21일 옛 이름이 학탄(학여울)이었던 양재천에 백로 한 마리가 날아들고 있다. 양재천에는 40여 종의 조류가 서식하고 있다.

A white heron flies over the Yangjaecheon Stream, a body of water once called the Haktan (학탄) after the flocks of cranes, or hak, that lived along its meandering banks. These days, the stream is home to around 40 different species of birds.

In the quiet chill of late autumn, the reeds and silver grass lining the riverbanks sway in the breeze, while a blanket of leaves rustles on the soft ground. Suddenly, the thunderous cry of a white heron breaks the silence.

This isn’t near any of the well-known habitats for migratory birds, like the Suncheonman or Cheonsuman bays, or the Geumgang Estuary. This is, in fact, in central Seoul, along the Yangjaecheon Stream in southern Gangnam-gu District, and this kind of avian scenery is easy to come by during an afternoon stroll along the stream.

The Yangjaecheon Stream originates at Gwanaksan Mountain, and flows eastward through Seocho-gu and Gangnam-gu districts, before flowing into the Tancheon Stream. This body of water, which did once flow directly into the Hangang River, was transformed by urban planning in the 1970s from a meandering brook into a straight-flowing stream.

억새, 단풍, 낙엽이 어우러져 가을 정취가 물씬 풍기는 도심 속 하천인 양재천이 강남 빌딩 숲 사이로 유유히 흐르고 있다.

The Yangjaecheon Stream flows through Gangnam’s high-rise jungle, decorated by autumn colors of reeds and rustling leaves.

Starting in 1995, the Yangjaecheon Stream and its desolate riverbanks underwent a process of natural restoration, the first time for this to be done in Korea. This year marks 20 years since the stream was given time to repair itself, to regain its bends and natural habitats. True to its old name Haktan (학탄), meaning “River of Cranes,” it’s now easy to spot white herons flying over the Yangjaecheon riverbanks.

Joseon cartographer and geologist Kim Jeong-ho (1804-1866) aptly named Yangjaecheon’s upper stream the Gongsucheon Stream (공수천) and the lower stream the Haktan in his Daedongyeojido (대동여지도, 大東輿地圖), a large-scale map of Korea completed in 1861.

White herons are not the sole inhabitants of this riverbed. The 3.7-kilometer stretch in the neighborhood of Gangnam is home to over 40 species of birds, such as kestrels and mallards, as well as 300 different types of amphibians, reptiles, fish and mammals. Moreover, the riverbanks breathe life into Seoul’s concrete jungle, providing an escape into the refreshing colors of nature’s playground every season.

By Jeon Han, Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Jeon Han, Korea.net Photographer
hanjeon@korea.kr

붉고 노랗게 물든 양재천 둑방길을 시민들이 산책을 하고 있다.

People walk along the Yangjaecheon Stream’s Dukbang-gil path, enjoying the red and yellows of the autumn season.

 

올해로 복원 20주년을 맞이한 양재천을 찾은 왜가리와 청둥오리들이 21일 한가로운 한 때를 보내고 있다. 양재천은 초등학교 교과서에 ‘생태하천 복원 전국 1호’로 기록돼 있기도 하다.

A flock of herons and mallards take a moment of rest in the waters of the Yangjaecheon Stream on Nov. 21. The stream, which has been undergoing a natural process of restoration over the past 20 years, appears as the first restoration project of its kind in elementary school textbooks.

 

21일 양재천에 날아든 백로 한 마리 위로 시민들이 징검다리를 건너고 있다. 뒤로 보이는 높은 건물은 잠실에 위치한 롯데월드타워다.

People cross the Yangjaecheon Stream on stepping stones, a white heron gazing in their direction. In the far distance looms Jamsil’s Lotte World Tower.