Mount Kumgang Tourist Region
The tourist region Kumgang -san is a special administrative region, and special economic zone in North Korea Kumgang, on German " Diamond Mountains ". It was created on 23 October 2002 by elimination of the province Kangwŏn -do. The region is bordered on the east by the Sea of Japan, to the north and west by Kangwŏn -do and on the south by Gangwon-do (South Korea).
Climate
The region is located in the temperate climate zone. The average annual temperature is 11.0 degrees Celsius and the annual rainfall 1580.8 mm. The warmest month is August with an average of 23.6 degrees Celsius, the coldest January with -2.1 degrees Celsius on average. Most precipitation falls in the month of August with an average of 320.9 millimeters, the fewest in December with 50.3 millimeters on average.
History
The 530 -square-kilometer mountain region, which is the tax-exempt Administrative Region Kumgang - san, takes from a tourist point of view a special position. Firstly, it is a popular destination on several guided routes, on the other hand it made headlines because she is the only one, may be approached by boat from the time of South Korea, of course, under strict isolation. The Hyundai Motor Company operated this route for visitors from South Korea. This is, come to the agreement between Chung Ju -yung, the former CEO and founder of Hyundai and Kim Jong- il, the then ruler of North Korea about. After Chung Ju-yung had donated in June 1998 for North Korea cattle, he reached an agreement with Kim Jong- il on the Kumgang tour program.
On 18 November 1998, the passenger ship " Kumgang " of South Korea from the first trip in the direction of the Kumgang -san has started. By mid-2008 more than one million South Koreans have visited the region. But since 11 July 2008, all trips are suspended due to an incident. In this incident, a South Korean, North Korean soldiers was shot. The exact course is unknown to this day. Even North Korea denied any cooperation in resolving the matter.
Culture and sights
Hyundai Asan has created the tourism infrastructure in the mountain region. Several major restaurants for the clearance of hundreds of guests at the same time, a traditional Korean mega- bath house with a local thermal source, a large convention center, in the North Korean circus occurs regularly, and a number of souvenir shops were opened.
The tourist region Kumgang -san is one of the most scenic areas of the Korean peninsula. Approximately 12,000 mountain peaks dot the region, in Spring, the diverse types of flowers in the summer you have an uninterrupted view of the Sea of Japan, and in the fall of the mountainous landscape is bathed in rich colors.
The 1,639 -meter high mountain Piro, not to be confused with the Piro in Myohang - san, is the highest elevation in the Kumgang. In the mountains there are many historical temples and places of worship as well as various monuments to the former president of North Korea Kim Il-sung.