Gyeonggi Province Recommends 'Hantangang and Hwaseong Geoparks' for Autumn Outings

Gyeonggi Province has recommended two of its leading geoparks as autumn outing destinations, where visitors can see and experience the Earth’s long history firsthand, including canyons and columnar joints formed by volcanic activity hundreds of thousands of years ago and dinosaur egg fossils from the Mesozoic Era.

Gyeonggi Province is home to the Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark, which spans Pocheon and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province and Cheorwon in Gangwon State, and the Hwaseong National Geopark in the western part of Hwaseong City. At Hantangang, visitors can see magnificent canyons and waterfalls formed by volcanic activity, while Hwaseong offers dinosaur egg fossils and a variety of coastal landforms.

The Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark is characterized by basalt terrain formed by volcanic activity between approximately 540,000 and 120,000 years ago. Over time, the Hantangang and Imjin rivers carved into the basalt plateau formed by solidified lava, creating distinctive landscapes that include deep canyons, columnar joints and waterfalls.

Among the best-known attractions are Jaein Falls in Yeoncheon and Bidulginang Falls in Pocheon. Both offer views of waterfalls set against columnar joints formed along basalt cliffs. The Imjin River columnar jointing is a stretch where vertical columnar joints extend for several kilometers north from the confluence of the Hantangang and Imjin rivers at Dogampo. Visitors can also observe a variety of landforms, including stream-cut caves and potholes carved into rock by flowing water.

The Hantangang Geopark was designated a National Geopark in 2015 and a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2020. It has a total of 26 geological sites.

The Hwaseong National Geopark offers a chance to explore traces of the Mesozoic Era, when dinosaurs lived, rocks formed in different periods, and coastal landforms along the west coast. Designated a National Geopark in 2024, it covers a total area of 282.5 square kilometers and has eight geological sites.

Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark

At the Gojung-ri Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site, one of its major attractions, visitors can observe sedimentary rock formed during the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era and dinosaur egg fossils. At Ueumdo, they can explore various geological structures, including gneiss and granite that preserve traces of ancient tectonic activity, as well as folds, or bent rock layers, and faults, where rock layers have fractured.

At Jeongok Port, visitors can see layered tuff formed from accumulated volcanic ash and other materials. At other geological sites along the west coast, including Jebudo, Baekmi-ri Coast, Gungpyeong Port, Gukhwado and Ipado, visitors can enjoy coastal scenery while comparing different geological periods and formation processes.

A geopark is a system for conserving valuable geological heritage, such as landforms, rocks and fossils, while making use of it for education and tourism. Gyeonggi Province connects its geological sites with local cultural, tourism and experiential resources, and runs a range of geopark programs with local residents.

Gyeonggi Province has asked geopark visitors to use designated trails and refrain from collecting or damaging rocks and fossils. Before visiting, visitors are advised to check the geopark and relevant city or county websites for information on trails and facility operations.

"Geoparks are living classrooms where we can see and learn firsthand how the land we live on was formed and share its value with future generations," said Lee Taeseon, head of Gyeonggi Province's Garden Industry Division. "Geological heritage is a precious asset that is difficult to restore once damaged, so I hope visitors will help protect it by using designated trails and refraining from collecting rocks and fossils."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.