nature & planetWikipedia

Jeju Island is a volcanic island off South Korea's southern coast with the country's highest mountain

the gist

Jeju Island is South Korea's largest island, covering about 1,833 square kilometres in the Korea Strait, roughly 83 kilometres south of the peninsula. It was formed by volcanic activity, and its landscape is dominated by Hallasan, the volcano at its centre. The island has been inhabited since the early Neolithic period, and the Jeju people are considered indigenous to it. Its language is critically endangered according to UNESCO. The island forms Jeju Province, which also includes many smaller outlying islands.

how it works

Jeju is a shield volcano complex built by repeated eruptions of basaltic lava over a long period. Lava flows formed caves and tubes, and the porous volcanic rock shapes its soils and water supply. Its position in the Korea Strait also made it a crossroads for maritime trade.

so what

Jeju shows how a volcanic island can develop its own culture, language and identity far from the mainland. Its volcanic landscape has made it a major destination for tourism and conservation. The loss of its language is a reminder that island communities can be especially vulnerable to outside influence.

fun fact

Hallasan, the volcano at the island's centre, is South Korea's highest mountain.

more on this

key facts

Country
South Korea
Located in
Jeju Province
Capital
Jeju
Population
583,284
Area
1,848 km²

Facts: Wikidata (CC0)

Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons