Tancheon

Tancheon () is a stream in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, South Korea. The stream is a tributary of the Han River. It begins in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, flows through Seongnam, and eventually into the Han. It has a total length of .

The area also serves as a large park, and there are paths for both walkers and cyclists on each bank with occasional foot bridges joining the two sides in addition to the bridges built for vehicle traffic. Along the paths there are many benches as well as exercise equipment. The whole area is extremely popular among local residents.

Toponymy

The original name for the stream may have been the native Korean word "Sutnae" (). The meaning of this name was translated into Hanja (Chinese characters) as 炭川; this can then be read in Korean as "Tan-cheon" ().

The "Sut" or "Tan" part of the name may have come from a place called "Sut-gol" () or "Tan-gol" (); this was an area along the river that corresponds to the current Taepyeong-dong, Sujin-dong, and Sinheung-dong in Seongnam. That area was considered to produce much charcoal.

The stream was officially assigned its name during the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period.

The stream has been known by many other names, such as Geomcheon (), Heomcheon (), Meonae (), Cheonhocheon (), and Jancheon ().

Description

The stream originates from the mountain in Yongin. It flows north and merges with the stream Dongmakcheon in Gumi-dong. It then merges with the stream Jungcheon in Imae-dong, then with Yangjaecheon in Daechi-dong in Seoul. It then merges into the Han River near Seoul Olympic Stadium. It has a total length of .

There are bicycle lanes and walking paths along the stream. Large apartment complexes line the stream. There is courts for sports such as tennis along the river.

Water parks

Along the approximately 25-kilometer stretch of the Tancheon that passes through Seongnam, there are five water parks open to the public.Tancheon Water Park
Seongnam City. They are free of charge and popular with families with young children. The Tancheon water parks () are open every year from July 1 to August 31, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. At the parks there are changing rooms available as well as many chairs and picnic tables. They can be found at:

* Yatap-dong, in front of Manna Church ()
* Jeongja-dong, in front of Singi Elementary School ()
* Geumgok-dong, in front of Bulgok Middle School ()
* Imae-dong, by the Unjung Stream footpath ()
* Behind the Bundang district office ()

History

Before the 1920s, Yangjaecheon and Tancheon merged into the Han river at different points. However, the caused the course of the two streams to change. The quality of the water in the river declined in the 1990s, during the rapid development of Seongnam. However, it gradually improved after then.

Gallery

These photographs are in order from south to north, i.e. from source to mouth.

Image:Tancheon - 01 - Looking north from south of Jukjeon.JPG, Looking north from near Bojeong, Yongin
Image:Tancheon - 03 - In Jukjeon.JPG, In Jukjeon, Yongin
Image:Tancheon - 04 - The Pungdeokcheon joins the Tancheon from the south-east.JPG, The Pungdeokcheon joins the Tancheon from the south-west (right of photo) in Jukjeon, Yongin
Image:Tancheon - 05 - Under National Road 43 to Gwangju.JPG, Under National Road 43 to Gwangju in Jukjeon, Yongin
Image:Tancheon - 06 - An artificial island in Jukjeon.JPG, An artificial island in Jukjeon, Yongin
Image:Tancheon - 07 - Looking north from Bundang's Seoul University Hospital.jpg, Looking north from Bundang's Seoul University Hospital
Image:Tancheon - 09 - Looking north from near Taepyeong.jpg, Looking north from near Taepyeong, Seongnam
Image:Tancheon - 10 - Entering Seoul from Seongnam.jpg, Entering Seoul from Seongnam
Image:Tancheon - 11 - Looking south from the bridge near Suseo.jpg, Looking south from the bridge near Suseo, Seoul

See also

* Rivers of Korea
*Geography of South Korea

References

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Bundang
Rivers of South Korea
Rivers of Seoul
Parks in Seoul