Gangwon Province, South Korea
Gangwon (강원도; 江原道; also spelled Kangwon) is a province (do) in the north east of South Korea. It is bounded to the east by the Sea of Japan (locally called East Sea) and the provinces of North Gyeongsang and North Chungcheong to the south. To the west lies th province of Gyeonggi, to the north North Korea.
Before the division of North and South Korea along the 38th parallel in 1945, the province stretched to what is now North Korean territory. The landscape is dominated by the Taebaek-sanmaek (mountains) which almost reach the sea. As a consequnce the coast is steep.
The area of Gangwon is 16894 km2, of which four fifth are woodland. Edible alpine plants and mushrooms are harvested in these forests. The province is renowned for its agricultural produce, in particular potatoes and fish (cuttlefish and pollack). Mineral resources of the province include iron, coal, fluorite, limestone and tungsten. There are hydroelectric and thermoelectric power plants.
The main cities in the province are Chuncheon (the provincial capital), Gangneung, Sokcho, Weonju, and Donghae. Sorak-san (mountain; 1700 m) and Mount Odae (1563 m) with its ski run, attract a large number of national tourists. Both are located in national parks in Taebaek sanmaek.
Population 1,592,000 (1990, estimate).