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The Nakdong River or Nakdonggang (, ) is the longest river in South Korea, which passes through the major cities of Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea's Three Kingdoms Era.
Major tributaries include the Yeong River, Geumho River, and Nam rivers. Together with its Tributary, the Nakdonggang drains most of North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang provinces, along with small portions of North Jeolla, South Jeolla, and Gangwon provinces. The total drainage basin is .
Around the 1st century, the valley is believed to have been inhabited by the Byeonhan confederacy tribes. During the Three Kingdoms period, the Gaya confederacy controlled the valley until they were overrun by Silla in 562. These states exploited the river's potential for navigation and commerce, operating a thriving trade in armor and weapons with neighboring countries, including Yamato period Japan. Through the Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon periods, the river continued to serve as a major transportation corridor in the Gyeongsang region. It was especially used for transporting inland fresh seafood, such as mackerel, which were salted and dried to prevent them from spoiling. The city of Andong was the farthest inland the fish could be brought before going bad, so many people flocked there during the Joseon dynasty to eat fish.
As a barrier to movement, the Nakdong River gained sudden prominence during the Korean War. The southern length of the river formed the western portion of the Pusan Perimeter, which the UN forces fought to maintain during the autumn of 1950. The bridge at Waegwan was blown up on August 3, 1950, in an effort to prevent North Korean forces from advancing on Daegu. A large number of South Korean were killed in the explosion. "1950" Retrieved October 10, 2019 Although some North Korean forces did cross the Nakdong River in places, for the most part the river marked their furthest advance.
Despite being home to the bustling Port of Busan, the Nakdonggang estuary is internationally important for waterbirds, despite recent ecologically-destructive developments including reclamation for housing and industry (e.g. the Busan New Port), the ongoing construction of a major bridge (the Miyeonji Bridge) and most recently the threatened construction of the Korean Grand Canal project.
The Nakdonggang and its tributaries serve as a major source of drinking water for the inhabitants of the river basin and others nearby. However, water pollution from domestic and agricultural wastewater remains a serious concern.
Near Andong, a series of massive hydroelectric dams have been constructed, creating a small chain of artificial lakes of which Andong Lake is the largest. These lakes also support a substantial recreational industry. Bass fishing is especially popular, since the lakes have been artificially stocked with bass.
In the early 2010s, the Nakdonggang River was to be part of President Lee Myung-bak's canal project, the Grand Korean Waterway. The project would link the Nakdong with the Han River to the north, creating a shipping canal spanning the length of the country, from Seoul to Busan. Encountering considerable controversy nationwide as well as from residents along the Nakdonggang, the waterway project was scrapped by the end of Lee's presidency.
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