Nanjido
Encyclopedia
Nanjido (Korean
: 난지도) was an island on a branch of the Han River
of Seoul
, Korea
.
In the end of 1970s, a dyke was constructed around the edge of Nanjido, and it became Seoul's official dump site
. After 1978, Nanjido transformed as a huge mountain of garbage for 15 years, one that would contain a mountain of refuse 98m high and occupying 2,715,900 square meters of land. Nanjido's accumulation of garbage grew quickly, increasing by 3,000 truck
loads of waste per day and eventually creating a pyramid
thirty-four times larger than The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt
. Currently, Korea has the biggest rate of per capita garbage production in the world(2.3 kg/person).
Nanjido stopped being a waste dumpsite in 1993 when city officials realized that Seoul's expansion, the site could no longer be designated as marginal. By that time, Nanjido had accumulated 91,972,000 cubic meters of garbage -- the equivalent of continuous dumping by 13,000,000 8.5-ton trucks for 15 years. Nanjido might be world's tallest waste dumpsite.
The garbage on Nanjido is no longer exposed. After closing it down, the city designated the site as an "ecology park" and began preparations to cover the mountain of garbage with trees. It is currently undergoing a land stabilization process that is expected to be completed by the year 2020. The walls were constructed deep into the ground to prevent the seepage of contaminated water into the Han River and streams. Methane
and other gases were channeled into wells to provide heating to the World Cup Stadium
and the surrounding residential district.
Now the whole area of 2.8 million square meters was transformed into five different theme parks, welcoming 9.8 million visitors every year. The five parks are equipped with conservation facilities for further revival of diversified ecological system.
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 난지도) was an island on a branch of the Han River
Han River (Korea)
The Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.
In the end of 1970s, a dyke was constructed around the edge of Nanjido, and it became Seoul's official dump site
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
. After 1978, Nanjido transformed as a huge mountain of garbage for 15 years, one that would contain a mountain of refuse 98m high and occupying 2,715,900 square meters of land. Nanjido's accumulation of garbage grew quickly, increasing by 3,000 truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
loads of waste per day and eventually creating a pyramid
Pyramid
A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
thirty-four times larger than The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Currently, Korea has the biggest rate of per capita garbage production in the world(2.3 kg/person).
Nanjido stopped being a waste dumpsite in 1993 when city officials realized that Seoul's expansion, the site could no longer be designated as marginal. By that time, Nanjido had accumulated 91,972,000 cubic meters of garbage -- the equivalent of continuous dumping by 13,000,000 8.5-ton trucks for 15 years. Nanjido might be world's tallest waste dumpsite.
The garbage on Nanjido is no longer exposed. After closing it down, the city designated the site as an "ecology park" and began preparations to cover the mountain of garbage with trees. It is currently undergoing a land stabilization process that is expected to be completed by the year 2020. The walls were constructed deep into the ground to prevent the seepage of contaminated water into the Han River and streams. Methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
and other gases were channeled into wells to provide heating to the World Cup Stadium
Seoul World Cup Stadium
The Seoul World Cup Stadium, also known as Sangam Stadium, is located in Seongsan, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and opened in 2001. It was designed to represent the image of a traditional Korean kite...
and the surrounding residential district.
Now the whole area of 2.8 million square meters was transformed into five different theme parks, welcoming 9.8 million visitors every year. The five parks are equipped with conservation facilities for further revival of diversified ecological system.