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The name "Korea" is believed derived from the phrase "high mountains and sparkling streams." Korea's other name, "Choson," is often translated as "the land of morning calm." The Korean Peninsula is a landmass in northeastern Asia that extends southward from the northeastern corner of the Chinese mainland. South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea occupies the southern portion of the peninsula. The Korean peninsula is elongated, irregular in shape, and is surrounded on three sides by large expanses of water. It is bounded on the north by North Korea, on the east by the Sea of Japan, on the southeast and south by the Korea Strait (which separates it from Japan), and on the west by the Yellow Sea (which separates it from China). The peninsula is about 320 km (200 mi.) wide, 965 km (600 mi.) in length, and has a total land area of about 99,300 sq. km (119,700 sq. mi.), including numerous off-lying islands in the south and west. The largest of the islands is Cheju with an area of about 1829 sq. km.(2200 sq. mi.). South Korea has a predominantly rugged, mountainous terrain that looks like "a sea in a heavy gale." The principal mountain range is the Taebaek-San Maek, which extends in a generally north-south direction parallel to the eastern coast. The South Korea's highest peak, located on the island of Cheju, is Halla-san (1950 m. or 2340 ft.). Plains constitute less than one-fifth the total area and are concentrated in the west along the coast, the coastal plains in the east and south are very narrow. Apart from the eastern coast, South Korea has a highly indented coastline characterized by high tidal ranges. The two longest rivers, the Naktong and Han, rise in the Taebaek-San Maek Mountains, the former flowing south to the Korea Strait, the latter northwest to the Yellow Sea. Other major rivers include the Kum, Yongsan, and Tongjin. Due to Korea's geographic features, the majority of its population is concentrated along inland valleys and coastal plains, which open onto its Western Coast. The capital and largest city of South Korea is Seoul. |
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