Sanctuary of White-naped Cranes at Hangang River Estuary

Basic information

Designation

Natural Monument No.250

Category

동식물

Designated year

1975

Location

김포시, 경기도— 경기도 김포시 하성면 가금리 548 등

Coordinates

37.747442, 126.660261

The white-naped crane is distributed in China, Japan, Mongolia, and Korea. These birds usually live in paddy fields and marshes, eating small animals and clams as well as grain and grass shoots and roots. The site for white-naped cranes is located on a delta where Imjingang River and Han-gang River meet. It has been suggested that white-naped cranes have spent winter months here since earlier than World War II. After the 1980s, however, because of the dam construction, the level of water and the density of salt have been changed; thus, the bird's prey has decreased. Today, lots of reeds are growing here near the salty water. Owing to this change in the environment, the groups of white-naped cranes on the mouth of Hangang River are gradually migrating to Japan. Since the sanctuary of white-naped cranes is the most important place where white-naped cranes live during winter in Korea, it is designated and protected as a Natural Monument.

Location