Gigantic sand dunes can be seen across the world, from the Sahara Desert
of northern Africa to the Arabian Desert of southwestern Asia. On the
Korean Peninsula, too, it is also possible to see exotic sand dunes
along the coast. According to the Ministry of Environment, there are 133
coastal dunes along the eastern, western and southern shores of the
Korean Peninsula, as well as on Jeju Island.
The Okjungdong Dunes, located on the north side of Daecheong Island, off
the coast of Ongjin County, Incheon, is a rare scene for the
mountainous Korean Peninsula. (photo courtesy of the National Institute
of Environmental Research)
On the shores of Okjungdong, along the northern side of Daecheong Island
in the northwestern part of South Korea, there are enormous sandy
beaches reminiscent of a desert. The beaches cover 660,000 square meters
-- roughly 1.6 kilometers long and 600 meters deep -- equivalent to
about 70 soccer pitches. The beach dunes reach up to 40 meters above sea
level. They are active dunes, whose shapes change with strong winds
during the different seasons. The Okjungdong Sand Dunes are thus
referred to as the "Desert of Daecheong Island" by residents.
The Okjungdong Sand Dunes have been forming since the Ice Age ended some
15,000 years ago. (photo courtesy of the National Institute of
Environmental Research)
How has a "desert" formed on the western shores of Korea? The answer is
wind.
In the winter, the northwest monsoon lifts sand onto the beach and blows
it toward the land. The sand dunes have formed gradually since the Last
Glacial Maximum ended some 15,000 years ago. When ocean levels were
lower, the Yellow Sea was a vast plain connecting the Korean Peninsula
and China. However, sea levels started to rise with the end of the Ice
Age. The seawater provided deposits to the shores, including soil and
sand, so that mud flats were formed along the western and southern
coasts of the Korean Peninsula. Sand carried by the wind slowly
accumulated over a long time, forming sand dunes. The natural dunes act
as seawalls and protect farmland from the wind and salty water. They
also help store underground water and act as ecological repositories for
rare plants and animals.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Research, there are
a total of 174 species residing temporarily in the Okjungdong Sand
Dunes, including 90 birds, six mammals and 74 insects. Herbaceous plants
indigenous to sand dunes have formed wide colonies in the area. The
dunes are also used as stopovers by rare migratory birds, including the
Chinese pond heron, the grey-faced buzzard eagle and the grey frog hawk (
Accipiter soloensis),
species that fly between Korea and China. Many birds and insects in
danger of extinction, such as the Chinese egret and Scarab beetles, have
also been found in the ecological habitat.
To reach Daecheong Island, take the Harmony Flower ferry to Baekryeong
Island. It departs Incheon every day at 8:50 a.m. Alternatively, take
the Sea Hope ferry that leaves Incheon for Baekryeong Island every day
at 1 p.m. The Sea Hope starts operations on May 19. For more
information, please visit the Incheon Port International Passenger
Terminal homepage (http://dom.icferry.or.kr/).
By Wi Tack-whan, Limb Jae-un
Korea.net staff writers
whan23@korea.kr
The Okjungdong Dunes are located on the north side of Daecheong Island
off the coast of Ongjin County, Incheon. (photos courtesy of the
National Institute of Environmental Research)
[Source: korea.net]