Ganghwa Island
Ganghwa Island (Korean: 강화도), also known by its native name Ganghwado, is a South Korean island in the estuary of the Han River. It is in the Yellow Sea, off Korea's west coast. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainland) by a narrow channel spanned by two bridges, and from Kaesong (Gaeseong) in North Korea by the main channel of the Han River. North Korea can be seen on clear days from less than two kilometers away on South Korea's Ganghwa Island allowing better views of North Korean villages than from elsewhere in South Korea.
View of the island from Manisan | |
Location of Ganghwa Island | |
Ganghwa Island Larger map of South Korea | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | South Korea |
| Coordinates | 37.71°N 126.44°E |
| Area | 302.4 km2 (116.8 sq mi) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 65,500 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 강화도 |
| Hanja | 江華島 |
| Revised Romanization | Ganghwado |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kanghwado |
It is strategically located, controlling access to the river which runs through former Joseon and the present South Korean capital Seoul. Its fortifications were repeatedly attacked during the 19th century. With an area of 302.4 km2 (116.8 sq mi), it constitutes most of Ganghwa County (a division of Incheon). The island has a population of about 65,500, half of whom live in Ganghwa Town (Ganghwa-eup) in the northeast.