Taebaek Mountains
mountain range on the Korean peninsula
The Taebaek Mountains (Korean: 태백산맥; Hanja: 太白山脈) are a mountain range that stretches across North Korea and South Korea. They form the main ridge of the Korean peninsula. The mountain range is the source of the Han River, which flows through Seoul, as well as the Nakdong River, the longest river in South Korea, which passes through Daegu and Busan, making it one of the most important geographical features in South Korea and the Korean Peninsula as a whole. The mountain range extends 500 to 600 kilometers, from the area near the city of Wonsan in North Korea, to the Yeongnam Alps in the south and beyond.
Geography
The Taebaek mountains are located along the eastern edge of the peninsula and run along the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The Hwangnyong Mountain in North Korea (1268 meters) forms the northern end of the range. Busan lies at the southern end of this mountain range, thus making the mountain range a total length of over 500 kilometers, averaging about 1000 meters in height. The range functions as the primary watershed of the Korean Peninsula, determining the drainage patterns between the East Sea and the Yellow Sea. It exhibits a distinct asymmetric topography, characterized by steep eastern slopes descending toward the East Sea and more gradual western slopes that form the basins of major rivers such as the Han and Nakdong.
Prominent peaks of the range include Mount Seoraksan (1,708 m), Mount Kumgangsan (1,638 m), Mount Taebaeksan (1,566.7 m) and Mount Odaesan (1,563 m).
The public source identifies “Taebaek Mountains” as mountain range on the Korean peninsula. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Taebaek, Mountains and mountain.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Taebaek Mountains”, the useful work is to connect “mountain range on the Korean peninsula” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 16, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q562098. VIAF identifies the subject as 315527490. The Library of Congress control number is sh91003640. Authority coordinates are 38.217, 128.183. 2 of 4 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 1 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1268 and 1000.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Taebaek Mountains”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Taebaek Mountains primary sources, Taebaek Mountains archive and Taebaek research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Taebaek Mountains”?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Taebaek Mountains” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.