Page 197 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

174 Asia

Figure 11.4 The 395m-high Sanbangsan trachyte dome with vertical columnar joints

growth history compared to its small size (Sohn Manjang cave and Yongcheon and Dangcheomul
and Park, 2005). caves.
Yongmeori was built on unconsolidated ‘U
Formation’ shelf sediment. The path of magma Manjang cave
supply was probably diverted in some cases after Manjang cave (Manjanggul in Korean) is a well
collapse, giving rise to migration of the active known tourist attraction on Jeju with hundreds of
vent. The resultant volcanic edifice thus became thousands of visitors annually (Huh et al, 2008).
non-circular or irregular. Yongmeori is also an Manjang measures up to 23m across and 30m in
historic site where a Dutch merchant ship was height (Figure 11.5), and stretches about 7.4km in
shipwrecked in 1653. One of the sailors on that length, making it amongst the 15 longest lava
ship introduced Korea to the Western world for tubes in the world (IUCN, 2006). A large, single-
the first time when he published a book on Korea passage lava tube, Manjang has approximately a
after his 13-year-long detention in the country. kilometre of ‘show cave’ open for tourism since
1967 (Woo, 2005). Manjang cave is self-guided
The Geomunoreum lava tube system and interpretation is generally provided at the
The Geomunoreum lava tube system consists of a beginning of the cave with fairly comprehensive
number of lava tubes and is a significant tourism signage in Korean and English throughout the
draw card. There is a wide variety of visitor ‘show cave’ section (Huh et al, 2008). The lava
facilities on site including information centres, tube cave is accessed by two sets of wide, cement
souvenir shops, restaurants, rest rooms and ample stairs down to the floor of the cave. The show cave
parking for both cars and large tour buses. Three section of the lava tube is generally well-lit with
caves within the system are discussed below, level walking. Occasional signage in the cave

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