Gayasan (Gyeongsangnam-do)

Infobox Korean name

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caption=Sanghwang peak, 2004.
hangul=가야산
hanja=伽倻山
rr=Gaya-san
mr=Kaya-san

Gayasan Mountain National Park (also spelled Kayasan Mountain National Park) in South Korea covers an area of more than 80,000 square kilometers, and extends from the top of South Gyeongsang province to the bottom of North Gyeongsang province. The Sobaek Mountain range runs through this area, with the main peak standing at 1,430 meters above sea level. It was declared Scenic Site No. 5 by the Korean government in 1966, and turned into an official national park in 1972.

The main attractions are Haeinsa, a standing Buddha figure carved into sheer rock face, Yongmun Falls, and Hongnyudong Valley. There are 380 species of plants growing there as well as 100 species of birds and animals roaming free.

Its remoteness played a role in protecting it from destruction in the past, specifically the Japanese invasions of 1592-98, when much of the country was razed. Since that time, it is said that the area around the Gaya Mountains is free from the Three Disasters: fire, floods and wind. Fact|date=February 2007

Hiking Gayasan

Gayasan is a small park, but blessed with wonderful moderate-level day-hikes. The ascent to Sangwangbong takes about 2 hours from Haeinsa, winding up through lush forest along the river. As hikes go, it's not a steep climb, but rises quite gently most of the way until the final 30 minutes. At that point, the trail breaks out of the trees and amazing views of the valleys and ridges can be seen (if the weather allows it). The trails are well-maintained and well-marked. From Sangwangbong, you can hike over to Chilbulbong in about 15 minutes. As always, to enjoy your hike the most, it's best to start early while the light is still spectacular and before the mountains are flooded by mobs of yappy tourists. The crowds generally gather around 11:00 AM. If your purpose in hiking is to enjoy the peace, quiet, and beauty of nature, you probably want to be heading down by that time.

External links

* [http://gaya.knps.or.kr/Gayasan_eng Gayasan National Park-Official KNPS Homepage]
* [http://koreaclimbs.blogspot.com/ Korea in the Clouds: A Detailed Guide to Hiking Korea's Mountains]
* [http://www.zuccarelliphoto.com/images/trailmaps/gayasan.jpgPrintable Trailmap of Gayasan (from Korea in the Clouds)]