Geomunoreum Lava Tube System
33.525126.7725Koordinaten: 33 ° 31 '30 " N, 126 ° 46' 21" E
The Geomunoreum - Lavaröhrensystem is located on the South Korean island of Jeju. It is - together with the Halla Mountain and land survey Seongsan Ilchulbong - since 2007 a World Heritage Site Jeju Volcanic Island and lava tubes of UNESCO.
The Lavaröhrensystem is characterized by its abundance of lava formations and mineral deposits. The tubes have multi-colored ceilings and floors, which get their color through various carbonates. The walls have a dark color were formed by lava and are partly decorated with carbonate deposits. In addition, can be found in Geomunoreum - Lavaröhrensystem a variety of different speleothems.
Formation
The Geomunoreum - Lavaröhrensystem probably originated 100,000 to 300,000 years ago. In this period there were repeated outbreaks of the volcano flank Geomunoreum, which is located at an altitude of 456 m on the eastern edge of Hallasan. The spat lava flowed in a north - easterly direction down the slope of Hallasan and put it back a distance of about 13 km to the sea.
Individual lava tubes
The system consists of the previously known single tubes Seonheul - sujikdonggul, Bengdwi - gul, Bukoreum - donggul, Daerim - donggul, Mangjang - gul, Gimnyeong - gul, Yongcheon - donggul and Dangcheomul - donggul.
The 4481 m long lava tube was discovered in 1987 and studied from 1988 to 1994 by the Dongkuk University for the first time. The labyrinthine tube was formed by repeated eruptions of the volcano Geomunoreum and has the most complex form of known lava tubes on Jeju. The eruptions of the volcano, whose pahoehoe lava flowed to the north, northeast and northwest. It originated many creeks and tributaries - partly on several levels - the lava flow which later flowed together again in a stream. In the tube is not open to the public is well-preserved structures are found, among other things, Chambers and lava stalactites. The tube is located approximately 300 to 350 m above sea level close to the surface. Its proximity to the earth's surface the cave roof has collapsed to 16 digits. 13 of burglaries are used as input into the tube. The tube is the habitat of 37 species.
The 7416 m long, up to 23 m wide and up to 30 m high lava tube, was explored for the first time in 1946 by Boo Jong- hyu. But until 1970, about 200,000 to 300,000 -year-old tube was measured and investigated by various Korean and Japanese research teams. The tube operates at two levels. The down tube has a length of 5296 m and is the main tube. The upper tube is 2,120 m long. A 1 km long section of the tube was opened to the public in 1967. In it, there are many well-preserved, formed by lava structures, such as stalactites and columns, including is the world's largest lava column to find in the tube. In the tube 38 species and at least 30,000 bats live. This population is the largest known bat population in South Korea.
The input of the 705 m long, 4 m wide and up to 12 m high lava tube (also Gimnyeong - sagul or Sagul ( Snake Cave ) called ) is just 90 meters below the output of the Manjang - gul. Between the two tubes is a collapsed piece, so it is assumed that once formed both tubes of a tube. The end of the s- shaped lava tube is closed by lava. On the bottom of the tube to find Karbonatablagerungen and sand. This originates from sand dunes which are located near the entrance of the end of the tube. The tube was opened to the public until 1991, but then closed for safety reasons.
The term Sagul springs from a legend. According to legend, there lived a big snake, the natural disasters across the country, brought in the tube. To prevent the disasters, the snake is a 15 - year-old girl had to be presented as victims every year. The judge Lin Seo killed in 1515, the snake, and since then, people lived in peace. At the entrance of the tube was placed in honor of Lin Seo a monument.
Yongcheon - donggul
The 2500 m long, 7-15 m wide and 1.5 to 20 m high lava tube was discovered by accident during construction work in 2005. Your upstream end is blocked by sand and was probably connected to the Gimnyeong - lava tube, so that both tubes originally formed a lava tube. The 100,000 to 300,000 -year-old tube runs from northeast to southwest, some on two levels. Various formed by lava rock formations, lava stalactites and stalagmites, Lavafälle and spring water lakes can be found in the tube. At the bottom of the last Lavafalls there is a lake with a length of 200 m, a width of 7-15 m and a depth of 6-15 m. Are secondary speleothems, such as stalactites, stalagmites, etc. On the floor and ceiling. Made the speleothems was by calcium and carbonates which were washed by rainwater from the lying above the tube sand.
But not only speleothems were found in the lava tube, but also a variety of historic, man-made objects, such as Pottery, tools and torches. Based on the blood vessels and the determination of the age of the torches by the radiocarbon method, it was shown that people have entered about 605 AD, during the Silla kingdom, the tube. Presumably, the tube had a special meaning by the freshwater lakes as freshwater is difficult to find on Jeju. It is also assumed that the tube was a sacred place for the people of the time at which religious ceremonies were performed. The closure prevented by sand later entry into the tube.
Dangcheomul - donggul
The lava tube was discovered in 1995 at work has a length of 110 m in length, 5.5 to 18.4 m wide and 0.3 to 2.7 m high. A farmer broke with a heavy work unit through the ceiling of the 100,000 to 200,000 -year-old tube. It has a flat bottom and an arc- shaped cross-section. Your ceiling is covered with lava Excentriques. In addition to the Excentriques will find different speleothems in the tube. These speleothems were formed of carbonates that have been washed out of the sand dunes and passed through columns and tree roots in the pipe. It can be found in the tube soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, Flowstone, Travertine pools and moon milk in the tube. 13 species live in the tube. The tube is not accessible to the public. Scientific studies have been conducted in 2000.
Ecosystem
The tubes of the Geomunoreum - Lavaröhrensystem provide diverse habitats for living things available. In the lava tubes to date 64 species have been discovered. Of these 64 species, 23 species of spiders and 11 species of insects.
Of particular importance are:
- The millipede Epanerchodus clavisetosus,
- The Seonggul - Weberknecht Opilio pentaspnulatus,
- The Jeju Cave spider Nesticella quelpartensis,
- Korea Weberknecht Heteropoda koreana and
- Jeju salamander Hynobius quelpartiens.
Of these beings the spiders and millipedes are found only on Jeju.
In the Bengdwi and the lava tube Manjang - three species of bats live in large populations. In the Manjang - lava tube approximately 30,000 bats of the species Miniopterus fuliginosus write risi live. This population is the largest bat population in South Korea. In addition to the large populations there are small populations of two species of bat in the Gimnyeong - lava tube.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Geomunoreum - Lavaröhrensystem were included in the list of World Natural Heritages in 2007. In the explanatory memorandum to the acceptance of the application the special beauty of the lava tubes is highlighted.
"The Geomunoreum lava tube system, Which is Regarded as the finest seeking cave system in the world, outstanding visual impact even HAS to For Those experienced with search phenomena. It displays the unique spectacle of multi-colored carbonate decorations adorning the roofs and floors, and dark -colored lava walls, Partially covered by a mural of carbonate deposits. "