Seoraksan

Seoraksan
Seoraksan
	The Dinosaur Ridge of Seoraksan
Highest point
Elevation	1,708 m (5,604 ft)
Coordinates	38°7′10″N 128°27′56″E
Geography
	Seoraksan Seoraksan is located in Gangwon Province in eastern South Korea
Location	South Korea
Parent range	Taebaek Mountains
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike, scramble
Korean name
Hangul	설악산
Hanja	雪嶽山
Revised Romanization	Seoraksan
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏraksan

Seoraksan (Korean: 설악산), or Mount Sorak, is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range in the Gangwon Province in eastern South Korea.^[1] It is located in the Seoraksan National Park, near the city of Sokcho. After the Hallasan volcano on Jeju Island and Jirisan in the south, Seoraksan is the third highest mountain in South Korea. The Daechongbong Peak (대청봉) of Seoraksan reaches 1,708 meters (5,603 feet). The mountain is sometimes considered the backbone of South Korea.^[2]

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The mountain is also part of a biosphere reserve: Mount Sorak Biosphere Reserve.^[3]

Geography

Seoraksan is divided into Naeseorak (Inner Seorak), Oaeseorak (Outer Seorak), and Namseorak (South Seorak).

Naeseorak (Inner Seorak)

The area belonging to Inje-gun in the northwest. Daecheong-bong ou Daecheong Peak is called Naeseolak.

Naeseorak includes various features, among which Baekdam Valley, Gaya-dong Valley, Gugokdam Valley, Gugokdam Valley, 12 Seonnyeondang, Daeseung Falls and Yonga-jangseong (Fortress of dragon's teeth).^[4] In addition to Cheonbul-dong Valley, it is easy to access Ulsan Rock, Gwongeumseong Fortress, Geumgang Cave, Biryong Falls, and Toseong Falls.^[5]

Oaeseorak (Outer Seorak)

Oaeseorak is the area belonging to Sokcho City towards the east. It features easier hiking courses and is one of the most accessed areas of the park.^[5]

In Oaeseorak, there is the Towangseong Waterfall, the highest waterfall in South Korea.

Mountain geography, fauna and flora

It was designated as Natural Monument No.171 in 1965, and as a national park (Mount Seorak national park) on March 24, 1970.^[6] In August 1982, UNESCO designated the area as a biosphere reserve.^[7]^[8]^[9]

Depending on the climate and characteristics, the mountain's biologic features have different ecosystems. While the inland climate is composed of gentle slopes and thick layers of soil, the forest is abundant and animal form is abundant, the outcropping is a marine climate, which causes the ground to steep and frequent visitors, which is less formal. Rare plants and animals live in the wild, including natural monuments such as mountain goats and semi-moon chest bears.

The biosphere of the Mt. Seolak is composed of different ecosystems according to climate and characteristics. It is an inland climate with gentle slopes and thick soil layers that are rich in forests and rich in animal habitats, while oyster shells have a marine climate with steep slopes and few visitors. It is home to rare animals and plants, including natural monuments such as goats and bears.

Hiking paths

Outer Seorak District

The Yukdam waterfall and the Biryeong waterfall^[10] (비룡폭포) are located on the southern side of the valley (Sangcheon river),^[11] about a forty-minute walk from the main car park.

Ulsanbawi

Ulsanbawi (울산바위) is a rock formation in the Seoraksan national park.^[12] The shape of Ulsanbawi is unique in the area. To reach the rocks you need to follow a hiking path and climb over 800 steps (it is actually 888 steps according to locals). On the way there, there are two temples and a spherical rock (Heundeulbawi, 흔들바위) which is located on top of a larger rock.^[13] This rock is about 5 meters (16 feet) high and can be moved with some effort. Thousands of people have already tried to push down Heundeulbawi, but nobody gets further than waggling the rock.

According to the legend Ulsanbawi comes from the city of Ulsan in the south east of Korea. As Kumgangsan (금강산) was built, Ulsanbawi walked to the north as the representative of the city. Unfortunately Ulsanbawi arrived too late and there was no more room. Ulsanbawi was ashamed and slowly trudged back to the south. One evening the rock went to sleep in the Seorak area. Ulsanbawi felt it was so beautiful around there that it decided to stay for good.^[14]

At the end of the main valley is Biseondae, a rock platform in a stream. Above the stream is a difficult to reach cave, which offers clear views of the surrounding rock formations.

A bit farther from the entrance is the Valley of a Thousand Buddhas (천불동계곡), the primary valley of Seorak Mountain, also sometimes referred to as Seorak Valley. The valley was so named because the rock formations that line its sides resemble a line-up of Buddha statues.

Dinosaur Ridge

The Dinosaur Ridge (공룡능선) in Seoraksan extends from Madeungyeong to Sinseonam.^[15] It is one of Korea's cultural scenic treasures, designated as the 103rd treasure in 2013.^[16] The peaks of the ridge resemble the back of a spiked dinosaur, giving it its name.^[17] The course is strenuous: it starts at either the Madeungyeong pass or Huiwoongak shelter, meaning that just accessing the ridge involves a difficult climb. The ridge itself is listed on signs in the park as a 5 hour hike over the course of 5.1 kilometers. This can lead to a 10+ hour traverse from the eastern park entrance.^[18] The Dinosaur Ridge is listed among the most difficult mountain courses in Korea.^[19] With its remote location, steep slopes, and areas requiring scrambling, accidents due to exhaustion are common, especially in winter and during rainy weather. One incident in December 1993 left 2 university students dead after they lost their way at night and experienced hypothermia.^[20]

Gallery

Seoraksan National Park
Mount Gwonggeumseong
Bronze Buddha of Sinheungsa (Buddhist Temple) near the main entrance to the park.
Sinheungsa (Buddhist Temple)
Ulsanbawi (peak)
Biryong (Flying Dragon) Waterfalls
Trying to shake Heundeulbawi (Rocking Rock) at Kyejo-am
Cheondang Waterfall
Footbridge
Trail in the park
Seoraksan Cable Car