Ganghwa Island

Ganghwa Island, 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 by a narrow channel spanned by two bridges, and from Kaesong 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 that from elsewhere in South Korea.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, it constitutes most of Ganghwa County. The island has a population of about 65,500, half of whom live in Ganghwa Town in the northeast.