Tabla de Contenidos
The Korean Peninsula has been inhabited by humans since time immemorial, giving rise to powerful dynasties and empires. In recent times, the Korean peninsula was politically organized into a single country, but after World War II it was divided into North and South Korea. The most populous city on the peninsula is Seoul, the capital of South Korea, while Pyongyang is the main city and capital of North Korea.
the korean peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is located in Southeast Asia, extending 1,100 km from the body of the continent, where it borders China and, in a small section, Russia. The seas that surround it are to the east, the Sea of Japan (an arm of the Pacific Ocean); to the west, the Yellow Sea and the Bay of Korea. To the south, the Korea Strait, or Tsu-Shima, separates it from Japan. The Korean peninsula has an area of 219,140 km 2 .
About 70% of the Korean peninsula is made up of mountains, although there is arable land on the plains that tucks in between the mountain ranges. The extent of arable land areas is limited and limited to a few regions of the peninsula. The most mountainous regions of the peninsula are located in the north and in the east; the highest mountains are to the north. The highest mountain on the peninsula is Mount Paektu, with a height of 2,744 meters above sea level. Mount Paektu is located on the border between North Korea and China and is a mountain of volcanic origin that belongs to the Baekdudaegan mountain range that runs through most of the peninsula.
The coastlines of the Korean Peninsula stretch for 8,458 km, irregularly outlined. A large number of islands also make up the territory of the peninsula, no less than 3,579 islands extend off its coasts.
Volcanic activity on the Korean peninsula is limited. The last eruption of Mount Paektu occurred in 1903, and there are other volcanoes that have had no recent activity, their craters being filled by lakes. However, there are records of a very important eruption of Mount Paektu in the year 940 BC, which is considered one of the most important identified on Earth according to the study of scattered volcanic ash. The peninsula also registers seismic activity but it is not frequent. The latest earthquakes occurred in 2016 and 2017, with an epicenter near the city of Pohang.
climate and biodiversity
The climate of the Korean Peninsula varies by location. While the south of the peninsula is hot and humid, due to the incidence of the warm current from the east of Korea, the northern areas are much colder as they are affected by the climatic factors that the wind brings from Siberia. As an example of the variability in temperature in the peninsula, we can see the temperatures in the main cities. The average temperature in Pyongyang is -11˚C in January, in the boreal winter, and in the boreal summer, in August, it rises to 29˚C. While the average temperature in Seoul is 6˚C in January and 30˚C in August. The entire peninsula is affected by the East Asian monsoon, winds that blow in summer and bring heavy rain. Typhoons are frequent in autumn.
The Korean peninsula is considered a region with high biodiversity, since it has more than 3,000 species of plants, more than 500 of them native to the peninsula. The vegetation cover of the peninsula is made up of about two thirds of mixed forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, an extension that has decreased significantly due to the use of wood from the forests as fuel. The main species that make up these forests are pine, maple, elm, poplar, fir and poplar. Bamboo, laurel, and oak can also be found in the southern coastal areas. The peninsula is divided into regions based on the composition of its flora, associated with climatic and topographic variations. These zones are warm temperate, temperate and cold temperate.
The geographic distribution of animal species on the Korean Peninsula is also highly dependent on location, being associated with topography and climate. While large mammals can be found throughout the Korean Peninsula, animals such as tigers, leopards, bears, and lynx have almost completely disappeared due to deforestation and poaching.
Sources
- Korean Peninsula Map, Map Of North And South Korea, Korea Information And Facts . World Atlas, 2019.
- Korean Peninsula . Wikipedia, December 4, 2019.
- Redfern, Simon. The feared and unknown volcano of North Korea. BBC News. September 8, 2013.
