Hallasan Facts for Kids

Hallasan seen from a distance

Hallasan is a very special mountain in Korea. It's one of Korea's three most important mountains. You can find it on Jeju-do, which is the southernmost island of South Korea. Hallasan stands tall at 1,950 meters (about 6,400 feet).

At the very top of Hallasan, there's a big bowl-shaped hole called Baek Rok Dam. This is actually a crater from when Hallasan was an active volcano! It stopped erupting about 25,000 years ago, so now it's a "dormant" volcano. This means it's sleeping and not expected to erupt again soon.

Hallasan is made of a dark rock called basalt. This type of rock is created when volcanoes erupt. The mountain stretches from east to west. The southern side of Hallasan is very steep, like a sharp drop. However, the northern side has a much gentler slope. The eastern and western parts are high but smooth.

Explore Hallasan: Hiking Trails
Hallasan's Amazing Scenery
Hallasan's Special Status
Images for kids
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Explore Hallasan: Hiking Trails

Hikers on the Seongpanak trail

Hallasan has seven different trails you can hike. Each trail offers a unique way to explore the mountain.

Eorimok Trail: This trail is 6.8 kilometers long. It takes about three hours to hike one way.
Yeongsil Trail: This is a shorter trail, 3.7 kilometers long. It starts from the Yeongsil Resting Area. A one-way trip takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Seongpanak Trail: This is a longer course, 9.6 kilometers in length. It usually takes about four and a half hours for a one-way hike.
Gwaneumsa Trail: This trail is 8.7 kilometers long. It takes about 5 hours to complete a one-way trip.
Donnaeko Trail: This trail covers 7 kilometers. It takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to hike one way.
Eoseungsaengak Trail: This is the shortest trail at 1.3 kilometers. A one-way trip only takes about 30 minutes.
Seokgulam Trail: This trail is 1.5 kilometers long. It takes about 50 minutes to reach the Seokgulam hermitage.

Hallasan's Amazing Scenery

Hallasan is home to many different kinds of plants. You can find plants that like warm weather, like those from subtropical areas. There are also plants that prefer cooler climates, similar to subarctic regions.

In spring, the mountain is full of colorful flowers. You can see beautiful royal azaleas and bright yellow rape flowers. There are also many maple trees that turn lovely colors in the fall. In winter, Hallasan transforms into a snowy wonderland.

You might even spot some deer on the mountain! Deer are a special symbol of Hallasan.

Hallasan's Special Status

The beautiful and ever-changing scenery of Hallasan has made people admire its natural beauty for a long time. Because of this, Hallasan was chosen as a national park on March 24, 1970. Later, in 2002, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's considered very important for everyone in the world to protect.

If you visit in late January, you might even get to experience the fun snow-flower festival held on Hallasan!