Seoraksan National Park

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Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park is the most famous park in South Korea. It was declared a nature reserve by the government in 1965 and a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1982. The reserve, which is located in the east-central part of the Korean Peninsula, includes Dinosaur Ridge, Injegun, Yanyanggun and Sokchosi. The Dinosaur Ridge is one of Korea's cultural scenic treasures, and was designated as the 103rd treasure in 2013. The peaks of the ridge look like the back of a spiky dinosaur, hence the name. The Gongnyong Ridge is formed from the Jurassic Seoraksan granite, which has been shaped over the years by tectonic movements and erosion. The park is very popular among tourists and nature lovers, and it hosts many rare species of plants and animals. The reserve covers an area of 163.6 square kilometers and includes several mountain peaks over 1,200 meters high, the highest of which is Daecheongbong, at 1,708 meters. The park's flora is extremely diverse, with around 1013 plant species, of which 822 are vascular. On the southern slopes, pine trees like Siberian pine are abundant, whereas the northern slopes of the mountain range are dominated by oaks and other deciduous trees, and in the deep valleys the thuja grows. So far, 1562 species of animals have been recorded in the park. Among the local fauna are the otter, the Siberian Flying Squirrel, the stork, the Chinese Sparrowhawk, the lenok, the Chinese Minnow and the Spotted Barbel. The endangered species in the area include the Tristram's Woodpecker, the Korean Goral and the Korean Musk Deer.