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 Seongnyugul
The original name of this grotto was Seonyugul that means the place where hermits play a game. Seongnyugul was named to this grotto during Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. When Japanese military invaded Korea, monks in the temples near the grotto moved their images of Buddha into the grotto to protect them from the destruction of Japanese military. From that time, this grotto has been called "Seongnyugul" that means Image of Buddha resided in this grotto." This grotto is in a rectangular figure and has a lot of squares named Yeonmudongsucksil, Eunhacheon, Ojackyo, Yongshinji, Seonnyeokyo, etc. Each square is a land of mystery. But, this grotto has a tragic story. During the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, a lot of people hid in this grotto. But, Japanese military found the people used this grotto as their shelter. So, Japanese military closed the entrance of the grotto and starved all of them inside the grotto. After the war terminated, a lot of human bones were found inside the grotto.
Seongnyugul, through Mt. Seongnyu rising 199m above the sea level, has 12 small and big squares and 5 ponds. As a lime grotto, the length of the grotto reaches 472m and its height is 40m and depth 30m in some spots. Inside the grotto, 500 thousand stalactites, stalamite and columes can be seen. So, it is called Geumgang under the ground. Its age is presumed to be about 250 million years and the age of Thuja orientalis living on the surface of the mountain are thousands year. So, the trees and the grotto was designated as natural monuments No 155. The temperature inside the grotto keeps a certain degree regardless of the change of seasons.
The ponds inside the grotto are connected with Wangpicheon and fish live in the ponds. In addition, 31 kinds of wild animals such as bats and insects inhabit inside the grotto. This grotto is in rectangular figure and horizontal. The temperature is around 15℃ so that it is cool in summer and warm in winter. Many resorting places are located near this grotto, a tourist can enjoy sightseeing, beach bathing and forest bathing at the same time. |
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Four seasons of Bulyoungsa valley
This valley stretches 15km from Hanggokri to Geunnammyeon with odd shaped rock and stone, deep valley and clean water. It has scenery beyond description. It was designated as scenic spot No 6 on eleventh December 1979. In summer, tourists visit this valley as their summer resort and in spring and fall, a lot of people drive the road along this valley. In winter, a tourist can view beautiful snow-covered landscape.
In addition, two observation platforms are established at the mid of the valley, and the Bulyoungsa valley is run as an undesignated sightseeing place temporarily during the summer season (from July to August) so a tourist who visits the valley during the period of time has to pay the admission fee.
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Mysterious beauty of Deokgu valley
Along with the Bulyoung valley, the Deokgu valley is one of the most famous valleys in Uljin. The valley stretches across Bukmyeon Uljingun. The Deokgu valley is not recognized as widely as the Bulyoung valley. But, thick forest and magnificent valley shows the mysterious beauty.
The valley reaches as far as 2km from Mt. Eungbong (also called Mt. Maebong) rising 998.5m above the sea level to Buguri where nuclear power plant is located. In the mid of the valley, a lot of beautiful landscapes including Seonnyeotang, Okryudae, Mureung and Hyeongjae fall praise themselves on their beauty. Also, both sides are overgrown with thick forest. So, it was designated as a provincial park in 1983. The most beautiful spot is located between Buguri where the Deokgu spa is located and Mt. Eungbong.
In this spot, a tourist can see swamps and rapids by turns as well as small but very charming falls. Especially, the Yongso fall, located in the mid of the valley, has a mark of wriggle on the rock face as if a dragon passes on the surface of the rock. Water falls down over the mark.
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Public Beaches
As you take a walk along those eight public beaches with silver white sands and green water waves with white bubbles, you can wash out all the dirt you brought by from the city.
Nagok, Hujeong, Bongpyeong, Mangyang, Deoksin, Giseongmangyang, Gusan and Hupo beaches are orderly located north and south. Hujeong, Bongpyeong, Giseongmangyang and Gusan beaches with their well-known flourishing pine forest, and Nagok, mangyang, Deoksin and Hupo beaches with their famous endless silver sands, create their own unique beauties and give the people on their vacations the memories of summer night with glittering stars.
Mostly set adjacent to the 7th national highway across the East Sea, they offer great traffic convenience as well as the various fresh seafood of the East Sea, which can serve a double purpose.
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Nagok swimming
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Hujeong swimming
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Bongpyeong swimming
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Mangyang swimming
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Deoksin swimming
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Giseongmangyang
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Gusan swimming
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Hupo swimming
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 Baekam spa
According to legend, in the Silla dynasty, a hunter followed a speared deer. But, it was dark. So, the hunter traced the deer on the next day and found the spot where the deer had lied down. He came to the spot and watched carefully. Then, he recognized hot water sprang out.
After that, monks in Baekam temple established spa facilities and let patients bath in the water. So, the patients were getting better. In the Koryo dynasty, the governor of the area ordered residents to build bath house with granite blocks and opened to the public.
The Baekam spa was designated as a public resort on 31st December 1979 and more than 1.5 million visitors come to this spa every year. The temperature of the spa is 48℃ and the water contains sulfur. Thus, bathing in this spa is good for treating neuralgia, arthritis and arteriosclerosis. This spa was also designated as a special sightseeing place on 18th January 1997. |
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 Deokgu spa
This spa is the only open air spa in Korea and contains sodium bicarbonate of PH 9.09. as a weak alkaline spa, it has high quality hot water. Thus, bathing in this spa is good for treating neuralgia and dermatitis and relaxing muscles after diving, exercising or climbing.
According to legend, in the late Koryo dynasty, about AD 650, Mr Jeon who was famous for his skill of treating a bow and spear followed a wounded wild boar with his fellows. But, The wounded boar washed its body in the water and escaped fast. The hunter and his fellow came to the water and found that hot water sprang. After that, residents divided rocks to let the water stay and bath themselves in the water. Before this spa was developed as a public resort, patients suffering from dermatitis or leprous visited the spa to treat their diseases.
In 1983, this spa was designated as a spa area and a provincial park and a bath tube was built at the bottom of the valley. Thus, in winter hot water sprang out from the bottom while the mountain was covered with snow and the sun shines. But, in summer 1984, flood swept the bath tube. Because canyons surround the spa and sites are so narrow, instead of constructing new facilities, 4km water pipe was buried to supply the hot water of 43℃ to Deokgu bath house. The residents miss the open air hot tube of the past and hope that the open air spa will be re-developed. |
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