EXPLORE NORTH KOREA 12 KEY FACTS by Molly Raben 12 Story Library
1 North Korea Is on a Peninsula North Korea is part of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia It is bordered on the north by China and Russia On the south is South Korea The Sea of Japan is to the east The Yellow Sea is to the west Many small islands are scattered along the western coastline The total area of the country is 46,539 square miles 120,538 sq km This is about the size of the US state of Pennsylvania Much of North Korea is covered by mountains hills and narrow valleys There are wide plains along the western coast Most of the farming takes place here Along the eastern coast narrow plains are backed by mountains The Nangnim Mountains run from north to south through the center of the country The Changbai Mountains in the north include North Korea’s highest peak Mount Paektu It rises 9,022 feet 2,750 m At its top is a large crater lake called Heaven Lake Rivers wind through the country’s many valleys The longest river is the Yalu It flows 491 miles 790 km from Mount Paektu to Korea Bay The Tumen River flows along the boundary of China North Korea and Russia 4
Mount Paektu is sacred to the Korean people 7,722 Approximate square miles 20,000 sq km of land available for farming North Korea is bordered by water on two sides Mountains rivers and valleys define the landscape The country’s farmland is along the western coast MOUNT PAEKTU’S BIG ERUPTION In 946 CE Mount Paektu exploded in one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history Rocks and ash were flung as far as Japan Today the volcano sleeps but not peacefully Between 2002 and 2005 a number of earthquakes shook the giant volcano Scientists monitor the mountain for signs of trouble They worry that nuclear testing in North Korea might cause Paektu to erupt again 5
