Songdo Peninsula
Lake where Vulcan lives
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.
Superb attraction to appreciate a diversity of rocks along the seashore, including sedimentary rocks of Dadaepo Formation, ignimbrite created by volcanic activity, basalt made by flowing lava and rhyolite interpenetrating the basalt, against the backdrop of beautiful coastal views.
It offers trail courses from Songdo Beach to Amnam Park for appreciating the unique and diverse geological records of dinosaur skeleton and egg nest fossils, calcic paleosoil, dikes, veins, faults, ripple marks and reduction spots.
Introduce
Along the shore, various rocks, such as sedimentary rocks of Dadaepo Formation, basalt, pyroclastic rocks, and intrusive rhyolite are exposed with dinosaur bones, egg nest fossils, and calcic paleosols. You can enjoy the various geologic records with the marvelous landscape of Hallyeohaesang.
Dudo is an inhabited island showing magnificent sceneries of volcanic rocks and Lower Dadaepo Formation from Late Cretaceous that is sitted along the sea cliffs of south Songdo Peninsula. It is a treasure box of dinosaur bones and egg nest fossils.
Origin of its name
“Songdo” refers to the present 「Turtle Island」. Although it is a small, low-lying island in the range connected from Songnim Park, it was called Songdo because pine trees naturally grow on the island just like 「Dudo Island」 located at the tip of Janggunsan Mountain on the opposite side. During the Japanese colonial era, Japanese dwellers established Songdo-based Songdo Yuwon Co., Ltd.(Jul. 1913) and installed a service area called「Sujeong(pavilion on water)」, destroying the true nature of Songdo which was reduced to its turtle-shaped rock form.
Even now, the bygone contour of Turtle Island can be identified with rocks remaining in the perimeter of the island. But when the Japanese built Sujeong and developed a bathing resort using an extensive sandy beach, the beach with gentle waves, shallow waters and the surrounding pine forest became a national attraction. Now, its bygone scenery has disappeared and the pine forest and sandy beach have lost the past vestige of the island in the name of development, with only its name remaining.
Name and history
Songdo Peninsula is a long and narrow peninsula between Songdo Beach and Gamcheon Port with Amnam Park at the tip. Songdo of Songdo Peninsula refers to the present「Turtle Island」 located in waters off Songdo Beach. The island was called Songdo due to its native pine trees. During the Japanese colonial era, Japanese dwellers established Songdo-based Songdo Yuwon Co., Ltd.(Jul. 1913) and installed a service area called「Sujeong(pavilion on water)」, destroying the true nature of Songdo and leaving only a turtle-shaped rock behind.
Tourist information
Songdo Beach (the Naples of the East)
- Korea’s first beach
- Songdo Beach Ground Fountain 1, 2: operated at 11a.m./2p.m./5p.m./7p.m. for 30 minutes each time (when the beach is open)
- Songdo Beach Music Fountain: 8p.m./9 p.m. (Jun., Sept. ~Oct.), 8:30p.m./9:30 p.m.(Jul. ~Aug.)
Songdo Coastal Walkway (0.8km, average 20 minutes)
- Connecting Songdo Beach and Amnam Park
- Appreciate beautiful Songdo coast with numerous ships at anchor against the backdrop of a beautiful Amnam Park, formed by sedimentary rocks traced back 100 million years.
- Three observation platforms offer views beyond the horizon of the South Sea, with fun swing bridges and fishing places scattered below the walkway.
Representative vegetation
Idesia
Idesia, a deciduous tree belonging to the Flacourtiacea genus, grows well in forests on the seashore. Male and female trees grow separately and are used as street or garden trees due to their beautiful bark and big leaves.
Aster spathulifolius
Aster spathulifolius, a perennial herb belonging to chrysanthemum family, grows in cracks in seashore rocks or mountains and is a common sight on the seashore in Busan. Violet flowers blooming in clusters in the autumn are a beautiful sight.
Geological features of Songdo
A big lake referred to as Dadaepo Basin was formed in the area ranging from Dadaepo of Nakdonggang Estuary to Songdo during the late Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era (about 8-70 million years ago).
There are big faults called Dongnae Fault in the east of Dadaepo Basin and Yangsan Fault in the west. These faults moved and crustal plates spread apart in the late Cretaceous period, forming Dadaepo Basin.
Thick sedimentary layers were deposited when a large lake called Dadaepo Basin was formed and were named Dadaepo Formation by geologists. Dadaepo Formation is divided into Upper and Lower sections based on the features of its component rocks(presence of red layers and content of volcanic substances) and differences of sedimentary environments. With andesitic volcanic rocks called Yucheon Group in its lower section, Dadaepo Formation covers these volcanic rocks with the uncomformity surface. This uncomformity surface is observed on Dusong Peninsula and the Dudo area west and south of Songdo Peninsula.
Lower Dadaepo Formation is comprised of relatively pure non-volcanic sediments of alternating red mudstone, siltstone, sandstone and marl. Five or more conglomerate sheets 1-5m thick appear with various component gravels of chert, quartzite, volcanic and sedimentary rock. Red layers are characterized by unique geological records of calcic paleosols, dinosaur skeleton fossils, dinosaur egg nest fossils, silicified wood fragments and reduction spots.
Upper Dadaepo Formation is mainly comprised of dark grey and grayish-green tuffaceous sandstone including tuffaceous conglomerate, coarse-grained sandstone, siltstone and tuff, characterized by a high volcanic substance content. Tuffaceous sandstone with well-developed cross bedding includes volcanic rock fragments of various types and sizes. Balstic sills and dacitic tuff appear between Upper Dadaepo Formation strata. Such characteristics mean volcanoes were active in the area during sedimentation of Upper Dadaepo Formation.
The top of Upper Dadaepo Formation is covered in thick andesitic pyroclastic rock and lava flows corresponding to Yucheon Group volcanic rock type.