Hongdo Island Natural Reserve

The Hongdo Island Natural Reserve lies 19 km west of Daeheuksando Island and comprises some twenty islands and islets, including Hongdo, Tapseom, Goyerido, Tteeseom and Nopeunseom. Hongdo itself is a small island with a coastline only 20.8 km long, made up mostly of sandstone and quartzite; the relentless erosion of the waves has carved the broken rock into scenery of outstanding beauty. 545 species of plants are known from Hongdo, and in parts of the island near-primeval forest, close to its natural state, can still be seen. Rare and endemic plants growing here include the orchids nado-pungnan (Sedirea japonica), pungnan (the wind orchid), seokgok (a stone orchid), saeu-nancho (a shrimp orchid) and the leafless orchid muyeomnan, together with the Hongdo day lily, Hongdo loosestrife, Yeongju gardenia (named for Yeongju, an old name for Jeju Island), the spearflower baengnyanggeum, island ramie and a white-flowered form of the camellia. Communities of sapium, chinquapin (in two related species), Japanese machilus, Japanese aucuba and camellia also grow here in stands. Among the animals, 231 species of insects, birds and reptiles are recorded. Of these the blue peacock butterfly is a rare species found in Korea only here and on Jeju Island and requires protection, and the island is also home to many birds worth protecting, including the Japanese wood pigeon, the beaded dove, the Pacific reef heron, the great cormorant, the pelagic cormorant, the black-tailed gull and the mandarin duck. The waters around Hongdo are clear and richly stocked with life, forming what amounts to a magnificent natural aquarium, with 24 species of seaweed, 117 species of invertebrates and 233 species of fish recorded. With such diversity in its geological structure and in its terrestrial and marine life, Hongdo can represent the islands of Korea's south-western sea as a whole, and the entire island has accordingly been designated and protected as a Natural Reserve.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Sinan, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물