Jiksopokpo Falls
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LocationGunmak-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Natural Environment
- Korean직소 폭포
- Chinese直沼瀑布
- FieldGeography / Natural Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Name of Natural Place
- AreaGunmak-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- Waterfalls in Junggye-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Origin of the Name
- The name “Jikso” means water falling directly into the puddle down below.
- Natural Environment
- There are several waterfalls on the Byeonsan Peninsula, but Jiksopokpo Falls is the largest of them. It is located at the upper stream of Bonrae Valley, Naebyeonsan Mountain. The water forms Jiksocheon Stream, which flows northward, and then into Baekcheon Stream. Jiksopokpo Falls is about 30 m high and 2 m wide. The puddle down below comes to about 50 m in diameter. Rocks in the puddle show pot holes, which are a result of erosion by water flows. Found in nearby areas are tuffs associated with volcano topography, along with grotesque-looking, pillar-shaped rock joints formed in the process of volcano-related fragmental matters being deposited rapidly, cooled down, and contracted. Jiksopokpo Falls is in the southern area of Baekchon Valley, Naebyeonsan Mountain, and belongs to upper stream of Bonrae Valley, which is the branch of Beakchon Valley.
- Current Status
- Jiksopokpo Falls is one of the eight leading scenic areas in Byeonsan, and picked as the No.1. The puddle down below used to be called Silsang Yongchu after Silsangsa Temple nearby, and people believed the dragon lives here. According to Bupungseungram, a Buan-gun newsletter published in 1932, there was an altar for praying for rain at Jikso Falls. According to A Survey of Korean Geographical Names –the Part for Buan-gun Buan-gun section says “the town magistrate puts a pig into the water alive when holding a rite of praying for rain.” It seems people prayed to dragon, whom they believed as the god of rain and agriculture, in this puddle, the place that the dragon lives in.
Jiksopokpo Falls and its surroundings are so beautiful that people used to say, “You haven’t seen Byeonsan until you see Jiksopokpo Falls and Junggye Valley.” There has been an endless line of visitors including poets and calligraphers coming to see the scenery. The Falls was designated as part of Jeollabuk-do West Coast National Geopark and certified in September 13, 2017. In April 20, 2020, it was designated as State-designated Scenic Spot No. 116 by the Cultural Heritage Administration. Like above, Jiksopokpo Falls recognized both the value of academic research and national cultural heritage.