• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2009

This study analyzes and compares the geomorphic characteristics and environmental changes of coastal plains such as the Anju and Hamheung Plains located in the west and east coasts of North Korea, respectively, based on topographic maps of the 1910s and satellite images of the 2000s. The Anju Plain, so called by as Yeoldusamcheonribeol, can be divided into alluvial plains, coastal plains and erosional plains. The Hamheung Plain can be regarded as alluvial plains formed by Seongcheon-river. Approximately 84.98$km^2$ tidal flats have been reclaimed to farmlands and saltpans, and the most channels of medium and small rivers have been straightened at the Anju Plain during the last one hundred years. At the Hamheung Plain, on the other hands, approximately 3.40$km^2$ land has been increased by the advances of coastal line of the Seongcheon-river delta with a maximum of 800m, and channels of Seoseongcheon-river which showed anastomosing channels have been disappeared by reclamation. Gwang-po has been decreased by artificial reclamations and river sedimentary processes.