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South Hwanghae Province

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South Hwanghae Province is a major administrative region in western North Korea.

South hwanghae counties
South hwanghae counties

The name of the province translates to "south Yellow Sea province" in Korean. This name is derived from several sources. It references the Yellow Sea, which forms the western boundary of the province. It also draws from the names of the largest cities in the former Hwanghae Province. These cities were Haeju and Hwangju. The province is part of the Haeso region. It sits between North Hwanghae province to the north and east. The southern border is the Korean Demilitarized Zone, which separates North Korea from South Korea.

The province was formed in 1954. Before this date, the area was part of a single larger area called Hwanghae Province. This larger province was eventually split into two parts. These two parts became North Hwanghae and South Hwanghae. Today, the provincial capital is the city of Haeju. Haeju is a very important location for the region. It serves as the largest port in southern North Korea, excluding the city of Wonsan.

South hwanghae counties
South hwanghae counties

The geography of South Hwanghae is quite distinct from other regions. The land is not very mountainous. Instead, the province features many wide plains. This flat landscape makes the area uniquely suited for large-scale agriculture. Because of this, people often call the province the "bread-basket" of North Korea. This nickname highlights how much food is produced there. During the Arduous March in the 1990s, these plains helped the region. The province was not hit as hard as other parts of the country. This was largely due to its ability to grow many different types of food.

Farmers in South Hwanghae grow a wide variety of crops. They produce many types of vegetables and fruits. They also grow various grains and rice on the plains. One specific area shows how specialized this farming can be. Kwail County was founded specifically to grow orchards. The name Kwail actually means "fruit" in Korean. This shows the direct link between the land and its purpose. The fertile soil and flat terrain support these different agricultural needs.

The coastline of the province is very complex. It is dotted with many small islands. Many of these islands are uninhabited, meaning no people live on them. However, the islands are a subject of international discussion. Some of the largest islands, such as Baengnyeong-do, are administered by South Korea. There are also large islands that indisputably belong to North Korea. These include Kirin-do, Changrin-do, and Sunwi-do. A maritime boundary called the Northern Limit Line runs through this region. This line marks a disputed area between North and South Korea. This boundary is a frequent subject of contention between the two nations.

History is visible throughout the landscape of South Hwanghae. The province contains many ancient cultural relics. Visitors can find ancient stone pagodas and burial mounds. There is also a Kangsosa Buddhist temple located here. Another interesting historical site is a Koryo-era ice house. The province also holds many relics from much older times. These include Iron Age dolmens and Koguryo tombs. One notable example is Anak Tomb No.3. These sites provide a window into the ancient history of the region.

Administratively, South Hwanghae is organized into many smaller parts. It is divided into one city, known as a si, and 19 counties, known as gun.

South hwanghae counties
South hwanghae counties

The city is Haeju. The 19 counties include Anak, Chaeryong, Changyon, and Chongdan. Other counties are Kangryong, Kwail, Ongjin, and Paechon. The list also includes Pongchon, Pyoksong, Ryongyon, Samchon, Sinchon, Sinwon, Songhwa, Taetan, Unryul, Ŭnch'ŏn, Yonan, and An Jung-geun. In rural areas, these counties are further divided into villages called ri. In cities, the smaller neighborhoods are called dong. This structured system helps manage the various populations across the province.

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