Mulyeongari-oreum Ramsar Site

Landscape of Mulyeongari-oreum

Mulyeongari-oreum Ramsar Site

  • Country: 
    Republic of Korea
  • Site number: 
    1648
  • Area: 
    31 ha
  • Designation date: 
    18-11-2006
  • Coordinates: 
    33°22'N 126°41'E
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

Mulyeongari-oreum is a freshwater crater lake on top of an “oreum” (parasitic cone) around Halla Mountain on Jeju Island. The island has a total of 368 parasitic cones, of which 91% are scoria cones which are mostly composed of water-permeable basalt. Unlike other scoria cones, the Site retains a plentiful amount of water as weathering of the slopes has led to the accretion of less-permeable, fine-textured soils at the bottom of the crater. Although it is an isolated environment, the Site plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity, as it provides habitats for over 760 species of plants and animals. Among them are the globally vulnerable fairy pitta Pitta nympha and some nationally threatened species such as the nationally endangered golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos and peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus; and the nationally vulnerable cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus and boreal digging frog Kaloula borealis. It also provides habitat to the Jeju striped field mouse Apodemus chejuensis, which is found only on Jeju Island. The Site is also known as “Su-ryeong-ak” or “Suyeongak” which means a hill with holy water.

Administrative region: 
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

  • National legal designation: 
    • Wetland Conservation Area
  • Last publication date: 
    17-10-2017

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)

Additional reports and documents