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Baekdu Mountain facts for kids

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Baekdu/Changbai Mountain
Paektu-san.jpg
Baekdu/Changbai Mountain volcano, April 2003
Highest point
Elevation 2,744 metres (9,003 ft)
Geography
Location Ryanggang, (North Korea)
Jilin, (China)
Geology
Mountain type Stratovolcano
Last eruption 1903

Baekdu Mountain, also known as Changbai Mountain, is a giant volcano that sits right on the border between North Korea and China. Most of the mountain, about 54.5%, is in North Korea. The other 45.5% is in China.

In Korean, it's called Baekdu-san, which means 'White Head Mountain'. This name probably comes from its snowy peak. In Chinese, it's called Changbai-shan, meaning 'Snow Piles Up on the Large Mountain'. Both names describe how much snow covers this amazing place.

Heaven Lake: A Beautiful Crater Lake

One of the most famous parts of Baekdu Mountain is its large crater lake. This lake is called Heaven Lake. Koreans call it "Cheon-ji" lake, and Chinese call it "Tianchi" lake. It sits very high up, about 2,744 metres (8,999 feet) above sea level.

Heaven Lake is actually a caldera. A caldera is a large bowl-shaped hollow that forms when the top of a volcano collapses after a huge eruption. Heaven Lake was formed by a gigantic eruption around the year 969 AD. This was one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history!

A cool fact about Baekdu Mountain is that the Olympic torch for the Beijing Olympics was lit here.

History and Eruptions

Baekdu Mountain is an active volcano, meaning it could erupt again. Its last known eruption was in 1903. Scientists study the mountain closely to understand its past and predict any future activity. The huge eruption that created Heaven Lake was so powerful that its ash reached as far away as Japan.

The mountain is also important for its natural beauty and wildlife. It is home to many different plants and animals. Because of its unique nature, parts of Baekdu Mountain are protected as biosphere reserves.

Images for kids

  • Mount Paektu Relief Map, SRTM-1

    Relief map

  • Baitou Mountain Tianchi

    Heaven Lake

  • Paektu-san

    Mount Paektu, April 2003

  • MYK-1-长白山

    Painting from the Manchu Veritable Records with the names of Mount Paektu in Manchu, Chinese and Mongolian

  • North Korea - Mt. Paektu (5015879192)

    A painting of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il standing at the peak of Mount Paektu

  • Apprx. PRC-DPRK border around Baekdu-Changbai Mountain

    Map showing the Chinese-North Korean border region around Paektu Mountain

  • Korea paektu-san locmap

    Mount Paektu's location in Korea

  • Changbai-2005

    Cairns

  • Changbai chute1

    Waterfall

  • Changbai hotspring

    Hot springs

  • River, Paektu Mountain

    River

  • Baekdu Mountain Winter

    Heaven Lake in winter

  • Changbai Shan 2008-06-14 IMG 1469

    North slope

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Monte Paektu para niños

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