Morundae
Morundae
Attraction providing a glimpse into Lower Dadaepo Formation, deposited during the late Cretaceous period about 80 million years ago and the crustal deformation process in the Busan area after that.
It used to be an island called “Morundo,” then evolved into a land-tied island with unique terrain thanks to built-up sand from Nakdonggang River.,
It is an attraction that can be dubbed the textbook of geology with its variety of geological features including various faults, fault rocks, dikes, veins, magmatic and clastic dikes, chert clasts, crossbedding, trace fossils and records of past earthquakes.
Introduce
The lower Dadaepo Formation formed 80 million years ago. The tectonic change after that time can be seen here at Morundae. This site can be called the textbook of geology, for it includes various geological features like faults, fault rocks, dykes, veins, chert, cross-beddings, and trace fossils.
Origin of its name
Morundae, located at the southernmost tip of Nakdonggang Estuary, is a typical land-tied island. It was an island called “Morundo”that was later connected to Dadaepo due to sedimentation from the upper reaches of the river. At the southern extremity of Morundae are sea cliffs and caves developed due to erosion by waves with a gorgeous sandy beach at the back used for sea bathing. Morundae is famous as an eminent scenic spot with dense groves, oddly shaped precipitous rocks, undulating sea waves and a beautiful sandy beach.
Its name, Morundae, originates from the fact that the area is covered due to air currents on foggy and cloudy days at Nakdonggang Estuary. The topography of Morundae is like the form of a flying crane whose beauty was praised from a distance by Dongnae Magistrate Lee Chunwon in his poem 『Records of Dongnae-bu(1740)』.
The natural scenic beauty of Morundae is highlighted by rugged precipices and trees on the sea side. Morundae is also well-known as a historic site where Nokdo Manho (naval officer) Jeong Un died while fighting in the vanguard of the Battle of Busan where Admiral Yi Sun-shin defeated 100 ones out of 500 Japanese ships, gaining a major victory during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592.
Name and history
Morundae is a renowned scenic site (Busan Metropolitan City Monument No. 27) located where Nakdonggang Estuary meets the sea. It was an island called “Morundo” that later took its land-tied island form after being connected with Dadaepo by sediment deposited from the upper reaches of the Nakdonggang River. Its poetic name “Morundae,” meaning island buried in clouds, was given because the island cannot be seen on foggy and cloudy days, as if buried in Nakdonggang Estuary. Morundae, close to Tsushima Island, was used as a main sea route for trading with Japan and was infested with Japanese pirates who engaged in plunder on the sea. It was the location of Admidral Yi Sun-shin’s vanguard during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592.
Tourist information
Service hours
- Summer Apr.∼ Sept. (6 months) 05:00 ∼ 20:00
- Winter Oct.∼Mar. (6 months) 06:00 ∼ 18:00
- ※ Mmilitary units control the area outside of service hours and at night.
- Inquiry : 051)209-2000
Representative vegetation
Eurya japonica
Eurya japonica, an evergreen broad-leaved shrub belonging to tea family, grows at the foot of seaside mountains in the south area. Called “Ligustrum foliosum (Gasreginang in Korean)” on Jeju Island, from which its name Eurya japonica(Sasrepi in Korean) seems to originate. Its flowers smell like ammonia and have sterilizing and soothing effects. It is also said to help with air purification with great resistance to sulfurous acid gas.
Gomsol(Black pine tree)
Gomsol, an evergreen needleleaf tree, belonging to Pinaceae genus, usually grows on the seashore with some growing further inland along rivers. Golsol, meaning black pine tree, is also called Haesong(Antipathes japonica) because it grows along the seashore.