Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 8.15
Schematic diagram of Cheonggyecheon
restoration project, showing infrastructure as well as
the river.
Source
: Image courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan City
archive and Lee (2003).
environment. In addition to the aesthetic benefit
of having a river within a city centre the ambient
air temperature adjacent to the stream has dropped
by around 2°C and the removal of the expressway
has led to a decrease in particulate air pollution.
However, the water flowing down the river is
around 1.4 m
3
/s of predominantly treated drink-
ing water, making it an expensive stream to
maintain.
A visit to the Cheonggyecheon river in the
evening provides an interesting insight into the
way an urban stream can be used as a civic park.
The upper reaches of the river are ablaze with
multi-coloured neon lights lighting up the stream
(see Plate 11), the sculptures along the bank and
stepping stones across the stream make it a
popular place for people to congregate and walk.
The Cheonggyecheon has been transformed from
a modernist vision (channelised and covered over)
into a post-modern concept where the aesthetic
function as a civic park is as important as the
biophysical function of the river itself.
More details on the Cheonggyecheon Restora-
tion Project can be found at <http://english.seoul.
go.kr/cheonggye>.
Figure 8.14
The Cheonggyecheon river in a 'restored'
state, 2006.
Source
: Photo courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan City
archive
river contains many artificial weirs and fountains,
particularly in its upper reaches, ensuring the
water oxygen content stays high. Further down-
stream there is good enough water quality for
invertebrates and fish to establish permanent
populations. A survey on the ecology of the stream
conducted between March and April 2007 by
the Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management
Corporation found thirty species of bird and
thirteen species of fish inhabiting the stream
