20,000-year-old cave revealed / KBS 2025.11.03.　#KBSNews

20,000 years ago, the cave ‘Guringul’ was created by the eruption of lava from Hallasan Baengnokdam, and it has been opened to the public for the first time.

What does this cave, which holds 20,000 years of history, look like?

Reporter Na Jong-hoon introduces its breathtaking scenery.

[Report]

As autumn deepens around 700 meters above sea level on Hallasan Mountain, the ‘Guringul’, which has been shrouded in mystery deep within the forest, reveals itself.

Cautiously entering through an entrance about 2 meters wide, one can see the rough traces left by the lava that erupted from Baengnokdam 20,000 years ago.

The cave floor, where water has flowed, has been eroded over a long time, becoming smooth.

In places where the ceiling has collapsed, allowing the sky to be seen, rainwater collects, giving birth to new streams.

[Go Jong-seok/Director of Jeju World Heritage Center: “It has not been opened until now, and since it is near the Gwaneumsa trail, many people have been curious, so we have temporarily opened it in line with the Year of National Heritage Visits.”]

Unlike other lava caves in Jeju, Guringul is characterized by its formation at a high altitude.

Although it is about 400 meters long, it showcases various breathtaking views, including a two-layer structure created by different flows of lava.

The open space created by the rapid flow of lava along the steep slope is a key to unraveling the secrets of Hallasan’s formation and is now also a precious habitat for bats.

Several species of bats, including the ‘Red Bat’, a natural monument known as the golden bat, and the cave bat, have been discovered.

[An Ung-san/Research Department of Hallasan, Jeju World Heritage Center: “They also play a role in maintaining a balance of insects and pests. Therefore, we are continuously monitoring changes in bat populations related to climate change.”]

The Jeju World Heritage Center will present the true face of volcanic island Jeju through pre-reserved visits to Guringul twice a week until the 15th.

This is KBS News, Na Jong-hoon.

▣ KBS 기사 원문보기 : https://ift.tt/QMF4W68

▣ 제보 하기
◇ 카카오톡 : ‘KBS제보’ 검색
◇ 전화 : 02-781-1234
◇ 홈페이지 : https://goo.gl/4bWbkG
◇ 이메일 : kbs1234@kbs.co.kr