Yanggang Province
(2002 est. pop. 805,000). Yanggang (also Ryanggang) Province (Yanggangdo or Ryanggangdo), with an area of 13,888 square kilometers, is located inland along the Yalu (Amnok) and Tumen (Tuman) Rivers in North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea). The province takes its name ("both rivers") from the two rivers that form the border between North Korea and China (People's Republic of China). The province was established in October 1954 with the division of Hamgyong Province into Yanggang and North and South Hamyong Provinces. In addition to Hyesan, the province's capital and only city, there are eleven counties (kun).
Yanggang has been called Korea's "rooftop" because of its high mountains, ranges, and plateaus. The highest peak is Mount Paektu (2,750 meters), straddling both Yanggang province and China. Kaema Plateau, with an average elevation of 1,339 meters, is located in central and western Yanggang, northwestern South Hamgyong, and eastern Chagang provinces. Measuring 14,300 square kilometers, it is the largest plateau on the Korean peninsula. There are also numerous other rivers and tributaries.
The region has much indigenous vegetation, such as conifers and grasses, and is also amenable to agriculture, particularly potatoes, cabbage, radishes, apricots, and ginseng. The province is also abundant in minerals such as iron, cooper, tungsten, and gold.
Further Reading
Cho, Chung-Kyung, Phyllis Haffner, and Fredric M. Kaplan. (1991) The Korea Guidebook. 5th ed. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.
Storey, Robert, and Alex English (2001). Korea. 5th ed. Berkeley, CA: Lonely Planet.
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