Andong is a large city in the eastern part of the country with a population of almost 185,000. The Nakdong River flows through the city and in1976 the Andong Dam was built, providing the city with a reliable source of electricity. The market here is also important as the surrounding area is predominantly agricultural. During the Joseon Dynasty, the city attracted scores of Confucian scholars and to this day is the home of Confucianism in Korea. It still has around 26 private schools from the Joseon Dynasty and many of the homes of the noble classes are still standing. The city is also famous for its masks and each year in September the Andong Mask Dance Festival takes place which lasts for 10 days. Andong was the site of intense fighting during the Korean War in the early 1950s but although much of the city was damaged, it was quickly rebuilt.