Sangju

Sangju (sha̠ŋ.dzu) is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, central South Korea. Although Sangju is rather rural, it is very old and was once a key city. Along with Gyeongju, it gives rise to half of the name of the Gyeongsang provinces. Sangju is nicknamed Sam Baek, or "Three Whites", referring to three prominent agricultural products rice, silkworm cocoons, and dried persimmons from the area. Sangju lies on the northwestern border of North Gyeongsang province, touching on North Chungcheong province. Thus, to its west and north it adjoins the North Chungcheong counties of Boeun, Goesan, Okcheon, and Yeongdong. Within North Gyeongsang province, it touches Mungyeong on the north, Yecheon, Uiseong, and Gumi on the east, and Gimcheon to the south. The north and west extremes of the city are found in Hwabuk-myeon, at 127°47′55′′E and 36°14′6′′N, respectively. The southern limit lies in Gongseong-myeon at 36°14′06′′N, on the border with Gimcheon city. The eastern edge of Sangju is found in Jungdong-myeon at 128°20′28′′E. The city thus spans a total distance of about from north to south, and about from east to west. All of Sangju lies in the valley of the Nakdong River. Various tributaries flow into the Nakdong in Sangju, including the Yeong (which rises in Mungyeong). The land slopes down from the Sobaek Mountains in the east to the river basin. The highest elevation in Sangju is found at the top of Songnisan, 1,058 m above sea level. Like most of South Korea, the terrain is generally hilly, with only a few flat areas along the rivers. Because of this rugged terrain, 67% of the land in Sangju is classified as "vacant," unused for agricultural or other purposes. Namsan mountain is located in the city. Sangju has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa), but can be considered a borderline humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) using the isotherm. The average annual temperature is between and , fluctuating from an August average of to a chilly January mean of . The temperature in the mountainous northwest is normally substantially lower.