Lake Chon

At the summit of the revered Mount Paektu, which served as the de facto border between China and North Korea, was Lake Chon. It's also one of the best lakes to visit in North Korea. The Tuman River and the Amnok River, which together constitute the modern boundary between China and North Korea, originate from Lake Chon (in Chinese these are called the Tumen and Yalu Rivers respectively). For this reason, the province that Mt. Paektu and Lake Chon are located in is called Ryanggang Province (two rivers).

The elevation of Lake Chon itself, or rather the lake's surface since there are seasonal changes, is 2189 meters. The lake has a surface size of 9.82 km2 and a maximum depth of 384 m. In the lengthy winter of northern Ryanggang Province from October to June, Lake Chon remains frozen for the most of the year.

Markers at Lake Chon mark the locations where Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un stood to look out at the lake. In recent years, the region has also seen a number of high-profile visits, most notably the one in September 2018 by Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, along with their wives. indicating that all Koreans have a common history. A strong statement, undoubtedly.

It is legal to enter the water at Lake Chon's edge. Due to the lake's sanctity, swimming in it is frowned upon (at least on the Korean side).

Location: Ryanggang