South Korea Geography

South Korea geographically is located in East Asia on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula protruding out from the extreme east of the Asian land mass.

The one and only country with a bordering land is North Korea. South Korea Geography states that it is majorly surrounded by water and has 2,413 km of coast line along three seas west is surrounded by the Yellow Sea, south is East China Sea, and to the east is the Sea of Japan also called the East Sea. At 98,480 square kilometers, South Korea Geography proves that South Korea is larger than the American state of Indiana by negligible area yet 290 square kilometers of South Korea are occupied by water. The approximate location are 37° North, 127° 30 East on the globe.

The Korean Peninsula expands southward from the northeast region of the Asian continent. The Japanese islands of Honshu and Kyushu are nearby 200 kilometers to the southeast direction and runs across the Korea Strait. The Shandong Peninsula of China lies 190 kilometers to the west of South Korea. The west coast of the peninsula is enveloped by the Korea Bay to the north and the Yellow Sea to the south while the east coast is bordered by the Sea of Japan. The border line between the two Korean states is the thirty-eighth parallel of latitude but after the Korean War, the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) forms the boundary between the two. It is a4,000-meter-wide strip of land that runs along the line of cease-fire often considered as the Demarcation Line.

220,847 square kilometers is the total land area of the peninsula, including the islands. The combined territories of North Korea and South Korea lies in consistency.

South Korea Flora

The environment of Korea is ideal for the growth flora. There is a variation in the temperature and rainfall in the Korean peninsula. This is due to the complex topography and long north and south stretch of the peninsula. Throughout the year the rainfall averages from 500 -1,500 mm. While the annual temperature varies from 5 degree C to 14 degree C.

Korea Peninsula is often referred to as the land of diversified floral region. Pak Man Kyu published a numbered list of Korean plants in 1946. According to the list there are 1,102 genera, 201 families, 3,347 species, 50 subspecies, higher plants 168 which also includes pteridophytes , 1,102 varieties of total plants in Korea. It also means that in the country vascular plants of 4,500 kinds, 400 endemics also grows.

Warm Temperate Vegetation: High annual temperature is ideal for the growth of different species of flora on the offshore islands of Ullungdo, Chejudo and Sohuksando. Like in Chejudo, about 70 kinds of broad leaf evergreens grows here like Bladhia villoso Thunb, Camellia japonica Linne. Herbal plants also grow in this region.

Cold Temperate Vegetation: In the high mountains and northern part of the country cold temperate flora grows. This type of vegetation is common in Mt Chirisan, Mt Hallasan, Mt Sorakson. Here the leaves of the trees are shaped like needle. The cold temperate plants include Chosenia bracteosa Nakai, Betula ermanii Chamiss etc.

Temperate Vegetation: Except the the high mountains of Mt Hallasan and Mt Taebaeksan, the Korean peninsula experiences a temperate climate. This climate is ideal for the growth of several broad leaved deciduous trees. Such as Forsynthia koreanum Nakai. Herbaceous plants also grows here. There is an abundance of Flora in the Korean peninsula.

South Korea Fauna

Fauna of South Korea is related closely with that of China, Japan and southern Manchuria. In South Korea there are about 379 species of birds. Out of these 379 species, 62 species are drifters. Out of the other 316 species, 266 are migratory birds and 50 are lasting (permanent) residents. In winter out of the 266 migratory birds 111 species comes in Korea every year. In summer more than 64 species of birds visits this country. Besides the other 90 species comes in spring and autumn.

Other wildlife species or fauna of South Korea are 130 freshwater fishes, 25 reptiles and 14 amphibians. On the Chejudo Island, terrestrial mammals of 17 species have been found. Animals like the roe deer, weasel, two species of bat, field mouse, hamster inhabit in this land. On the Chejudo Island, there are 207 different types of birds, eight reptiles and amphibians. Endemic mammals are not found in the Ullungdo Island. There are 54 species of birds found in this island. Six species of mammals are found which includes shrew, two bat species, house rat’s three species.

Lynx, tigers, bears were once abundantly found in South Korea but with the growing human settlement these species have become more or less extinct. Since 1920s, no Siberian tigers were traced in South Korea. Besides different species of birds, South Korea also has indigenous deer species like Siberian musk deer, roe deer. Wild boars are commonly found in the country.

South Korean Fauna comprises of several indigenous species of birds and animals.

South Korea Time

The South Korean Standard Time is 9 hours before the Greenwich Mean Time. South Korea Time does not control the daylight saving time. South Korea is situated in Eastern Asia. It lies in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and borders the East Sea ( Sea of Japan ) and the Yellow Sea. AsSouth Korea Time does not control the daylight saving time, there will be no Daylight Saving Time adjustments for the year 2007.

• Sunrise in Pusan, South Korea at 7.10 AM in the direction 105″East by south and Sunset 6.07 P.M 255″ West by south. Astronomical twilight 5.45 am to 7.32 pm Nautical Twilight 6.14 am to 7.02 pm Civil Twilight 6.44 am to 6.33 pm The duration of a day in Pusan 10 hours and 56min
• Moon in Pusan : Moon rise 6.16am at 119″southeast and moon set at 4.25 pm at 244″
• Sunrise in Seoul, South Korea 7.21 am 105″East, Sunset 6.11pm 255″West The duration of a day is 10 hours 50 minutes Astronomical Twilight 5.53 am to 7.39 pm Civil Twilight 6.54 am to 6.38 pm Nautical Twilight 6.24 am to 7.09 pm
• Moon in Seoul: Moon rise 6.31 pm 120″ Southeast and moon set 4.26 pm at 243″southwest
• The Standard South Korean Time zone is UGC/GMT +9 hours.

The South Korean Time is nine hours faster than the Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT + 9).