Seorak-san
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Location of Seoraksan
Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range in the Gangwon province in eastern South Korea. It is located in a national park near the city of Sokcho . After the Hallasan volcano on Jeju Island and Jirisan in the south, Seorak-san is the third highest mountain in South Korea. The Daechongbong Peak of Seoraksan reaches 1,708 metres (5 603 feet). The Taebaek mountain chain is often considered the backbone of the Korean peninsula.
The national park attracts many national and international tourists all year round, but the main season for the Seoraksan national park is autumn. The autumn colours in the area are considered amongst the most beautiful in Korea. The red and yellow forest is interrupted by rocks and small mountain streams flow amidst this. During the rainy season (which is in summer) – especially after a typhoon – these streams can swell.
The Yukdam waterfall and the Biryong waterfall are located in a small valley near the main entrance to the Seorak-san national park. This valley is typical for the beauty of the mountain in autumn.
Ulsanbawi is a rock formation in the Seoraksan national park. The shape of Ulsanbawi is unique in the area. To reach the rocks you need to follow a hiking path and climb over 800 steps. On the way there, there are two temples and a spherical rock (Heundeulbawi) which is located on top of a larger rock. This rock is about 5 metres (16 feet) high and can be moved with some effort. Thousands of people have already tried to push down Heundeulbawi, but nobody gets further than waggling the rock.
According to the legend Ulsanbawi comes from the city of Ulsan in the south east of Korea. As Kumgangsan (for Koreans it has about the same status than the Matterhorn for the Swiss) was built, Ulsanbawi walked to the north as the representative of the city. Unfortunately Ulsanbawi arrived too late and there was no more room. Ulsanbawi was ashamed and slowly trudged back to the south. One evening the rock went to sleep in the Seorak area. Ulsanbawi felt it was so beautiful around there that it decided to stay for good.
There are many beautiful valleys in the Seorak-san national parks. The Biseondae is a rock platform in a stream. Apart from the colours of the mountainous forest the shapes of the rocks are attractive. A bit further away from the entrance is the Cheonbuldong valley. The name (Cheonbuldong) means 1000 Buddhas. Not much imagination is needed to see naturally built Buddha statues in the rocks that dominate the forest.
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