Gimnyeonggul and Manjanggul Lava Tubes, Jeju

Gimnyeonggul and Manjanggul Lava Tubes, Jeju, are representative caves of the Geomunoreum Volcanic Cone lava tube system in the north-east of Jeju Island. Gimnyeonggul and Manjanggul are thought to have originally formed a single continuous cave, later divided when lava flowing through its interior blocked the middle section. Manjanggul is about 7.4 km long, with a maximum height of 23 m and a maximum width of 18 m, and develops a two- or three-tiered structure along parts of its length. It is the largest lava tube on Jeju Island and ranks among the largest in the world. It is rare among lava tubes for the excellent state of preservation of its internal structure and form, its cave micro-landforms, and its speleothems, and it is judged to have very great value both academically and for its scenery. Gimnyeonggul is an S-shaped lava tube about 700 m long, lying about 90 m from the downstream end of Manjanggul. It reaches 12 m in height and 4 m in width, with a lava waterfall about 2 m high developed at its upstream end. Gimnyeonggul and Manjanggul Lava Tubes, Jeju, are volcanic caves formed of lava, and their high value as academic material for studying how volcanic caves form has led to their designation and protection as a natural monument. Parts of Gimnyeonggul and Manjanggul are currently designated as restricted-access areas to protect the caves, and anyone wishing to enter for management or academic purposes must first obtain the permission of the Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service. (The record's official title was amended by notification on 26 July 2021, changing the Korean conjunction used between the two cave names from one word for "and" to another; the caves themselves are unchanged.)

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Where it is

Region

Jeju City, Jeju

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물