Taedong

North Korea's Taedong River is a major river. The river springs in the country's northwestern Rangrim Mountains, then runs southwest into Korea Bay near Namp'o. It passes through Pyongyang, the country's capital, in the middle. The Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung Square are both located along the river.

The river runs over 439 kilometers (272.7 miles) and is generally deep. It is the second-longest river in North Korea and the fifth-longest on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang is 110 kilometers upstream, Sunchon is 192 kilometers upstream, and Taehng is 414 kilometers upstream. It is commonly used for river transportation due to its depth; huge ships can navigate it up to 65 kilometers inland, though most commercial traffic stops at Songrim.

On its waters, the kingdom of Koguryo was created. Many neolithic and Bronze Age archeological sites, as well as remnants and ruins from Koguryo, have been discovered along the river. It was also known as the Pae River at one time. When the Taedonggang Culture flourished in 3000 BC, the Taedong River basin is thought to have been the location of the Korean nation's historical center.

The government completed the 8-kilometer-long West Sea Barrage at the mouth of the Taedong River in Namp'o in 1986, with three locks and 36 sluices. The dam is used to control floodwaters and irrigate land that has recently been recovered from the Korea Gulf. The dam prevents outgoing river water from mingling with ocean, resulting in an increase in pollutant concentrations. Other dams have been erected to give energy to the country, such as the Nyongwon Power Station. The Okryu Bridge, Rungra Bridge, and Taedong Bridge are among the six bridges on the Taedong in Pyongyang.

Length: 439 kilometers (272.7 miles)