{{short description|Island in the Yellow Sea, South Korea}}
{{Infobox islands | name = Ganghwa Island | location = South Korea | image = ganghwa1.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = See caption | image_caption = View of the island from Manisan | coordinates = {{coord|37.71|N|126.44|E|display=it}} | mapframe-zoom = 9 | area_km2 = 302.4 | population = 65,500 | module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto |hangul = ^강화도 |hanja = 江華島 |child = yes }} }} '''Ganghwa Island''' ({{Korean|hangul=강화도}}), also '''Ganghwado''', is an island in [[Ganghwa County]], [[Incheon]], South Korea. It is in the [[Yellow Sea]] and in an [[estuary]] of the [[Han River (Korea)|Han River]].
The island is separated from [[Gimpo]] (on the South Korean mainland) by a narrow channel spanned by two bridges, and from [[Kaesong]] (Gaeseong) in [[North Korea]] by the main channel of the Han River. It offers some of the closest views in the South of North Korean villages, which can be seen on clear days from less than two kilometers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nknews.org/gallery/pants-and-propaganda-photos-from-korean-border-area-show-life-in-north-korea/ |title=Pants and propaganda: Photos from Korean border area show life in North Korea |access-date=2021-05-28 |archive-date=2021-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521223543/https://www.nknews.org/gallery/pants-and-propaganda-photos-from-korean-border-area-show-life-in-north-korea/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
It is strategically located, controlling access to the river, which runs through former [[Joseon]] and South Korea's capital, [[Seoul]]. Its fortifications were repeatedly attacked in the [[History of Korea#Joseon dynasty|19th century]]. With an area of {{cvt|302.4|km2|sp=us}}, it constitutes most of [[Ganghwa County]] (a division of [[Incheon]]). The island has a population of about 65,500, half of whom live in Ganghwa Town (Ganghwa-eup) in the northeast.
==Name== Before the 10th century, the island went by various names, including Haegu ({{Korean|hangul=해구|hanja=海口|labels=no|lit=mouth of the sea}}), Hyeolgu ({{Korean|hangul=혈구|hanja=穴口|labels=no|lit=opening}}), Gangha ({{Korean|hangul=강하|hanja=江下|labels=no|lit=below river[s]}}).<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=손 |first=승호 |title=강화도 (江華島) |work=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0001507 |access-date=2024-06-15 |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] |language=ko}}</ref>
In 940, during the [[Goryeo]] period, it received its current name, which means "beautiful [town by the] river".<ref name=":0" />
Former [[romanization of Korean|romanizations]] include "Kang-hoa"{{sfnp|''EB''|1878|p=393}} and "Kang-hwa".
==Geography== The island is in the estuary of [[Korean Peninsula|Korea]]'s Han River. It is South Korea's fourth-largest island, with an area of {{cvt|305.75|km2|sp=us}}, and has a coastline of {{Convert|106.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}. Over time, land reclamation projects for agricultural purposes have increased the island's size.<ref name=":0" />
The island has a number of mountains. The tallest is [[Manisan (Incheon)|Manisan]], in the south of the island, with a height of {{cvt|469|m}}. Also on the island are Jingangsan ({{Korean|hangul=진강산|labels=no}}), [[Goryeosan]], Nakjobong ({{Korean|hangul=낙조봉|labels=no}}), Hyeolgusan ({{Korean|hangul=혈구산|labels=no}}), and Byeollipsan ({{Korean|hangul=별립산|labels=no}}).<ref name=":0" />
The island was originally connected to the mainland, but became separate over time via erosion. [[Mudflat|Mudflats]] now surround the island.<ref name=":0" />
