Nakdong
Nakdong is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Coordinates
- 36.05°, 128.41°
About Nakdong
The Nakdong River or Nakdonggang (Korean: 낙동강, pronounced [nak̚t͈oŋgaŋ]) is the longest river in South Korea, which passes through the major cities of Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea's Three Kingdoms Era.
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Nakdong River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Nakdong in Depth
Geography
The Nakdong River flows from the Taebaek Mountains to the South Sea or Korea Strait, which separates Korea from Japan. The river originates from the junction of the Cheoramcheon and Hwangjicheon streams in Dongjeom-dong, Taebaek, Gangwon Province at Gumunso. From there to its mouth it winds for about 506 kilometres (314 mi). The width of the river ranges from only a few metres in its upper reaches to several hundred metres towards its estuary.
Major tributaries include the Yeong, Geumho, and Nam rivers. Together with its tributaries, the Nakdonggang drains most of North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang provinces, along with small portions of North Jeolla, South Jeolla, and Gangwon provinces. The total watershed is 23,384 square kilometres (9,029 mi2).
History
The Nakdong has played an important role throughout Korean history. The river basin has been a favored dwelling-place for as long as people have inhabited the Korean Peninsula. Numerous Neolithic remains have been found in the valley.
Around the 1st century, the valley is believed to have been inhabited by the Byeonhan confederacy tribes. During the Three Kingdoms period, the Gaya confederacy controlled the valley until they were overrun by Silla in 562. These states exploited the river's potential for navigation and commerce, operating a thriving trade in armor and weapons with neighboring countries, including Yamato period Japan. Through the Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon periods, the river continued to serve as a major transportation corridor in the Gyeongsang region.
Ecology
The Nakdong River valley includes numerous floodplain wetlands, the most well-known of which are the Junamjeosuji Reservoir near Changwon and Upo Wetland in Changnyeong County. These wetlands, while significantly degraded and overdeveloped, provide habitat to a significant number of rare and threatened species, most especially birds (such as the Baikal teal and White-naped crane), fish and plants.
Despite being home to the bustling Port of Busan, the Nakdonggang estuary is internationally important for waterbirds, despite recent ecologically-destructive developments including reclamation for housing and industry (e.g. the Busan New Port), the ongoing construction of a major bridge (the Miyeonji Bridge) and most recently the threatened construction of the Korean Grand Canal project.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Nakdong River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Nakdong: Key Facts
| Length | 506 km |
|---|---|
| Drainage basin | 23,384 km² |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean |
| Tributaries | Nam River, Geumho River, Hwang River, Yeong River |
Facts from Wikidata Q55501 (CC0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Nakdong: Quick Answers
- Where is Nakdong?
- Nakdong is located in South Korea, at 36.0474° N, 128.4069° E.
- Are there dams on the Nakdong?
- No dam on the Nakdong is recorded in the YearMaps dam index, which covers major structures only.