Han River (Korea)
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The Han River in South Korea is the confluence of the Namhan River (South Han River), which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River (North Han River), which originates on the slopes of Mount Geumgang in North Korea. The River flows through Seoul and then merges with the Imjin River shortly before it flows into the Yellow Sea.
The total length of the Han River is 514 km.[citation needed] Although it is not a long river, the lower Han is remarkably broad for such a relatively short river. Within Seoul city limits, the river is more than 1 km wide. Prior to the construction of a number of major dams, the river was known for its huge coefficient of river regime (ratio between the maximum and minimum amount of flow) of 1:390. (For comparison, The Thames and the Rhine have coefficients of 1:8 and 1:18, respectively.)[1]
The Han River and its surrounding area played an important role in Korean history. The Three Kingdoms of Korea strove to take control of this land, where the river was used as a trade route to China (via the Yellow Sea). However, the river is no longer actively used for navigation, because its estuary is located at the borders of the two Koreas, barred for entrance by any civilian.
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[edit] The name
The Namhan meaning South Han, Gang meaning river is sometimes, but not always, referred to as the "Han" in South Korea. The term "South Han" is understood irrespective of which side of the border one stands.
Even though "Namhan" and "Bukhan" are homophones with the acronyms Namhan (남한; South Korea) and Bukhan (북한; North Korea), used commonly in South Korea, this is a mere coincidence. The hanja for the Han River is not "韓" ("Korea") but "漢" (the Chinese Han dynasty or "China" in general).
[edit] Tributaries of the Han
Tributaries are listed in order from the mouth of the Han to the source. Subtributaries are listed accordingly.
- Gongneungcheon (곡능천)
- Najinhacheon (나진하천)
- Changneungcheon (창능천)
- Anyangcheon (안양천)
- Dorimcheon (도림천)
- Jungnangcheon (중랑천)
- Cheonggyecheon (청계천)
- Tancheon (탄천)
- Yangjaecheon (양재천)
- Yeosucheon (여수천)
- Bundangcheon (분당천)
- Pungdeokcheon (풍덕천)
- Gyeongancheon (경안천)
- Neungwoncheon (능원천)
- Yangjicheon (양지천)
- Unhakcheon (운학천)
- Bukhan River (북한강)
- Munhocheon (문호천)
- Hongcheon River (홍천강)
- Sandaecheon (산대천)
- Deoksancheon (덕산천)
- Seongjeoncheon (성전천)
- Yasidaecheon (야시대천)
- Gapyeongcheon (가평천)
- Soyang River (소양강)
- Sanaecheon (사내천)
- Yongdamcheon (용담천)
- Magunaemeo (마구내머)
- Mahyeoncheon (마현천)
- Bongocheon (봉오천)
- Namhan River (남한강)
- Sinnaegaeul (신내개울)
- Heukcheon (흑천)
- Yongdamcheon (용담천)
- Bokhacheon (복하천)
- Jukdangcheon (죽당천)
- Pyogocheon (표고천)
- Gwanricheon (관리천)
- Yanghwacheon (양화천)
- Geumdangcheon (금당천)
- Cheongmicheon (청미천)
- Gyecheon (계천)
- Ungcheon (웅천)
- Gyecheon (계천)
- Seom River (섬강)
- Iricheon (이리천)
- Mokmicheon (목미천)
- Hwangsancheon (환산천)
- Guryongcheon (구룡천)
- Yeongdeokcheon (영덕천)
- Daejeoncheon (대전천)
- Dalcheon (달천)
- Yodocheon (요도천)
- Dong River (동강)
- Sinnaegaeul (신내개울)
[edit] Bridges over the lower Han
A total of 27 bridges of Han River in Seoul National Capital Area(Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon), South Korea, are,
From the west to the east
- Ilsan Bridge; 일산대교
- Gimpo Bridge; 김포대교
- Haengju Bridge; 행주대교
- Banghwa Bridge; 방화대교
- Gayang Bridge; 가양대교
- Seongsan Bridge; 성산대교
- Yanghwa Bridge; 양화대교
- Dangsan Railway Bridge; 당산철교
- Seogang Bridge; 서강대교
- Mapo Bridge; 마포대교
- Wonhyo Bridge; 원효대교
- Hangang Railway Bridge; 한강철교
- Hangang Bridge; 한강대교
- Dongjak Bridge; 동작대교
- Banpo Bridge with Jamsu Bridge; 반포대교와 잠수교
- Hannam Bridge; 한남대교
- Dongho Bridge; 동호대교
- Seongsu Bridge; 성수대교
- Yeongdong Bridge; 영동대교
- Cheongdam Bridge; 청담대교
- Jamshil Bridge; 잠실대교
- Jamshil Railway Bridge; 잠실철교
- Olympic Bridge; 올림픽대교
- Cheonho Bridge; 천호대교
- Gwangjin Bridge; 광진교
- Gangdong Bridge; 강동대교
- Paldang Bridge; 팔당대교
[edit] Gallery
 Looking east along the north bank of the Han from Seogang Bridge in normal traffic conditions |
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[edit] Trivia
The Han River is the setting for The Host, in which the Wonhyo Bridge plays an important part.
[edit] See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- Rivers of Asia
- Rivers of Korea
- Geography of South Korea
- Miracle on the Han River
[edit] External links
- Hangang Citizen's Park operated by Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Korea Times article on the river's modern history
- ^ Korea Water Resources Association: http://www.kwra.or.kr/news/en_02.html
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