===Climate=== <div style="width:auto;"> {{Weather box | location = Ganghwa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–present) | metric first = Y | single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 12.6 | Feb record high C = 17.4 | Mar record high C = 22.3 | Apr record high C = 29.2 | May record high C = 31.0 | Jun record high C = 33.2 | Jul record high C = 35.5 | Aug record high C = 35.8 | Sep record high C = 31.7 | Oct record high C = 28.3 | Nov record high C = 23.8 | Dec record high C = 16.0 | year record high C = 35.8
| Jan high C = 1.7 | Feb high C = 4.5 | Mar high C = 9.8 | Apr high C = 16.2 | May high C = 21.4 | Jun high C = 25.4 | Jul high C = 27.6 | Aug high C = 29.0 | Sep high C = 25.5 | Oct high C = 19.5 | Nov high C = 11.5 | Dec high C = 3.9 | year high C = 16.3
| Jan mean C = -3.2 | Feb mean C = -0.7 | Mar mean C = 4.6 | Apr mean C = 10.7 | May mean C = 16.0 | Jun mean C = 20.5 | Jul mean C = 23.7 | Aug mean C = 24.7 | Sep mean C = 20.2 | Oct mean C = 13.7 | Nov mean C = 6.3 | Dec mean C = -0.9 | year mean C = 11.3
| Jan low C = -8.1 | Feb low C = -5.8 | Mar low C = -0.6 | Apr low C = 5.3 | May low C = 11.0 | Jun low C = 16.3 | Jul low C = 20.6 | Aug low C = 21.2 | Sep low C = 15.6 | Oct low C = 8.1 | Nov low C = 1.2 | Dec low C = -5.7 | year low C = 6.6
| Jan record low C = -22.5 | Feb record low C = -19.4 | Mar record low C = -11.3 | Apr record low C = -4.4 | May record low C = 1.6 | Jun record low C = 6.9 | Jul record low C = 12.7 | Aug record low C = 12.5 | Sep record low C = 3.0 | Oct record low C = -4.2 | Nov record low C = -12.0 | Dec record low C = -19.8 | year record low C = -22.5
| precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 15.6 | Feb precipitation mm = 22.5 | Mar precipitation mm = 31.4 | Apr precipitation mm = 64.9 | May precipitation mm = 110.9 | Jun precipitation mm = 110.0 | Jul precipitation mm = 355.6 | Aug precipitation mm = 300.4 | Sep precipitation mm = 131.5 | Oct precipitation mm = 55.8 | Nov precipitation mm = 46.3 | Dec precipitation mm = 21.3 | year precipitation mm = 1266.2
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 5.0 | Feb precipitation days = 4.8 | Mar precipitation days = 6.0 | Apr precipitation days = 7.5 | May precipitation days = 8.2 | Jun precipitation days = 8.6 | Jul precipitation days = 14.1 | Aug precipitation days = 11.9 | Sep precipitation days = 7.4 | Oct precipitation days = 5.6 | Nov precipitation days = 7.5 | Dec precipitation days = 6.6 | year precipitation days =
| Jan snow days = 7.3 | Feb snow days = 4.3 | Mar snow days = 2.4 | Apr snow days = 0.2 | May snow days = 0.0 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.1 | Nov snow days = 1.5 | Dec snow days = 5.1 | year snow days = 20.6
| Jan humidity = 63.6 | Feb humidity = 61.0 | Mar humidity = 61.4 | Apr humidity = 62.4 | May humidity = 68.6 | Jun humidity = 75.1 | Jul humidity = 82.8 | Aug humidity = 79.9 | Sep humidity = 73.8 | Oct humidity = 68.9 | Nov humidity = 67.8 | Dec humidity = 65.4 | year humidity = 69.2
| Jan sun = 186.2 | Feb sun = 186.5 | Mar sun = 217.0 | Apr sun = 221.7 | May sun = 235.3 | Jun sun = 208.5 | Jul sun = 153.0 | Aug sun = 184.9 | Sep sun = 203.8 | Oct sun = 214.3 | Nov sun = 166.0 | Dec sun = 171.8 | year sun = 2349.0
| Jan percentsun = 58.7 | Feb percentsun = 61.8 | Mar percentsun = 58.9 | Apr percentsun = 59.0 | May percentsun = 54.8 | Jun percentsun = 50.0 | Jul percentsun = 38.6 | Aug percentsun = 47.7 | Sep percentsun = 57.4 | Oct percentsun = 63.3 | Nov percentsun = 55.7 | Dec percentsun = 55.6 | year percentsun = 54.6
