Editing Korea (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Korea}}
{{See also|Geography of North Korea|Geography of South Korea|Provinces of Korea}}
[[File:N Korea sat image.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of Korea]]
[[File:Korean.Seoraksan-Ulsanbawi-01.jpg|thumb|A view of [[Seoraksan|Mount Seorak]]]]
[[File:Daedongyeojido 1860.jpg|thumb|[[Daedongyeojido]] – this 1861 map of Korea represents the peak of pre-modern mapmaking in the region.]]
[[File:Korea-Jejudo-Coast-03.jpg|thumb|Jeju Island seashore]]
Korea consists of a [[peninsula]] and nearby islands located in [[East Asia]]. The peninsula extends southwards for about {{convert|1100|km|abbr=on}} from continental [[Asia]] into the [[Pacific Ocean]] and is surrounded by the [[Sea of Japan]] to the east and the [[Yellow Sea]] (West Sea) to the west, the [[Korea Strait]] connecting the two bodies of water.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geography of the Korean Peninsula |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/the-korean-peninsula-1435252 |website=Thoughtco |access-date=3 July 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133658/https://www.thoughtco.com/the-korean-peninsula-1435252 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/064th_issue/98100708.htm Korean Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723104323/http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/064th_issue/98100708.htm |date=23 July 2013 }}, The People's Korea, 1998.</ref> To the northwest, the [[Amnok River]] separates Korea from China and to the northeast, the [[Duman River]] separates it from China and Russia.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OyiXSQAACAAJ&q=korean+penin+geography|title=Geography of Korea|date=6 July 2011|publisher=General Books|isbn=9781157065555|access-date=14 November 2020|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509180226/https://books.google.com/books?id=OyiXSQAACAAJ&q=korean+penin+geography|url-status=live}}</ref> Notable islands include [[Jeju Island]], [[Ulleung Island]], [[Dokdo]].

The southern and western parts of the peninsula have well-developed plains, while the eastern and northern parts are mountainous. The highest mountain in Korea is [[Mount Paektu]] (2,744&nbsp;m), through which runs the border with China. The southern extension of Mount Paektu is a highland called [[Gaema Heights]]. This highland was mainly raised during the [[Cenozoic]] [[orogeny]] and partly covered by volcanic matter. To the south of Gaema Gowon, successive high mountains are located along the eastern coast of the peninsula. This mountain range is named [[Baekdu-daegan]]. Some significant mountains include [[Sobaeksan|Mount Sobaek]] or Sobaeksan (1,439&nbsp;m), [[Mount Kumgang]] (1,638&nbsp;m), [[Seoraksan|Mount Seorak]] (1,708&nbsp;m), [[Taebaeksan|Mount Taebaek]] (1,567&nbsp;m), and [[Mount Jiri]] (1,915&nbsp;m). There are several lower, secondary mountain series whose direction is almost perpendicular to that of Baekdu-daegan. They are developed along the tectonic line of [[Mesozoic]] orogeny and their directions are basically northwest.

Unlike most ancient mountains on the mainland, many important islands in Korea were formed by volcanic activity in the Cenozoic orogeny. Jeju Island, situated off the southern coast, is a large volcanic island whose main mountain, [[Mount Halla]] or Hallasan (1,950&nbsp;m), is the highest in South Korea. Ulleung Island is a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan, the composition of which is more [[felsic]] than Jeju. The volcanic islands tend to be younger, the more westward.

Because the mountainous region is mostly on the eastern part of the peninsula, the main [[Rivers of Korea|rivers]] tend to flow westwards. Two exceptions are the southward-flowing [[Nakdong River]] and [[Seomjin River]]. Important rivers running westward include the Amnok River, the [[Ch'ongch'on River|Chongchon River]], the [[Taedong River]], the [[Han River (Korea)|Han River]], the [[Geum River]], and the [[Yeongsan River]]. These rivers have vast flood plains and provide an ideal environment for [[paddy field|wet-rice]] cultivation.

The southern and southwestern coastlines of the peninsula form a well-developed [[ria]] coastline, known as ''Dadohae-jin'' in Korean. This convoluted coastline provides mild seas, and the resulting calm environment allows for safe navigation, fishing, and [[seaweed farming]]. In addition to the complex coastline, the western coast of the Korean Peninsula has an extremely high [[tide|tidal amplitude]] (at [[Incheon]], around the middle of the western coast, the tide can get as high as 9&nbsp;m). Vast tidal flats have been developing on the south and west coastlines.

===Climate===
Korea has a temperate climate with comparatively fewer [[typhoons]] than other countries in East Asia. Due to the peninsula's position, it has a unique climate influenced by Siberia in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the east and the rest of Eurasia in the west. The peninsula has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate of Korea |url=https://web.kma.go.kr/eng/biz/climate_01.jsp |website=Korea Meteorological Administration |publisher=South Korean Government |access-date=3 July 2018 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710162728/http://web.kma.go.kr/eng/biz/climate_01.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Spring====
As influence from Siberia weakens, temperatures begin to increase while the high pressure begins to move away. If the weather is abnormally dry, Siberia will have more influence on the peninsula leading to wintry weather such as snow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EHoMAQAAIAAJ&q=climate+korea|title=Climate of Korea: Climatic Data|last1=McCune|first1=Shannon|year=1941|access-date=21 September 2020|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509180224/https://books.google.com/books?id=EHoMAQAAIAAJ&q=climate+korea|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Summer====
During June at the start of the summer, there tends to be a lot of rain due to the cold and wet air from the [[Sea of Okhotsk]] and the hot and humid air from the Pacific Ocean combining. When these fronts combine, it leads to a so-called rainy season with often cloudy days with rain, which is sometimes very heavy. The hot and humid winds from the south west blow causing an increasing amount of humidity and this leads to the fronts moving towards [[Manchuria]] in China and thus there is less rain and this is known as midsummer; temperatures can exceed {{convert|30|°C|°F}} daily at this time of year.

====Autumn====
Usually, high pressure is heavily dominant during autumn leading to clear conditions. Furthermore, temperatures remain high but the humidity becomes relatively low.

====Winter====
The weather becomes increasingly dominated by Siberia during winter and the jet stream moves further south causing a drop in temperature. This season is relatively dry with some snow falling at times.

===Biodiversity===
{{Main|Wildlife of Korea}}
Animal life of the Korean Peninsula includes a considerable number of bird species and native [[freshwater fish]]. Native or [[endemic]] species of the Korean Peninsula include [[Korean hare]], [[Water deer|Korean water deer]], [[Korean field mouse]], [[Korean brown frog]], [[Korean pine]] and [[Picea koraiensis|Korean spruce]]. The [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]] (DMZ) with its forest and natural [[wetlands]] is a unique biodiversity spot, which harbours eighty-two [[endangered species]]. Korea once hosted many [[Siberian tigers]], but as the number of people affected by the tigers increased, the tigers were killed in the Joseon dynasty and the Siberian tigers in the South Korea became extinct during the Japanese colonial era period. It has been confirmed that Siberian tigers are only on the side of [[North Korea]] now.

There are also approximately 3,034 species of [[vascular plants]] throughout the peninsula.