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}}Ganghwa Island ({{Korean|hangul=강화도}}), 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 (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. 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 than from elsewhere in South Korea.WEB,www.nknews.org/gallery/pants-and-propaganda-photos-from-korean-border-area-show-life-in-north-korea/, Pants and propaganda: Photos from Korean border area show life in North Korea, 2021-05-28, 2021-05-21,web.archive.org/web/20210521223543/https://www.nknews.org/gallery/pants-and-propaganda-photos-from-korean-border-area-show-life-in-north-korea/, live, 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 {{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

“Ganghwado” or “Ganghwa-do” (}}, formerly }}) means “island made prosperous”, “illustrious” or “flourishing by the river” (in reference to its formation from the silt carried downriver by the Han River). Former romanizations include “Kang-hoa” {{sfnp|EB|1878|p=393}} and “Kang-hwa”.

Geography

The island is in the estuary of Korea’s Han River. It is {{cvt|302.4|km2|sp=us}}, {{convert|28|km|mi|sp=us}} long and {{convert|22|km|mi|sp=us}} wide, the fourth-largest island in South Korea. The island’s highest point is Mani-san ({{cvt|469|m|disp=or|sp=us}} above sea level).

Climate

{{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)WEB,web.archive.org/web/20220129211110/https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf, 29 January 2022,data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf, Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020), Korea Meteorological Administration, 4 April 2022, ko, WEB,data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103, Korea Meteorological Administration, 4 April 2022, ko:순위값 - 구역별조회, ko, 7 October 2021,web.archive.org/web/20211007220002/https://data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103, live, WEB,www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20161207185450www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20161207185450www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf, 7 December 2016,www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf, Korea Meteorological Administration, 8 December 2016, Climatological Normals of Korea, 2011, }}

History

With the primary fortifications protecting the Joseon capital of Seoul from foreign invasion, Ganghwa Island was the site of several 19th-century punitive expeditions. The mass execution of Catholic French missionaries and Korean converts under the ministry of the Heungseon Daewongun in the mid-1860s led to a French invasion in 1866 which held the island for several weeks, although the inability of Admiral Pierre-Gustave Roze to sail up the shallow, uncharted Han River and attack its fortified monasteries prevented overland incursion. In 1871, a Korean assault on an American diplomatic mission led to the Battle of Ganghwa. Rear Admiral Rodgers took five forts on the island, but withdrew after the Koreans refused to negotiate. After an 1868 diplomatic incident related to Korea’s refusal to recognize the imperial status of the emperor of Japan, the forts at Ganghwa fired on a Japanese boat from the surveying gunship Un’yō in 1875. During the Japanese Battle of Ganghwa, Un’yō captain Inoue Yoshika silenced the batteries with superior firepower and landed a raiding force which plundered local communities. The Imperial Japanese Navy blockaded the area and compelled the 1876 Treaty of Ganghwa, which opened Korea to Japanese commerce.

{{anchor|Invasion of Korea by the three U.S. warships in 1871|Cause|Process|Result|Ganghwa Treaty}}1871 invasion by U.S. warships

In 1866, the General Sherman arrived at Pyongyang via the Daedong River. A Welsh pastor, Thomas, was a crewman traveling for missionary work to Joseon. Pyongyang governor Park Gyu-su, Park Ji-won’s grandson, informed the crew about his refusal to allow trade and advised them to go back. Disputes worsened among the crew; after they kidnapped a Joseon official and held him hostage, Korean authorities sank the boat and killed the surviving crew.In 1871, during the Joseon expedition, the U.S. decided to open a port. It ordered the Joseon expedition to Asia, led by Fleet Commander Rogers. On June 1, The U.S. led sounding navigation of the Ganghwa Strait. When the fleet arrived in Sondolmok, it was attacked from the coastline by a Ganghwa artillery unit.The American fleet seized the Chojijin Fort with naval gunfire. The American army took over Deokjjinjin Fort on June 11, and began the Gwangseongbo operation. After an hour of land and sea shelling, the American army captured Gwangseongbo. Three Americans were killed, and 10 wounded. Three hundred fifty Koreans were killed, and 20 wounded.