| source = [[Korea Meteorological Administration]] (percent sunshine 1981–2010)<ref name= KMA> {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211110/https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2022 |url=https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf |title=Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020) |publisher=Korea Meteorological Administration |access-date=4 April 2022 |language=ko}}</ref><ref name= KMAextremes>{{cite web |url=https://data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103 |publisher=Korea Meteorological Administration |access-date=4 April 2022 |script-title=ko:순위값 - 구역별조회 |language=ko |archive-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007220002/https://data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name= KMAnormals> {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207185450/http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf |archive-date=7 December 2016 |url=http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf |publisher=Korea Meteorological Administration |access-date=8 December 2016 |title=Climatological Normals of Korea |date=2011}}</ref> }} </div>
==History== The island was part of Ganghwa-hyeon in the early [[Goryeo]] period. It became part of Ganghwa-bu in 1377. It became part of Ganghwa County in [[Gyeonggi Province]] ([[Keiki-dō]]) in 1914, and remained so until 1994, when it became part of Incheon Metropolitan City.<ref name=":0" />
The island was the site of the 1866 [[French expedition to Korea]],<ref>{{Citation |last=김 |first=원모 |title=병인양요 (丙寅洋擾) |work=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0023142 |access-date=2024-06-15 |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] |language=ko}}</ref> the 1871 [[United States expedition to Korea]], the [[Battle of Ganghwa]],<ref>{{Citation |last=김 |first=원모 |title=신미양요 (辛未洋擾) |work=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032961 |access-date=2024-06-15 |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] |language=ko}}</ref> and the 1875 [[Ganghwa Island incident]] with Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neff |first=Robert |date=2020-09-19 |title=The Un'yo Incident of 1875 (part one) |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2024/06/721_296302.html |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[The Korea Times]] |language=en}}</ref> In 1876 Korea was forced to sign with Japan the [[Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876|Treaty of Ganghwa]], which was named for the island.<ref>{{Citation |last=이 |first=원순 |title=강화도조약 (江華島條約) |work=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0001508 |access-date=2024-06-15 |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] |language=ko}}</ref>
== Transportation == In 1969, the {{Ill|Ganghwa Bridge|ko|강화대교}} was constructed between the island and the mainland. The bridge was replaced in 1997. The {{Ill|Ganghwa Choji Bridge|ko|강화초지대교}} opened in 2002.<ref name=":0" />
==Tourism== [[File:Example of a southern-style dolmen at Ganghwa Island.jpg|thumb|197x197px|A dolmen at Ganghwa (2019)]] The island has stone tombs that are part of the UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] series [[Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites]].<ref name=":0" />
Ganghwa Nadeulgil is a 20-trail walking tour, illustrating the [[mudflat]] ecology and avian migratory habitats from prehistory to the Joseon dynasty.
Seongmodo is a level {{convert|10|mi|adj=on}} trail through a forest and the island's only beach, ending at a temple.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3045468 |title=Hidden trails that highlight Korean beauty |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |date=11 March 2018 |access-date=2018-05-25 |archive-date=2018-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524130037/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3045468 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Pungmul Market is a food market selling grain, vegetables, fruits, seafood, meat, fish, tofu, and ginseng. [[File:Goryeo Palace 20181013 02.jpg|thumb|Goryeogung (2018)]] Goryeogung is a palace site of Goryeo from 1232 to 1270 in Incheon.
