Jeokbyeokgang Cliffed Coast
Panoramic View of Jeokbyeokgang Cliffed CoastThe Panoramic View of Jeokbyeokgang Cliff situated in Gyeokpo-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun. In 2004, the area including Chaeseokgang Cliff and Jeokbyeokgang Cliff was designated as Scenic Site No. 13 and in 2017 as Jeollabuk-do West Coast National Geopark.
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Location252-20, Gyeoksang-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Natural Environment
- Korean적벽강
- Chinese赤壁江
- FieldGeography / Natural Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Name of Natural Place
- AreaBuan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Location252-20, Gyeoksang-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- An attraction in Jeollabuk-do West Coast National Geoparks located in Gyeokpo-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Origin of the Name
- The place name Jeokbyeokgang originated from its landscape resembling that of Jeokbyeokgang in China, a place favored by Su Dongpo (1036-1101), a Chinese writer during the Song dynasty. Of course, this area is not a river as the name Jeokbyeokgang implies in Korean. The similarity comes from the shapes of the cliffs in the area.
- Natural Environment
- Jeokbyeokgang is in Gyeokpo-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, north of Chaeseokgang. The 2 kilometer-long cliffs are composed of Porphyry granite, Cretaceous Gyeokpori Formation, and Gomso rhyolite.
Most notably, the area features peperites created when hot lava falls over the unconsolidated sediment called the Gyeokpo-ri Formation and small-scale columnar jointing created in Gomso rhyolite.
Like Chaeseokgang Cliffs, Jeokbyeokgang Cliffs are located in the Gyeokpo basin where rocks are mostly granite, andesite and rhyolite from the bottom up, with the Gyeokpo-ri Formation composed of sedimentary rocks situated in the middle and the uppermost part consisting of rhyolite and Cretaceous rhyolitic tuff on top of it.
As in Chaeseokgang, Jeokbyeokgang Cliffs also feature the soft deformation structure, which is a simultaneous folding structure of sedimentation, in its sedimentary layer, highlighting multiple faults and veins on the surface. Most notably, the area is popular as visitors can observe the actual boundary between the Gyeokpori Formation and the Gomso rhyolite and peperites produced at the boundary between them comprehensively as well as the characteristics of each rock cycle.
Jeokbyeokgang peperites were made in the process of interaction by two rock bodies with different temperatures and physical properties as hot acidic lava flows over chilly water or unconsolidated sediments containing moisture.
It looks like conglomerate with light colored angular pebbles embedded in a black substrate, but it is not conglomerate but looks as if someone had sprinkle pepper on the surface, thus it is name peperite. Besides, peperite is not only a major indicator of syndepositional volcanism or magmatism but also the result of the interaction of water and magma, as is easily verifiable, leading to the extraordinary geological value of peperites.
This area is highly valued as an earth science field study site where visitors can have an opportunity to gain experience about diverse topics including sedimentation in a fertile environment and deformation after deposition, the movement of rhyolite lava flows through the surface, and the formation mechanism of peperites formed by different temperatures and differences in physical properties.
On the other hand, the rhyolite placed on peperites is the main actor in forming peperites while creating a small-sized columnar joint or a sea cave, among others. This place boasts a beautiful view of a lion sitting facing the sea along with a superb view of the sea.
- Current Status
- Jeokbyeokgang refers to a coastal area that stretches from a cluster of spruce trees next to Jukmak Village in Gyeokpo-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, to an area with cliffs and bedrock around Yongdusan Peak, home to Suseongdang Shrine.
On November 17, 2004, the government designated the Chaeseokgang and Jeokbyeokgang area as Scenic Spot No. 13. Jeollabuk-do inscribed the two locations as part of Jeollabuk-do West Coast National Geoparks certified on September 13, 2017 (Jiksopokpo Falls, Jeokbyeokgang, Chaeseokgang, Solseom, Mohang, and Wido).
The colony of the silver magnolia in Gyeokpo-ri, Buan-gun is the northernmost area where the species can grow on the peninsula. It is Natural Monument No. 123 for its value in terms of the geographical distribution of plant species. Suseongdang Shrine at the top of Jeokbyeokgang Cliffs is the province’s tangible cultural heritage No. 58. Jeokbyeokgang is a hot tourist destination particularly because it is adjacent to Gyeokpo Beach, Chaeseokgang and Gyeokpo Port.