North Chungcheong Province: Overview and Geography
North Chungcheong Province, also known as Chungbuk, is a landlocked province located in the south-center of the Korean Peninsula. It shares borders with multiple provinces in South Korea. The province has a population of over 1.5 million people and covers an area of 7,433 square kilometers. Cheongju serves as the capital and largest city, while other major cities include Chungju and Jecheon.
Established in 1896, North Chungcheong was formerly part of the Chungcheong province. It is the only landlocked province in South Korea and was known as Chūsei-hoku Prefecture during the Japanese Colonial Period. The region is mostly mountainous and is dominated by the Noryeong and Sobaek Mountains. The province is known for its agricultural products such as rice, barley, beans, ginseng, and tobacco. It also has mineral reserves of gold, iron, coal, and more.
North Chungcheong is home to several national parks, including the famous Mount Songni and its national park, Beopjusa Temple, and Guinsa, the headquarters of the Cheontae sect. The province is divided into three cities and eight counties. Religion-wise, Buddhism and Christianity have a significant following in the province, while a majority of the population is not religious.
Overall, North Chungcheong Province offers a mix of natural beauty, historical sites, and a diverse economy based on agriculture and mining.
Heavy Rainfall Causes Severe Flooding in South Korea
South Korea experienced heavy rainfall during the 2023 East Asian rainy season, resulting in severe flooding and landslides in the provinces of North Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang. This led to the deaths of 44 people and the displacement of thousands of residents. The higher casualties this season are attributed to the fact that the rains occurred in rural areas that are harder to monitor and reach. Climate change is also believed to be a possible factor, as rain in South Korea has been coming in more intense bursts due to warming, making it challenging to prepare for floods. The heavy rain caused significant damage to public facilities, private properties, farmland, and cultural heritage sites. In Cheongju, 14 people lost their lives when they became trapped in the Gungpyeong No. 2 Underpass after the banks of Miho River broke. The local authorities and provincial government faced criticism for not closing the tunnel despite a flood warning being issued four hours before the accident. President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the affected areas and called for measures to address climate change and better disaster response. The government launched an audit to investigate the handling of the flooding incidents. Overall, the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding had a devastating impact on South Korea, highlighting the need for better disaster preparedness and response strategies.
Euclid Launch: Mapping the Universe's Mysteries
The Euclid telescope, a European craft, is set to launch on a mission to probe the mysteries of the universe. The €1.4 billion mission aims to understand the accelerating expansion of the universe and investigate the nature of dark energy and dark matter. Euclid will map the 3D positions of 1.5 billion galaxies to study the distribution of dark matter and explore the large-scale properties of the universe. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch on July 1, 2023 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The first results from Euclid are expected in 2025.
Euclid is part of a new generation of experiments that arose from the discovery 25 years ago that the universe's expansion is accelerating. With dark energy and dark matter making up an estimated 95% of the universe's contents, Euclid's mission could lead to a revolution in our understanding of the physical laws of nature. By combining data from Euclid and other upcoming observatories, scientists hope to gain greater precision in studying the universe and putting cosmological theories to the test. The results from Euclid and other cosmology-mapping projects will be crucial in advancing our understanding of the universe and its origins.