 |
|
|
|
|
 Classification |
| Habitats of rare animals and plants |
| |
|
| Location |
| Seohwa-myon Inje-gun Gangwon-do |
| |
|
| Proprietor |
| Inje-gun |
| |
|
| Administrator |
| Inje-gun |
| |
|
| General Description |
 |
Daeam mountain (1,304m) in Seohwa-myun, Inje-kun is standing with dignity covered with rocks as large as a house, worthy of the name, the grand rock mountain. However, an unexpected swampy land, 275m from east to west, 210m from south to north is hidden on the peak. This swampy land which is located 1,280m on the top of the mountain within the civilian passage restriction line, is one of the highland swampy land which is the only in South Korea. This was formed about 4-5 thousand years ago, and its area is 7,490 m2. This is called the Dragon Swamp, since people thought an ascending dragon was taking rest in this swamp. The winds and clouds around the swamp and the affluent flowers are making a mysterious atmosphere, like that of an ascending dragon.
|
|
| |
|
| Details |
|
Normally, when a plant dies, it is dismantled by microorganism, such bacteria, and dug into the soil; but in a swampy land where the temperature is low and humid, the dead plants are not decayed and they are accumulated; this is called peat deposits, and the Dragon Swamp is composed of a 5 thousand year old peat deposits. The thickness of the layer is average 1m and it is possible to trace the natural environment of a couple of thousand years ago by analyzing the remaining pollen inside the peat deposits. This thus helps to imagine the history as well as the geographical value of this place. A total of 191 species of rare plants, such as pitcher plants (sarracenia), White buttercups, Salix hallaisanensis, lady slippers, and Lychnis kiusiana are growing in the Dragon Swamp. There is a group of Quercus mongolica around the swamp. It has another ecological value, since 224 species of rare insects, such as peach and Soonnabangbuchiare also inhabiting here. The worldwide valuable Hanabusaya asiatica, Gentiana jamesii, Lychnis wilfordii, and Trientalis europaea are growing here. However this place is devastating little by little, since 1967 when this place was found and began to be exposed to human. The government, which realized the value of the Dragon Swamp late, designated this place as the natural ecosystem preservation area in 1989, and prohibited public trespassing since 1994. This was designated as natural ecosystem preservation area when Korea joined in the Ramsar agreement (International agreement for preservation of swampy lands) in 1997. It was the first time to designate as such as to swampy lands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
)
