Page 198 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Jeju: South Korea’s Premier Island Geotourism Destination 175

Figure 11.5 The main passage of the Manjang cave showing beautifully preserved internal morphologies

identifies features of particular visitor interest spectacularly adorned with various secondary
(Huh et al, 2008). Guided tour programmes are white-coloured speleotherms such as stalactites,
currently being prepared. Despite the age of its stalagmites, soda straws, columns, cave corals,
formations, about 300,000–200,000 years old flowstone, draperies, cave pearls and rimstones,
(IUCN, 2006), Manjang still retains perfectly which is one of the best displays of this type in the
preserved internal morphology and structure. world (Figures 11.6 and 11.7). Calcium and
Visitors may view a variety of lava features carbonate ions responsible for the formation of
including lava stalactites, lava stalagmites, benches, white carbonate speleothems were supplied by
shelves, lava helictites and ropy lavas. Manjang cave percolating rainwater from overlying carbonate
also contains a 7.6m-high lava column (IUCN, sand dunes. The secondary speleothems and the
2006), the largest known in the world (Hyun- presence of opalescent carbonate mineral deposits
chul, 2008). in Yongcheon and Dangcheomul, peculiar to only
those lava tube caves, create an amazing caving
Yongcheon and Dangcheomul caves experience. Their aesthetic value in the cave world
Yongcheon lava tube cave (Yongcheondonggul in is unequalled. Instantly recognizing their unique
Korean) was accidentally discovered when the Jeju attributes, Yongcheon was designated as a National
Island power company was erecting an electric Monument in 2006 and was included in the
power pole in 2005. Dangcheomul lava tube cave World Heritage designation in 2007 (UNESCO,
(Dangcheomuldonggul in Korean) was also 2009). Currently, the lava tubes are not open to
accidentally discovered in 1995 by a local farmer public visitation. There is some discussion of
when heavy earth-moving equipment broke potentially opening one of the caves to limited
through the roof of the cave. The ceiling, wall and tourism after the installation of appropriate
floor of both dark-coloured lava tube caves are infrastructure.

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