Habitat of Manchurian Trout near Jeongamsa Temple, Jeongseon

The Manchurian trout is a member of the salmon family and a freshwater fish that lives in cold water below 20°C. Its body is yellowish-brown, with irregular dark purplish-brown markings scattered over the head, body and back, while the belly is close to white. When spawning, its whole body turns a deep red, and the dorsal and pectoral fins take on a beautiful iridescent sheen. It feeds on aquatic insects and small fish. The Korean Peninsula marks the southernmost limit of the Manchurian trout's distribution, giving it important academic value, and its habitats have accordingly been designated natural monuments. A habitat suitable for the species requires well-developed high-altitude forest to keep the water cold, and because waters meeting this condition are rare, the fish is found only in scattered stretches of the upper reaches of the Namhan-gang and Bukhan-gang, the two headstreams of the Hangang River. The habitat by Jeongamsa Temple lies in a mountain-stream area beside the temple in Gohan-eup, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon State, in the upper reaches of the Namhan-gang. According to the Dongguk yeoji seungnam, there is a record describing the spectacular sight of shoals of Manchurian trout leaping up a waterfall near Woljeongsa Temple on Odaesan Mountain.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jeongseon, Gangwon

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물