Context:
With an aim to exploit the Musi banks for commercial use, the Telangana government is looking at the Great Hangang (Han River) project in South Korea as a model for attracting private firms to develop riverfronts.
Relevance:
GS I: Geography
About Han River:
- It is one of the most important rivers in South Korea and stands as the fourth longest river in the Korean peninsula.
- Course:
- It originates from the confluence of Namhan (South Han) and Bukhan (North Han) rivers on the eastern side of South Korea.
- The river passes through the country’s capital, Seoul, and further flows into the Yellow Sea.
- The 319 miles of its length are navigable for 200 miles and it has been an invaluable river route since ancient times.
- Several ancient kingdoms of Korea-including Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla-continued to vie for control over the strategic river at various points.
- The river was highly polluted for decades, due to industrial wastes, but appropriate and serious efforts made in the 1980s and 1990s brought back the earlier qualities of the waters.
- There are islands on the Han River: Seonyudo has been developed into an attractive ecological park.
- Banpo Bridge: Known for the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on the Banpo Bridge in the city of Seoul, over the Han River. Its bridge fountain is the world’s longest.
-Source: Times of India
