Byeonsan Mountain
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LocationBuan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Natural Environment
- Korean변산
- Chinese邊山
- Nickname능가산|영주산|봉래산
- FieldGeography / Natural Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Name of Natural Place
- AreaBuan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- LocationBuan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- A mountainous area of the Byeonsan Peninsula, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- There is no specific peak called “Byeonsan Mountain” in the Byeonsan Peninsula (126°28'~126°41' east longitude and 35°36'~35°43' north latitude). In other words, Byeonsan Mountain does not refer to a specific mountain or peak, but to the mountainous area containing all the peaks of the Byeonsan Peninsula. Byeonsan Mountain is also known as Neunggasan, Yeongjusan, or Bongnaesan Mountain, and is regarded as one of the five major mountains in the Honam (southwestern) region. It is also known as one of the Three God Mountains in Jeollabuk-do, together with Gochang’s Bangjangsan Mountain and Jeongeup’s Duseungsan Mountain. The peaks of the Byeonsan Peninsula extend across the Honam Plain between the Geumnam Honam Mountain Chain, which branches off from the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, and the Honam Mountain Chain. Its highest peak is Uisabong Peak (508.6m).
- Origin of the Name
- The name “Byeonsan” is believed to originate from Byeonhan, one of the small kingdoms of the Samhan (Three Han) Confederacy. According to the Sinjeung Dongguk yeoji seungnam (Newly Augmented Geographical Survey of the Territory of the Eastern Kingdom), Byeonsan Mountain was located in Boanhyeon Prefecture before the Joseon period, but was relocated 7.8 km to the west in Buanhyeon Prefecture during the Joseon period, and was also called Neunggasan or Yeongjusan. It is also written that Byeonsan Mountain is surrounded by a succession of high peaks, and has many rocky outcrops and valleys, and that it was a source of timber for royal palaces and ships from the Goryeo period onwards. Timber from the Byeonsan Peninsula was called “Byeonjae.”
- Natural Environment
- Byeonsan Mountain is composed of the Naebyeonsan (Inner Byeonsan) area, where many peaks surround the Baekcheon Stream and the valley formed in the basin, and the Oebyeonsan (Outer Byeonsan) area on the west coast. The area around Byeonsan Mountain is connected to the basin of the Baekcheon Stream. Byeonsan Mountain itself comprises numerous peaks, including the highest peak, Uisangbong (508.6m), which is connected to Soeppulbawi Rock, Bukognyeobong (354.7m) in the north; Ugeumsan (329.0m) and Sangyeobong (395.0m) in the east; Namognyeobong (434.4m), Yonggakbong (370.0m), Sebong (433.0m), Gwaneumbong (424.5m), Sinseonbong (488.2m), and Galmabong (486.4m) in the south; and Mangpodae (494.1m), Bunchodae (422.0m), Nakjodae (447.0m), and Ssangseonbong (460.7m) in the west.
The Naebyeonsan (Inner Byeonsan) area contains Bongnae Valley and Hoeyang Valley, which fun from south to north (toward the Baekcheon Stream). The Jiksocheon Stream of Bongnae Valley originates from Mangpodae and Sinseonbong, and then joins the Baekcheon Stream after flowing through the Daeso Falls, Jikso Falls, and nine linns (plunge pools). Bongnae Valley is also called Bongnae Gugok (nine waters), and contains Daeso Falls, Jikso Falls, Bunokdam, Seonnyeotang, Bongnaegok, Yeongji, Geumgangsobaekcheon, and Amji . This valley holds the largest volume of water among all the tributaries of the Baekcheon Stream, and there is a great difference in elevation between each of its ends, resulting in a varied fluvial topography. Hoeyang Valley was formed by water flowing in a westward direction between Yonggakbong and Namognyeobong Peaks. The water joins the Gamaso Linn at Gamaso Valley of Sebong Peak, flows north, passes via Gungwanbong (294.0m) and Cheonjongsan (266.4m), and finally joins the Baekcheon Stream.
- Current Status
- Byeonsan Mountain boasts a variety of attractions including Buan Dam (built in 1996) and Cheongnimje Reservoir (built in 2007), which are located in the basin of the Baekcheon Stream in the Naebyeonsan area; the Natural Habitat of White Forsythias, Buan (Natural Monument No. 370); and the Population of Box-leaved Hollies in Junggye-ri, Buan (Natural Monument No. 124). The mountain is also home to the Wolmyeonam Hermitage, Silsangsa Temple, Byeonsan Wonkwang Zen Center, and Byeonsan Won Buddhism Sanctuary, as well as Gaeamsa Temple, which is situated below Ugeumam Rock, and Naesosa Temple, which is located to the south of Gwaneumbong and Sebong Peaks.
The local road infrastructure includes Local Road No. 736, which runs in the northeast-west direction (via Useuljae Pass and Junggye Tunnel), and the local country road which connects with Udong-ri, Boan-myeon via Geoseokgyo Bridge (in Cheongnim-ri, Sangseo-myeon, Buan-gun) and Badeujae Pass in the south.