DESCRIPTION

Hallasan Volcano is also known as Yeongjusan, which means “Mountain high enough to involve the galaxy” or “Mountain high enough to involve the universe.”. At the summit is the Baengnokdam crater, 108 meters deep and 550 meters wide. The top of the mountain consists of 360-370 (data depending on the source) volcanic cones, which gives it originality among other mountains in the country. The crater was formed after the last eruption, when the top of the ridge collapsed. In addition, on the mountain itself inside the crater is Lake Baengnokdam or otherwise known as White Deer Lake. It obtains its name in honor of this mystical animal, which, according to legends, once visited this place to drink water. The animal came from the sky, and a Taoist hermit arrived at it to visit the place and drink a few sips of the refreshing water. According to beliefs, the gods living in the mountains came here to ride and play with this creature.

Hallasan is located in the central part of the island, and that it is the highest point on the island and in South Korea the views span the entire island, in every direction. Steep cliffs, rocks with unusual shapes and slopes covered with lush vegetation make a visit to Hallasan especially recommended for nature lovers and people who enjoy relaxation and physical activity outdoors. The local ecosystem consists of about 2,000 plant species, 73 of which are native, many endangered and rare. There were even legends about Korean wizards who became immortal after consuming the endemic Hallasan plant. Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of unified China (221-210 BC), even sent his trusted men in this area to find the sacred plant in order that he too could live forever.

The mountain area, is home to some 4,000 species of animals, including 160 species of birds and 3,315 species of insects. The largest mountain animal here is the roe deer, a symbol of Hallasan, which has recovered in recent years after that how the species was on the verge of extinction. The park has 42 kilometers of lava caves/tunnels on its territory. The most popular of these is the Manjanggul cave. There are 7 hiking trails in the reserve, and they are: Gwaneumsa, Seongpanak, Eorimok, Yeongsil, Donnaeko, Eoseungsangak and Seokguram.

The Hallasan Mountain Reserve was “converted” to a Natural Monument on October 12, 1966. On March 24, 1970, it was recognized as a National Park, and was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Biosphere Reserves in December 2002. In 2007, meanwhile, this location became a World Heritage Site.

The formation of Mount Hallasan on the lava plateau dates to the Pliocene era, more than 2.5 million years ago. The volcano was formed as a result of the eruption of basaltic lava and trachyte. Research conducted in 2017 to determine the age of the crater rock using optically stimulated luminescence showed that the current shape of the mountain was formed between 37,000 and 20,000 years ago.