• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.344-359
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• 2004

This geographical study is to identify the reality of Nokdun island which was once settled and farmed by our ancestor, but currently the island is do facto under Russia's control. Various historical documents including old maps, current large scale maps and satellite images besides field work were used for full analysis. According to historical records, up until Chosun Dynasty, Nokdun island in the lower Tuman river was one of the frontier fortified base crossed the river for the northern defense as well as seasonal farming for the farmer of Kyounghung border area. Even though the island was unjustly lost to Russia by the Beijing Treaty in the late Chosun period, the whole area of Nokdun was occupied and farmed by sole Koreans until the deportation by Stalin was forcibly measured. In these days due to the change of Tumn river channel and new deposition by river it became very difficult to find the original shape of Nokdun island. However, through intensive field works based on historical records, the research team found out the existence of the old wet-dry fields, old rural farmhouse remnants, and small and medium size of millstones that are supporting the reality of the island. Especially, the team traced a mud fortress presumedly built in the early Chosun period. We believe it might allow to allocate the exact location of Nokdun island in near future.