Thirteenth in population (30,000,000) among the world’s nations, but only 42nd in area, Korea is washed on three sides by salt water—the Japan Sea, the Korea Strait, and the Yellow Sea (see map). It can be said to begin with a mountain, the far northern peak of Paektu (White Head), coated with glistening pumice and sheltering in its ancient crater the deep Dragon Prince’s Pool.]