Korea: Geographic Features

1. Korea: Geographic Features Larry Zhang Cassie Eagle 2/3/14

2. Overview North Korea • Located in East Asia as the Northern segment of the Korean Peninsula • Occupies area between the 37° and 43°N latitudes and the 124° and 131°E longitudes South Korea • Also located in East Asia below North Korea, occupying the southern half of the Korean Peninsula • Occupies area between the 33° and 39°N latitudes and the 124° and 130°E longitudes

3. Land Features North Korea • Amnok (Yalu) River is the longest river, flowing over 491 miles • Baekdu Mountain is the highest point in North Korea • Almost 4/5 of the available land is classified as mountains and highlands divided by deep valleys • Major mountain ranges include the Hamgyongin the northeast, Rangrim in north-central, and the Kangnam

4. Land Features South Korea • Major rivers are the Hatan, Imji, and Soyang Rivers • The land is mostly hills and mountains, with wide coastal plains in the western and southern areas • Mountainous regions occupy 70% of the land, with arable lowlands only composing 30% • Major mountain ranges include the Seroaksan, Saejae, and Mungyeong ranges

5. 38th Parallel • The 38th parallel divides North and South Korea as two distinct, separate states • Heavily demilitarized zone that is about 150 miles long and 1.2 miles wide on both sides • Both North Korean and South Korean troops monitor both sides strictly • Serves as a buffer between the Koreas

6. Importance of Location North Korea • North Korea is strategically located on the Northern half of the Korean Peninsula, bordering China, Russia and South Korea • Has access to resources such as those in the ocean where oil is present, allowing for primary economic activities South Korea • Borders North Korea and has access to large bodies of water • Offshore economic zones are easily accessible to South Korea • Countries want to possess South Korea because it is in a prime location for trade and commerce

7. Similar Places North Korea and South Korea • Geographically similar to Japan, which is also very mountainous in that only a small portion of the land, the ecumene, is habitable • Also share many features that are present in China, such as coastal plains and lowlands • North Korea, unlike South Korea, Japan, or Northern China, experiences very few earthquakes

8. Works Cited "North Korea." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2014. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html>. "South Korea." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2014. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html>. Fry, Michael. "National Geographic, Korea, and the 38th Parallel." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 05 Aug. 2013. Web. 01 Feb. 2014. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130805-korean-war-dmz-armistice-38-parallel-geography/>. "Geography of South Korea." Princeton University. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014. <http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Geography_of_South_Korea.html>.