Ganghwado

Ganghwa Island is an island in the beginning of the Han River. It is on the west coast of South Korea. Ganghwa Island is separated from Gimpo on the mainland by a narrow channel. The channel is connected by two bridges. The main channel of the Han River separates the island from Gaeseong in North Korea.

About 65,500 people live on the island. With an area of 302.4 km2 (116.8 sq mi). It covers most of Ganghwa County, a division of Incheon Municipality. About half of the island's population lives in Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwa Town, in the northeastern part of the island. The island's highest point is Mani-san, 469 m (1,539 ft) above sea level. The island measures 28 kilometres (17 mi) long and 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide, and is the 4th largest island in South Korea.

Historically, it is significant as being the location of separate and brief attacks. One was the French in 1866. Another was the United States in 1871 and the Japanese in 1875 when Korea was emerging from isolation.

Climate

Climate data for Ganghwa (1981−2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)
4.1
(39.4)
9.4
(48.9)
16.3
(61.3)
21.3
(70.3)
25.4
(77.7)
27.5
(81.5)
29.0
(84.2)
25.3
(77.5)
19.3
(66.7)
11.2
(52.2)
4.1
(39.4)
16.2
(61.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.8
(25.2)
−1.0
(30)
4.3
(39.7)
10.7
(51.3)
15.9
(60.6)
20.3
(68.5)
23.5
(74.3)
24.5
(76.1)
19.8
(67.6)
13.4
(56.1)
6.0
(42.8)
−0.8
(30.6)
11.1
(52)
Average low °C (°F) −8.7
(16.3)
−6.1
(21)
−0.9
(30.4)
5.1
(41.2)
10.8
(51.4)
15.8
(60.4)
20.4
(68.7)
20.8
(69.4)
15.1
(59.2)
7.8
(46)
0.8
(33.4)
−5.6
(21.9)
6.3
(43.3)
Precipitation mm (inches) 17.7
(0.697)
19.2
(0.756)
39.6
(1.559)
66.9
(2.634)
108.8
(4.283)
123.4
(4.858)
358.2
(14.102)
326.6
(12.858)
165.4
(6.512)
51.2
(2.016)
50.7
(1.996)
18.8
(0.74)
1,346.7
(53.02)
Humidity 66.1 63.0 62.9 62.8 69.5 75.3 82.7 80.3 74.8 69.9 68.2 67.3 70.2
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 5.7 4.7 6.2 6.7 8.4 8.7 13.9 12.0 7.3 5.7 7.0 6.6 92.9
Sunshine hours 179.8 188.3 218.3 233.3 241.4 221.0 173.2 201.3 214.4 220.4 170.0 165.9 2,431.5
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration [1]

Notes

  1. ^  Lee (1976, p. 96).
  2. ^  Lee (1976, p. 100).
  3. ^  Lee (1976, p. 148).
  4. ^  Lee (1976, p. 151).
  5. ^  Lee (1976, p. 216).
  6. ^  Lee (1976, p. 264); Nahm (1996, p. 148).
  7. ^  Lee (1976, p. 268); Nahm (1996, p. 151).

References

  1. "평년값자료(1981−2010) 강화(201)". Korea Meteorological Administration. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  • Nahm, Andrew C. (1996). Korea: A History of the Korean People (2nd ed.). Seoul: Hollym. ISBN 1-56591-070-2.
  • Lee, Ki-baek (1976). A New History of Korea (rev. ed.). Seoul: Ilchogak. ISBN 89-337-0204-0.

Coordinates: 37°42′N 126°26′E / 37.700°N 126.433°E / 37.700; 126.433