The Nakdong River or Nakdonggang is the longest river in South Korea, which passes through the major cities of Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea\’s Three Kingdoms Era.
The Nakdong River flows from the Taebaek Mountains to the South Sea or Korea Strait, which separates Korea from Japan.
The river originates from the junction of the Cheolamcheon and Hwangjicheon streams in Dongjeom-dong, Taebaek, Gangwon Province. From there to its mouth it winds for about 506 kilometres (314 mi). The width of the river ranges from only a few metres in its upper reaches to several hundred metres towards its estuary.
Major tributaries include the Yeong, Geumho, and Nam rivers. Together with its tributaries, the Nakdonggang drains most of North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang provinces, along with small portions of North Jeolla, South Jeolla, and Gangwon provinces. The total watershed is 23,384 square kilometres (9,029 sq mi).
