South Gyeongsang

South Gyeongsang (Gyeongsangnam-do; 경상남도; 慶尚南道) is a province) (Do) in the southeast of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Gyeongsang Province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Changwon.

The province is part of the Yeongnam region, and is bounded on the east by the East Sea/Sea of Japan (see Notice on Talk page), on the north by North Gyeongsang Province, on the west North and South Jeolla Provinces, and on the south by the Korea Strait.

Most of the province is drained by the Nakdong River and its tributaries. The delta plain around Gimhae is one of the best granaries in South Korea. Agricultural products form South Gyeongsang include rice, beans, potatoes and barley. The area is renowed for its cotton, sesame and fruits which are grown along the southern seaside. A number of marine products are caught. The province is one of the country's leading fisheries.

The largest cities in the region are Busan and Ulsan, which are separately administered as provincial-level Metropolitan Cities. Apart from Changwon, other large or notable cities include Gimhae, Jinhae, Masan, and Jinju.

South Gyeongsang is the home of Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many tourists. It is located in the national park around Jirisan (1,915 m) on the border with North Jeolla. The temple was first built in 802.

Area: 11,859 square kilometres

Length of coastline: about 2,250 kilometres.

Population (excluding Busan and Ulsan): 2,970,929 (2000 census).

Administrative divisions:

Changwon-shi (창원시; 昌原市)
Geoje-shi (거제시; 巨濟市)
Gimhae-shi (김해시; 金海市)
Jinhae-shi (진해시; 鎭海市)
Jinju-shi (진주시; 晉州市)
Masan-shi (마산시; 馬山市)
Miryang-shi (밀양시; 密陽市)
Sacheon-shi (사천시; 泗川市)
Tongyeong-shi (통영시; 統營市)
Yangsan-shi (양산시; 梁山市)
Changnyeong-gun (창녕군; 昌寧郡)
Geochang-gun (거창군; 居昌郡)
Goseong-gun (고성군; 固城郡)
Hadong-gun (하동군; 河東郡)
Haman-gun (함안군; 咸安郡)
Hamcheon-gun (합천군; 陜川郡)
Hamyang-gun (함양군; 咸陽郡)
Namhae-gun (남해군; 南海郡)
Sancheong-gun (산청군; 山淸郡)
Uiryeong-gun (의령군; 宜寧郡)