Mt. Halla - South Korea

Last October Relie traveled to South Korea and visited the Jeju Island. She wrote this card on her flight from the island to Seoul. 

Mt. Halla, also known as Hallasan or Hanla Mountain, is the highest mountain is South Korea. 

© Photographed by Kwon Gi Gap

Hallasan (Halla Mountain) rises up proudly from the center of Jeju Island and is perhaps one of the island’s most memorable landmarks. Also called Mt. Yeongjusan, meaning ‘mountain high enough to pull the galaxy,’ Mt. Hallasan is widely acknowledged by scholars for its research value. Designated as a National Park in 1970, there are 368 parasitic mountains called ‘Oreums’ (peaks) around Halla Mountain. 

Mt. Hallasan is famous for its vertical ecosystem of plants that results from the varying temperatures along the mountainside. Over 1,800 kinds of plants and 4,000 species of animals (3,300 species of insects) have been identified; to explore the mountain's treasures, simply follow one of the well-developed mountain hiking trails. - in: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264172

The special nature of this area led to its being designated and managed a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a World Natural Heritage Site in 2007.