On September 13, Cave Day, Danyang seeks to take its caves global

Danyang County is presenting its caves and limestone landscapes as a global natural heritage asset ahead of the first International Caves and Karst Day on September 13.

The county in South Korea’s North Chungcheong Province said it would pursue the preservation and international promotion of its caves and karst terrain. UNESCO designated September 13 last November to highlight the scientific, ecological and cultural value of caves and karst landscapes.

Danyang has extensive limestone karst terrain, with about 200 natural caves as well as sinkholes, natural bridges and other distinctive formations. Gosu Cave and Ondal Cave were included in the “Natural Cave Route,” a national heritage visitor campaign designated by South Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korea Heritage Service.

Gosu Cave contains stalactites, stalagmites and columns that preserve evidence of how karst landscapes formed. Ondal Cave, located in a limestone area along the Namhan River, offers visible faults and joints and is described as a textbook example of cave geology.

Danyang also hosted the launch of a World Geoparks administrative council on August 25. The council brings together 11 cities and counties, including Danyang and municipalities in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, North Gyeongsang, South Jeolla and other regions. They agreed to cooperate on conserving geological heritage, promoting geoparks and developing tourism based on each region’s geological features.