Manisan is Ganghwa's tallest mountain and home to [[Ganghwa Chamseongdan|Chamseongdan Altar]], where [[Dangun]] Wanggeom reportedly performed ancestral rites.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264300 |title=Chamseongdan Altar (강화 참성단) |access-date=2020-08-21 |archive-date=2023-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409231333/https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264300 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Festivals === *Goryeo Azalea Festival: Mid-April at Dolmen Square on Goryeo Mountain<ref>{{Cite web |last=정 |first=은주 |date=March 17, 2020 |title=황홀한 진분홍빛 꽃길을 걷다, 강화 고려산 진달래 군락지> 여행기사 {{!}} 추천! 가볼만한곳:대한민국 구석구석 |url=https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/detail/rem_detail.do?cotid=9264a1ca-938e-49bb-ab39-80789fadba7f&con_type=10500 |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=korean.visitkorea.or.kr |language=ko}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=축제와 행사 |url=http://www.ganghwacc.org/?c=2/13&ckattempt=1 |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=ganghwacc.org}}</ref> *{{Ill|Ganghwa Salted Shrimp Festival|ko|강화도새우젓축제}}: Early October at Oepo-ri dock<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2018 |title=[10월] 강화도 새우젓축제 |url=http://www.dmz.go.kr/korean/wantgo/tour_festival/view/619/?orderby=subject&searchFLD=ALL&searchKEY= |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=dmz.go.kr |language=ko}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> *Ganghwa Foundation Day Grand Festival: October 1–3 in Chamseongdan on Manisan<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2018 |title=[10월] 강화 개천대축제 |url=http://www.dmz.go.kr/korean/wantgo/tour_festival/view/618/?orderby=hits&searchFLD=ALL&searchKEY= |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=dmz.go.kr |language=ko}}</ref> *Ganghwa Goryeo Ginseng Festival: Mid-October<ref name=":1" />
=== {{anchor|Regional specialties}}Turnips === The island's turnip (''[[Brassica rapa]]'') has been cultivated for over 1,000 years. Its moisture content is over 90% and its main component is carbohydrate. The dark-purple, taproot vegetable has a mustardy scent and tastes like ginseng. Its seeds and the fully grown vegetable are used in folk remedies and Oriental medicine. Its leaves have vitamins, and its roots contain [[tryptophan]] and [[glycyrrhizin]]. Said to prevent cancer, the turnip helps cure skin diseases, digestive ailments, tuberculosis, and respiratory disease with an anti-bacterial effect.<ref>{{cite web |title=강화도 순무 |url=http://field.incheon.go.kr/posts/special/2195?rnum=6&curPage=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801155334/http://field.incheon.go.kr/posts/special/2195?rnum=6&curPage=1 |archive-date=1 August 2017 |access-date=1 August 2017 |website=인천광역시}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=순무 |url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=2834651&cid=56755&categoryId=56755&anchorTarget=TABLE_OF_CONTENT3#TABLE_OF_CONTENT3 |access-date=1 August 2017 |website=농식품백과사전}}</ref> ==Notable people== * [[Ahn Hak-sop]], former spy for North Korea, now political activist against [[United States Forces Korea|American military presence in South Korea]]. * [[CoreJJ]], birth name Jo Yong-in, professional ''League of Legends'' player<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/30/technology/esports-league-of-legends-america.html |title=They're Flocking to America to Make a Fortune Playing Video Games |newspaper=The New York Times |date=30 January 2021 |last1=Browning |first1=Kellen |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209191951/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/30/technology/esports-league-of-legends-america.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==See also== *[[Geography of South Korea]]
==References== {{Reflist|30em}} * [https://www.ganghwa.go.kr/open_content/english/ Ganghwa Tourism]
===Sources=== * {{citation |first=Hugh Alexander |last=Webster |display-authors=0 |contribution=[[s:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Corea|Corea]] |title=Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. VI |editor-last=Baynes |editor-first=Thomas Spencer |display-editors=0 |publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons |location=New York |date=1878 |ref={{harvid|EB|1878}} |pages=390–394}}.
== External links == {{Commons category inline|Ganghwa Island}}
{{Wikivoyage inline|Ganghwa Island}} [[Category:Ganghwa County]] [[Category:Islands of Incheon]]