally called Mangeum 萬金 This name was probably formed from combining the first character of Mangyeong and that of Gimje 4 Saemanguem was completed on April 27 2010 officially becoming the longest seawall ever built with the length of 33 9 km breaking the record of Zuiderzee Works from 1932 5 On August 2 2010 Saemanguem was certified by Guinness World Records as the longest man made sea barrier in the world 6 Saemangum will be the venue of the 25th World Scout Jamboree hosted by the Korea Scout Association 7 Contents 1 See also 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksSee also EditEnvironment of South Korea Geography of South Korea Rivers of South Korea Saemangeum SeawallReferences Edit Birds Korea Saemangeum Mainpage www birdskorea org Retrieved January 28 2008 Birds starve at S Korea wetland BBC News May 12 2007 Retrieved May 23 2010 Massive Seawall on Korea s Coast Completed Chosun com April 21 2006 Archived from the original on May 13 2006 Retrieved April 21 2007 대항리 大項里 전라북도 부안군 변산면 대각산 大角山 군산시 옥도면 신시도리 Daegang ri 大項里 Byeonsan myeon Buan gun Jeollabuk do Daegaksan 大角山 Sinsi dori Okdo myeon Gunsan si Korea Landportal June 2003 Archived from the original on November 25 2004 Retrieved May 6 2006 세계최장 33 9 km 새만금방조제 달려보니 The world s longest 33 9 km I ran the Saemangeum seawall Seoul co kr in Kanuri April 28 2010 Retrieved April 30 2010 LEAD Guinness certifies Saemangeum as world s longest seawall Yonhap News Agency Archived from the original on March 26 2012 Retrieved August 2 2010 sae man guem korea 2023 in Korean Retrieved July 25 2017 Further reading EditMoores N Battley P Rogers D Park M N Sung H C Van de Kam J amp Gosbell K 2006 Birds Korea AWSG Saemangeum Shorebird Monitoring Program Report 2006 Birds Korea publication Busan External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saemangeum Seawall Korea s government official website Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency Chosun Ilbo report on the completion of the seawall 2006 04 21 Saemangeum reference page from Birds Korea Korea Rural Community Corporation Saemangeum Website Article in New York Review of Books Mentions Saemangeum Seawall as prime example of bird habitat loss 25th WorldScout Jamboree Official SiteCoordinates 35 49 00 N 126 37 20 E 35 81667 N 126 62222 E 35 81667 126 62222 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saemangeum amp oldid 1121424234, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