{{anchor|Regional specialties}}Therapeutic turnip

The island’s turnip (Brassica rapa) has been cultivated for over a thousand years. Its moisture content is over 90 percent, and its main component is carbohydrate. The dark-purple, taproot vegetable has a mustardy scent and tastes like ginseng. The turnip’s seeds and fully-grown vegetable are used in folk remedies and Oriental medicine. Its leaves have vitamins, and its roots contain tryptophan and glycyrrhizin. Said to have anticancer activity, the turnip helps cure skin diseases, digestive ailments, tuberculosis and respiratory disease with an anti-bacterial effect.WEB, 강화도 순무,field.incheon.go.kr/posts/special/2195?rnum=6&curPage=1, 인천광역시, 1 August 2017, 1 August 2017,field.incheon.go.kr/posts/special/2195?rnum=6&curPage=1," title="web.archive.org/web/20170801155334field.incheon.go.kr/posts/special/2195?rnum=6&curPage=1,">web.archive.org/web/20170801155334field.incheon.go.kr/posts/special/2195?rnum=6&curPage=1, dead, WEB, 순무,terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=2834651&cid=56755&categoryId=56755&anchorTarget=TABLE_OF_CONTENT3#TABLE_OF_CONTENT3, 농식품백과사전, 1 August 2017,

Festivals

{{unreferenced section|date=September 2020}}

• Goryeo Azalea Festival: Mid-April at Dolmen Square on Goryeo Mountain
• Ganghwa Salted Shrimp Festival: Early October at Oepo-ri dock
• Ganghwa Foundation Day Grand Festival: October 1–3 in Chamseongdan on Manisan

{{anchor|Mani Mountain|Seongmodo|Ganghwa Nadeulgil|Pungmul Market|The Goryeogung Palace Site}}Tourist attractions

{{glossary}}{{term|Ganghwa Nadeulgil}}{{defn|A 20-trail walking tour, illustrating history from prehistory to the Joseon dynasty the mudflat ecology and avian migratory habitats}}{{term|Seongmodo}}{{defn|A level {{convert|10|mi|adj=on}} trail through a forest and the island’s only beach, ending at a templeWEB,koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3045468, Hidden trails that highlight Korean beauty, Korea JoongAng Daily, 11 March 2018, 2018-05-25, 2018-05-24,koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3045468," title="web.archive.org/web/20180524130037koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3045468,">web.archive.org/web/20180524130037koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3045468, live, }}{{term|Pungmul Market}}{{defn|A food market selling grain, vegetables, fruits, seafood, meat, fish, tofu and ginseng}}{{term|Goryeogung Palace}}{{defn|Palace site of Goryeo from 1232 to 1270 in Incheon. Popular with hikers and for its cherry blossoms in spring}}{{term|Manisan}}{{defn|Ganghwa’s highest mountain and home of Chamseongdan Altar, where Dangun Wanggeom reportedly performed ancestral ritesWEB,english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264300, Chamseongdan Altar (ê°•í™” 참성단), 2020-08-21, 2023-04-09,web.archive.org/web/20230409231333/https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264300, live, }}{{glossary end}}

Notable people

• CoreJJ, birth name Jo Yong-in, professional League of Legends playerNEWS,www.nytimes.com/2021/01/30/technology/esports-league-of-legends-america.html, They’re Flocking to America to Make a Fortune Playing Video Games, The New York Times, 30 January 2021, Browning, Kellen, 14 February 2021, 9 February 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220209191951/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/30/technology/esports-league-of-legends-america.html, live,
• All three members composing the K-Pop boygroup M.O.N.T (Bitsaeon, Narachan and Roda).

See also

{{commons category|Ganghwa Island}}

• Geography of South Korea

References

Citations

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Ganghwa Tourism

Bibliography

• {{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}}.