Imjin River

Infobox Korean settlement
title=Imjin River

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imgcaption=Imjin River


koreanname=North Korean name
context=north
hangul=림진강
hanja=臨津江
mr=Rimjin'gang
rr=Rimjin-gang
koreanname2=South Korean name
hangul2=임진강
hanja2=臨津江
rr2=Imjin-gang
mr2=Imjin'gangThe Imjin River is a river of North and South Korea. It flows from North to South, crossing the Demilitarized Zone and joining the Han River downstream of Seoul, very near the Yellow Sea.

History

The Imjin River was the site of two major battles: The Battle of the Imjin River during the
Seven-Year War in 1592, and the Battle of the Imjin River that took place during the Korean War.

Characteristics

The active channel of the Imjin River utilizes only about 150 to 200 feet of the convert|1200|ft|m|-1|sing=on width of the dry riverbed that it runs through, which is bordered by almost vertical rock cliffs standing approximately convert|75|ft|m|0 above the mean low water level. It gives no indication in normal times of the tremendous power it develops when in flood. During the Korean rainy season of July and August, the Imjin becomes a raging torrent, largely confined by its steep rocky banks. Fed by its larger tributaries and many small mountain streams, it reaches flood heights of convert|48|ft|m|0 above mean water level and a velocity of 15 to convert|20|ft/s|m/s|0. The rapid runoff of approximately 95 percent of precipitation during heavy general rains has caused the Imjin, on occasion, to rise at a rate of more than six feet per hour.

During the severe Korean winter, icy winds sweep down the Imjin; the sub-zero temperatures cause thick ice to form on the river. Fluctuations in the level of the river, particularly tidal action in the lower reaches, break up this ice, and large amounts of floe ice pile up against any obstacle in the channel.

ee also

*Han River
*Rivers of Korea

External links

*http://www.imjinscout.com/BTI_Chapter1.html