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Korea
The Korean peninsula extends southward from the eastern end of the Asian continent. The peninsula is roughly 1,030 km (612 miles) long and 175 km (105 miles) wide at its narrowest point. Mountains cover 70% of Korea's land mass, making it one of the most mountainous regions in the world. The lifting and folding of Korea’s granite and limestone base has created breathtaking landscapes of scenic hills and valleys. The mountain range that stretches the length of the east coast plunges steeply into the East Sea, while along the southern and western coasts, the mountains descend gradually to the coastal plains that produce the bulk of Korea’s agricultural crops, especially rice. The Korean peninsula is divided just slightly north of the 38th parallel. The democratic Republic of Korea in the south and communist North Korea are separated by a demilitarized zone. South Korea’s 99,500sq.km is populated by 47.9 million people (2003). Administratively, the Republic of Korea consists of nine provinces and the capital is Seoul.  Korea in Brief • Location/Size: Eastern Asia/ approx. 220,000 Sq. Km. • Population: 47.9 million (2003) • Climate: Mostly sunny days, average temperature 18℃(64.4℉), on May • Religion: Christianity, 49%; Buddhism, 47%; Other, 4% • Language: Korean (English widely spoken) • Economic Status: GNI US$ 477 billion; GNI per capital US$ 10,013(2002) • Major Cities: Seoul(capital), Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju Seoul
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