Geography of South Korea
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South Korea is located in Eastern Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east, the Yellow Sea (West Sea) to the west, and the South China Sea (South Sea) to the south.
South Korea, at 98,480 square kilometres, is slightly larger than the American state of Indiana. Two hundred and ninety square kilometres of South Korea are occupied by water. The approximate coordinates are 37° North, 127° 30 East.
Being on a peninsula, the only bordering country is North Korea, where 238 km of boundaries separate them. Much of the country's border is coastline, about 2,413 kilometres.
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
Climate: There is a temperate climate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter.
Terrain: South Korea's terrain is mostly hills and mountains, with wide coastal plains in the west and the south.
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
East Sea 0 m
highest point:
Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources: South Korea produces coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, and has potential for hydropower.
Land use:
arable land:
19%
permanent crops:
2%
permanent pastures:
1%
forests and woodland:
65%
other:
13% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: There are occasional typhoons that bring high winds and floods. This is also low-level seismic activity which is common in the southwest.
Environment - current issues: There are problems air pollution in large cities; as well as water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents. Drift net fishing is another issue.
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol