Tanch'ŏn (Korean pronunciation: [tan.tsʰʌn]) is a port city in northeastern South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea. It has a population of approximately 360,000. Tanch'ŏn borders the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea), into which the Namdae River flows.

Tanchon
단천시
Korean transcription(s)
 • Chosŏn'gŭl단천시
 • Hancha端川市
 • McCune-ReischauerTanch'ŏn-si
 • Revised RomanizationDancheon-si
Map of South Hamgyong showing the location of Tanchon
Map of South Hamgyong showing the location of Tanchon
Map
Tanchon is located in North Korea
Tanchon
Tanchon
Location within North Korea
Coordinates: 40°27′29″N 128°54′40″E / 40.458°N 128.911°E / 40.458; 128.911
CountryNorth Korea
ProvinceSouth Hamgyong Province
Administrative divisions39 tong, 39 ri
Area
 • Total
2,170 km2 (840 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total
345,876
 • Density160/km2 (410/sq mi)
 • Dialect
Hamgyŏng
Time zoneUTC+9 (Pyongyang Time)

Administrative divisions

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Tanch'ŏn is divided into 39 tong (neighbourhoods) and 39 ri (villages):

  • Chich'o-dong
  • Chikchŏl-dong
  • Chŏnjin-dong
  • Haean 1-dong
  • Haean 2-dong
  • Hanggu 1-dong
  • Hanggu 2-dong
  • Hanggu 3-dong
  • Kŭmbong-dong
  • Kŭmgol 1-dong
  • Kŭmgol 2-dong
  • Kŭmgol 3-dong
  • Kŭmsan-dong
  • Kwangch'ŏn-dong
  • Muhak-tong
  • Munhwa-dong
  • Naemun-dong
  • Namp'ung-dong
  • Paeg'am-dong
  • Paekkŭmsan-dong
  • Ponsan-dong
  • Pukch'ŏn-dong
  • Puktu-dong
  • P'ugŏ-dong
  • Ryongdae-dong
  • San'gwang-dong
  • Sao-dong
  • Sindanch'ŏn 1-dong
  • Sindanch'ŏn 2-dong
  • Taehŭng 1-dong
  • Taehŭng 2-dong
  • Taesin-dong
  • T'amsi-dong
  • Tŏkhŭng-dong
  • Tong'am-dong
  • Tonsan-dong
  • Yangch'ŏn-dong
  • Yangsan-dong
  • Yŏng'ung-dong
  • Changnae-ri
  • Chŏngdong-ri
  • Chŭngsal-li
  • Hwajang-ri
  • Kaŭng-ri
  • Kawŏl-li
  • Mun'am-ri
  • Munho-ri
  • O'mong-ri
  • Paeksal-li
  • Pokp'yŏng-ri
  • Ponghwa-ri
  • Rip'a-ri
  • Ryŏngdae-ri
  • Ryongjam-ri
  • Ryŏngsal-li
  • Ryongdŏng-ri
  • Ryonghŭng-ri
  • Ryongyŏl-li
  • Samgŏ-ri
  • Sindong-ri
  • Sinho-ri
  • Sinp'ung-ri
  • Sinp'yŏng-ri
  • Sŏk'u-ri
  • Songjŏng-ri
  • Songp'a-ri
  • Ssangryong-ri
  • Talch'ŏl-li
  • Taptong-ri
  • Tŏkchu-ri
  • Tolsal-li
  • Tuyŏl-li
  • Unch'ŏl-li
  • Wadong-ri
  • Wŏnsal-li
  • Yangp'yŏng-ri
  • Yŏngp'yŏng-ri

Economy

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There are extensive mineral resources in the area, including cobalt, magnesite, and iron ore. The city is known for its chemical production, textiles, metal ware, machinery and smelting. The Komdok mine is located in Kumgol-1 dong.[1] The Taehung mine is located in South Hamgyong Province.

The area is also home to the large Tanchon Power Station (under construction as of April 2020), consisting of hundreds of kilometres of waterway tunnels and a planned six power stations, that has been under construction since 2017.[2][3]

Technology

The City of Tanch'ŏn is featured in the PC game Tradewinds.

Transport

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Tanch'ŏn is situated on the P'yŏngra Line and the Hŏch'ŏn Line of the Korean State Railway.[4] In 2012 the city's port was renovated and upgraded.[5] Tanch'ŏn port was reconstructed, and a ceremony marking the completion was taken place in December 2012. In the ceremony, a joint congratulatory message sent by the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Cabinet was read to the officials and members of shock brigades who performed labor feats in the construction of the port.[6]

A trolleybus line runs within Tanchon from next to Kumgol station in Kumgol 1-dong to Kumgol 3-dong with a length of over 6 km. The line was opened in 1986 to serve the Komdok mining region though there have been no trolleybuses seen on satellite imagery since 2011.[7][8]

Wildlife

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The population of Chinese gorals in Tanch'ŏn has been designated North Korean natural monument #293.[9]

Climate

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Tanchon has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfa).[10]

Climate data for Tanchon
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0)
2.4
(36.3)
6.9
(44.4)
13.5
(56.3)
18.2
(64.8)
20.9
(69.6)
24.8
(76.6)
26.0
(78.8)
22.9
(73.2)
17.7
(63.9)
10.1
(50.2)
3.4
(38.1)
14.0
(57.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.4
(24.1)
−3.0
(26.6)
−1.8
(28.8)
7.6
(45.7)
12.4
(54.3)
16.1
(61.0)
20.6
(69.1)
22.0
(71.6)
17.9
(64.2)
11.9
(53.4)
4.9
(40.8)
−1.7
(28.9)
8.5
(47.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −9.8
(14.4)
−8.3
(17.1)
−3.2
(26.2)
1.7
(35.1)
6.7
(44.1)
11.4
(52.5)
16.5
(61.7)
18.1
(64.6)
13.0
(55.4)
6.2
(43.2)
−0.3
(31.5)
−6.8
(19.8)
3.8
(38.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 23
(0.9)
18
(0.7)
24
(0.9)
37
(1.5)
53
(2.1)
83
(3.3)
129
(5.1)
156
(6.1)
108
(4.3)
45
(1.8)
47
(1.9)
27
(1.1)
750
(29.7)
Source: Climate-Data.org [10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "북한지역정보넷". www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  2. ^ Peter Makowsky; Jenny Town; Samantha Pitz (11 October 2019). "North Korea's Hydroelectric Power - The Tanchon Power Station Project". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  3. ^ Makowsky, Peter (24 April 2020). "Tanchon Power Station Project: A Decline in Progress?". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  4. ^ Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6
  5. ^ ""Tanchon Port reconstruction completed", NK Economy Watch". Archived from the original on 2012-05-29.
  6. ^ "Tanchon Port reconstruction completed". North Korea Leadership Watch. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  7. ^ "북한지역정보넷". www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. ^ "북한지역정보넷". www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  9. ^ "단천산양". Cultural Heritage Administration guide to North Korean natural monuments. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-12-01.
  10. ^ a b "Climate: Tanchon". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.

Further reading

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  • Dormels, Rainer. North Korea's Cities: Industrial facilities, internal structures and typification. Jimoondang, 2014. ISBN 978-89-6297-167-5
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