Cheongdocheon
{{Short description|Stream in South Korea}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Cheongdocheon
| name_native = {{native name|ko|청도천}}
| image =
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| pushpin_map = South Korea
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| pushpin_map_caption= Location of mouth
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = South Korea
| subdivision_type2 = Province
| subdivision_name2 = North Gyeongsang Province
| subdivision_type3 = County
| subdivision_name3 = Cheongdo County
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| length = {{cvt|38.75|km}}
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| source1 =
| source1_location = Gakbuk-myeon, Cheongdo
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| source1_elevation = {{Convert|277.84|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Miryang River
| mouth_location = Cheongdo-eup, Cheongdo
| mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|35.57|128.77|display=inline,title|region:KR_type:river}}
| mouth_elevation = {{Convert|34.93|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system = Nakdong River
| basin_size = {{cvt|337|km2}}
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| extra = {{Infobox Korean name/auto
|hangul=^청도천
|hanja =淸道川
|child=yes
}}
}}
Cheongdocheon ({{korean|hangul=청도천}}) is a stream that flows through Cheongdo County in North Gyeongsang Province. It rises on the slopes of Biseulsan in {{interlanguage link|Gakbuk-myeon|ko|각북면}} and flows for {{convert|38.2|km|mi}} before joining the Miryang River at {{interlanguage link|Cheongdo-eup|ko|청도읍}}.{{Cite web | url = https://www.river.go.kr/summary/riverData.do | access-date = 2025-06-08 | script-title = ko:2023년 한국하천일람 | trans-title = 2023 List of Korean Rivers | date = 2024-11-30 | publisher = Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs }}
The Cheongdocheon drains a watershed of 337 {{km2}}, and has a flow length (the longest distance from the mouth to the watershed perimeter) of 41 km.{{cite book | script-title = ko:한국하천지명사전 | trans-title=Dictionary of Korean River Names | publisher = Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs | isbn = 9788992762021 | year = 2011 | page = 335}} A small alluvial plain along the Cheongdocheon is used for farmland.{{cite web|script-title=ko:청도군(淸道郡)|trans-title=Cheongdo County|url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0056329|author=이중우|website=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture|access-date=2025-06-08}}
Under the River Act of South Korea, the Cheongdocheon is classified as a local river which is subject to provincial jurisdiction.{{Cite web | url = https://cheongdo.grandculture.net/cheongdo/toc/GC05500198 | access-date = 2025-06-05 | script-title = ko:청도천 - 디지털청도문화대전 | trans-title = Cheongdocheon - Digital Encyclopedia of Cheongdo Culture | work = Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture | author = 천서이 | year = 2013}}
Name
The stream takes its name from Cheongdo County through which it flows. Other names of the stream include Jacheon (used in the Joseon Dynasty) and Songeupcheon (used locally in Cheongdo-eup).
Confusion can arise from the fact that another stream by the same name flows through Miryang and Changnyeong County, taking its name from {{interlanguage link|Cheongdo-myeon|ko|청도면}} in Miryang.
Tributaries
Other local rivers flowing into the Cheongdocheon include the Osancheon, Punggakcheon, Bugokcheon, Daegokcheon, and Darocheon.
Among the Cheongdocheon's smaller tributaries is the Seowoncheon ("seowon stream") in Iseo-myeon. The {{interlanguage link|Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival|ko|청도 소싸움 축제}} was held on the sandy banks of the Seowoncheon until the Cheongdo Bullfighting Stadium was constructed in 2009.{{Cite web | url = https://cheongdo.grandculture.net/cheongdo/toc/GC05500198 | access-date = 2025-06-05 | script-title = ko:서원리 - 디지털청도문화대전 | trans-title = Seowon-ri - Digital Encyclopedia of Cheongdo Culture | work = Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture | author = 박윤제 | year = 2013}}
Fauna
A study in the 1990s found that the Cheongdocheon was home to 31 species of fish, of which 14 are unique to Korea. The three most common species observed were the dark chub (Nipponocypris temminckii), the pale chub (Zacco platypus), and the slender gudgeon (Squalidus gracilis).{{cite journal | script-title = ko:청도천의 어류상과 군집구조 | trans-title = Ichthyofauna of Freshwater Fishes in the Chongdo Stream , the Naktong River | author1 = 남명모(Myung Mo Nam) | author2 = 강영훈(Yong Hoon Kang) | author3 = 채병수(Byung Soo Chae) | author4 = 양홍준(Hong Jun Yang) | date = June 1998 | script-journal = ko:한국하천호수학회지 | trans-journal = Journal of Korean Society of River and Lake Studies | volume = 31 | issue = 2 | url = https://kiss.kstudy.com/Detail/Ar?key=282914 }}
A {{convert|15|km|mi|adj=on}} section of the Cheongdocheon is a popular habitat for migratory birds.{{Cite web | url = https://cheongdo.grandculture.net/cheongdo/index/GC05500363 | access-date = 2025-06-08 | script-title = ko:청도천 철새 도래지 - 디지털청도문화대전 | trans-title = Cheongdocheon Migratory Bird Habitat - Digital Encyclopedia of Cheongdo Culture | work = Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture | author = 박희천 | year = 2013}} About 20 species of migratory birds have been observed wintering in the area, including the mandarin duck.{{Cite web | url = https://www.imaeil.com/page/view/2011021110331763711 | access-date = 2025-06-08 | script-title = ko:청도천도 철새도래지…원앙 등 20여종 겨울나기 | trans-title = Cheongdocheon is a migratory bird habitat too ... 20 species, including mandarin ducks, overwinter here | newspaper = Maeil Shinmun | author = 노진규 | date = 2011-02-11 }}