Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone Natural Reserve

The Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone Natural Reserve lies at the eastern tip of Jeju Island and encompasses the whole of Ilchulbong together with the sea area within 1 km of it. Seongsan Ilchulbong was formed when a volcano erupted in shallow sea during the middle Pleistocene. Ilchulbong is unusual among volcanic cones in that a huge, bowl-shaped flat crater extends across the whole landform, giving it a very distinctive shape. The coastal zone around Seongsanpo, centred on Ilchulbong, is a pristine sea area; the coast to the south-east has a relatively wide intertidal zone made up of rocky ground, shingle and sandy beach. A total of 127 species of coastal algae — green, brown and red algae — have been found here, showing that the area supports a wide range of seaweed representative of Korea's marine algal flora. It is also internationally noted as the place of origin of newly discovered marine plant species named after Jeju, known as Jeju Bunhongpul and Jeju Narutmal. A total of 177 species of marine animals have been recorded, including many species not previously recorded in Korea, making the area highly significant for research into the distribution of Korea's marine fauna. The Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone Natural Reserve has been designated and is protected as a natural monument because the topography, geology and scenery of Ilchulbong, together with the vegetation of the surrounding 1 km coastal sea area, preserve characteristics representative of Korea's marine life, and in particular because it is the place of origin of new Korean genera and species of seaweed. On 27 June 2007, at the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee, three natural monuments — the Hallasan Mountain Natural Reserve, the Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone Natural Reserve, and the Geomunoreum Volcanic Cone Lava Tube System — were together inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site under the name 'Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes.'

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seogwipo, Jeju

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물