Imjin River

The Imjin River, also known as the Rimjin River, is Korea's seventh largest river. It flows from north to south, crossing the Demilitarized Zone and joining the Han River near the Yellow Sea downstream of Seoul. The river does not bear the name of the Imjin War (Japanese invasions in the late 16th century).

During the rainy season in Korea, which lasts from July to August, the Imjin turns into a raging torrent, largely contained by its steep rocky banks. Its larger tributaries and numerous small mountain streams feed it, allowing it to reach flood heights of 48 feet (15 m) above mean water level and velocities of 15 to 20 feet per second (6 m/s). Imjin has risen at a rate of more than six feet per hour on occasion due to the rapid runoff of approximately 95 percent of precipitation during heavy general rains.

During the harsh Korean winter, icy winds sweep down the Imjin, causing thick ice to form on the river. Fluctuations in river level, particularly tidal action in the lower reaches, break up this ice, and large amounts of floe ice pile up against any obstruction in the channel.

Many South Koreans refer to Imjin as the "River of the Dead" because large numbers of dead bodies have floated down the river from the north in the past. The most recent occurrence occurred during the 1990s famine, when millions of North Koreans are believed to have died of starvation.

Length: 273.5 km (169.95 mi)