Port Hamilton: Difference between revisions
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:''Port Hamilton can also refer to a former port in [[Fountainbridge]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]], in the [[United Kingdom]] or the former name of [[East Hamilton, Texas]] in the [[United States]].'' |
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[[Image:PortHamiltonMap.png|thumb|200px|right|Port Hamilton map]] |
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'''Port Hamilton''' or '''Komundo''' ([[Korean language|Korean]] [[Hangul]]: 거문도 [''Geomundo''], [[Hanja]]: 巨文島 or 巨門島) is a small group of [[island]]s in the [[Jeju Strait]] off the southern coast of [[Korea]], located approximately at {{coor dms|34|1|35|N|127|18|45|E|type:isle}}. There are three principal islands, the two larger ones, Sodo (서도 [''Seodo''], 西島) and Sunhodo (동도 [''Dongdo''], 東島) forming an excellent [[harbor|harbour]] with the smaller island in the centre. It was this central island, Observation Island (거문도 [''Geomundo''], 巨文島, or 고도 [''Godo''], 古島), which was the location of the [[Royal Navy|British naval]] [[Military base|base]] from 1885 to 1887. |
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==History== |
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Port Hamilton first came to the attention of [[Western world|Western]] [[imperialism|imperial]] powers in the mid-19th century when, in 1845, [[British Empire|British]] naval officer [[Edward Belcher]] surveyed the area in the [[HMS Samarang|HMS ''Samarang'']] and first applied the name of Port Hamilton. |
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[[Image:PortHamiltonLocMap.png|thumb|300px|right|Location of Port Hamilton in the [[Jeju Strait]]]] |
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The strategic importance of Port Hamilton, being a natural harbour that allowed control of the [[Korea Strait]] between [[Korea]] and [[Japan]] was recognised by the [[United States Navy]], who considered seizing the islands in 1884. |
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In April 1885, Port Hamilton was seized by three ships of the British [[Royal Navy]] on orders from the Admiralty. This was to forestall [[Russian Empire|Russia]]n advances in the face of the [[Panjdeh Incident]] in [[Afghanistan]]. Port Hamilton served as a counterbalance to the Russian naval base at [[Vladivostok]]. By occupying Port Hamilton the British could prevent Russian advances in east Asia, and block Russian naval activity in the [[Korea Strait]]. The British built a few buildings and defensive works and introduced [[pheasant]]s to the islands. After the Russian threat had diminished the British demolished the base and left on [[27 February]] 1887. Nine British sailors and marines were left buried at Port Hamilton. |
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Port Hamilton accrued to Japan upon its annexation of Korea in 1910 and were transferred to [[South Korea]] in 1945. In 1951, Japanese claims to the islands were specifically renounced in the [[Treaty of Peace with Japan|Treaty of San Francisco]]. Today, the islands form a part of [[Samsan]] District, [[Yeosu]] City, [[South Jeolla]] Province, with the Samsan District offices located on Observation Island. The islands are also part of the [[Dadohae Haesang National Park]]. |
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[[Category:Islands of South Korea]] |
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[[Category:History of Korea]] |
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[[Category:Royal Navy bases]] |
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Revision as of 19:22, 9 March 2007
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