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Geography, Weather, & Wildlife of South Korea

Geography

South Korean Geography - Seorak Mountains
Seorak Mountains

South Korea forms the southern half of the Korean Peninsula in Asia's Far East. South Korea only has one land border, that with North Korea, which obviously sits just north. Japan is also a short distance from South Korea, just to the country's southeast. South Korea also borders the Yellow Sea to its west and the Sea of Japan to its east (please note, most Koreans call the "Sea of Japan" the "Eastern Sea").

South Korea is fairly mountainous, particularly in the east where the Tabaek-Sanmaek Mountains dominate. From these mountains a number of rivers flow west, creating the most fertile and livable region of the country as most cities are located in the country's western half or along the coasts.

Weather

South Korean Geography - Jeju Island
Jeju Island

Summers in South Korea consist of the time between about June to about September, but this time is also the monsoon or rainy season. Temperatures in Seoul average about 75°F (25°C) during this time, while the mountains are cooler, but all of the country, particularly in the south and west, receives a fair amount of humidity and rain. Winters hover right around the freezing point with the mountains remaining below that point for much of winter and the coasts typically getting above during days so snow doesn't tend to remain on the ground long. The fall (autumn) tends to be fairly warm and sunny as the changing leave colors attract a fair amount of tourists. Likewise, the spring draws a lot of tourists, including many locals as the Cherry Blossoms are in full color in March-May.

Wildlife

There are a fair number of animals in South Korea, both large and small. Among the larger mammals are leopards, panthers, deer, and wolves. There are also smaller mammals such as the boar, squirrels, mice, and bats. There are also a number of species in the waters surround the country, including the mammalian whales and dolphins. There are also sharks, tuna, eels, shellfish, and more.

The bird life in South Korea is substantial as many species migrate to and from the country. Among the most commonly seen birds are teals, swans, flycatchers, ibis, and buzzards. Among the reptiles and amphibians are turtles, snakes, lizards, salamanders, frogs, and toads.

This page was last updated: November, 2013