Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The largest of these agglomerations is the capital, Seoul, which lies in the northwest just
a few dozen kilometers from the inter-Korean border. Seoul is hemmed in by mountains and
bisected by the broad Han River, which flows through the northern stretch of the country
before emptying into the Yellow Sea near the west coast city of Incheon, a major port and
industrial center.
Other major waterways include the Nakdong, which stretches from the country's center
to the southeastern port of Busan, South Korea's second-largest city. With its seaside perch
and many hilltop homes, Busan enjoys one of the country's more unique locations; it is
the nexus of the southern industrial heartland, which also encompasses the nearby towns
of Ulsan and Daegu. This region developed a reputation for grit and pollution in the rapid
urbanization of the 1970s and 1980s, but tighter environmental regulations have improved
things greatly. The northeastern province of Gangwon, by contrast, was and still is known
for its green spaces and the alpine vistas of the Taebaek mountain range.
The lush coastal plains of the west serve as South Korea's agricultural center, a place
characterized by wide expanses of rice fields, orchards, and tea plantations, as well as siz-
able cities such as Gwangju and Jeonju.
Much of the South Korean coast is rocky and windswept, though the southeast in partic-
ular boasts a few pleasant sand beaches. Scattered in the surrounding oceans are dozens of
picturesque islands, the most renowned of which is Jeju, an oval-shaped outcrop 100 kilo-
meters (60 miles) south of the peninsula that draws holidaymakers with its balmy temperat-
ures and distinctive geological features, including a network of lava caves and cone-shaped
Mount Halla, a dormant volcano that is the country's highest peak.
