Various types of landscapes exist on the small island of Jeju, but I will mainly focus on coastal landscape of the island. After all, it is surrounded by water on all its sides. On Jeju, 20 main beaches exist, each conveying unique bauty of their own. Forms and processes that helped create coastal landscapes in Jeju are; volcanic eruption which formed the island, but now an extinct volcano. Additionally, chemical weathering (salt weathering) and physical weathering (wind, waves) contributed to landscapes in the island.
Once erupted volcano now called Mt. Halla, it is the tallest mountain in Korea. At 1,950 meters and the varying temperatures year around, Mt. Halla houses over 1,800 plant species and 4,000 animal species which account for 3,300 species of insects. On top of Mt. Halla, crater lake called Baeknokdam is considered by the natives as the holiest place on Jeju. Baenokdam literally means “white dear lake.” Depending on the precipitation through the year, the lake grows up to two kilometers in circumference and one hundred meters deep.
Moving away from the mountain side, lets explore to the coastal landscapes on Jeju Island. The beautiful beaches made the island number one honeymoon destination for newlywed Koreans. In the picture below (right), calm spilling breaker waves reach bottom of sea cliff of an wave-cut terrace. The Terrace show evidence of where the water level used to be. Due to the
force of waves stricking against rocks, notch cliffs forms. With further physical weathering, the top part of the rock will be too heavy for the bottom part of the rock to supoprt resulting in break of the top part of the rock in to the ocean. This is not an unsual nor catastrophic event. Process of landscape changes are occuring everyday! What can limit changing of the landscape? Nothing. In efforts to preserve the beauty, people attempt to slow down the process of landscape change however, we cannot stop the Nature from taking its course. Construction of jetty, seawall or revetment does not stop the landscape rather, it promotes depositional landscapes. Sand deposits on one side of jetty depending on the direction of current, seawalls collect particles and revetments also trap particles.
Picture on the right is revetment.
In contrast to efforts of preserving the beauty, human activities speed up the process of landscape changes. Currently, citizens of Jeju Island is fighting to stop construction of Naval Base on the island. They are fighting to preserve the land and keep peace on the island. Another project sceduled to bring major changes to the island is construction of Jeju Hills Hotel. The design was proposed in 2011, but the actual date of construction is not released.
Based on current trends of weathering , I will attempt to hypothesize about Jeju’s landscape for following times.
Jeju in 10 years-As it is in process, new building and more tourist attractions will arise. Naval base would be built, bringing more military personnels to the island. In big scheme of things, no major changes to the landscape will occur except for areas around renovations. Beaches may change shape due to deposition of sands around jetties and traffic of many tourists.
Jeju in 100 years-In hundred years, the sea level change will be apparent. Sea level can rise or fall changing the coastlines either way. Notch cliffs that are receding may give up and break, creating sea stacks along the shore. If people continue to renovate and deforest the island, there will be change of habitat-decrease of biodiversity. Also, due to continuous salt weathering, basalt cliffs will have more round shape and smoother surface, or more alveolis and tafonis making current A’a surface more rugged. Many small knick points will disappear as the water runs over and over due to tendency of water to reach equilibrium and minimize efforts to flow down stream.
Jeju in 1000 years- Bigger notch cliffs will fall down especially if buildings continue to arise on top of the terraces. This will weigh down the terrace tremendously causing rock to be less resistent. In the lava tubes (Geomunoreum Lava Tubes), formation of stlagmites and stalagtites will continue eventually forming cave columns. On the other side, cave may collapse due to heavy weight on the land above it.
sLeft: Design plan of Jeju Hills Hotel. Right: Waterfall with notchcliff underneath.