Taebaek and Jeongseon are deep in Gangwon-do, and are famous for their clean nature. It is not only the ecstatic nature that has been revealed that we have to pay attention to in the pure nature and people that have not been asked. It is also a treasure trove of geologists who can find traces of the ancient Paleozoic strata as well as under the ground and around it. The old land, the journey of tracing the traces of the earth in the old nature, and the geological journey between Taebaek and Jeongseon, crossing past and present, begin.

Taebaek is an old land. The place that clearly proves this is the Taebaek Paleozoic Natural History Museum and the area of the parliament designated as Natural Monument No. 417. Surprisingly, around the Taebaek Paleozoic Natural History Museum, 12 strata structures showing paleozoic sediments and biological environments are randomly distributed. It is said that this area, about 600m above sea level, was the sea near the equator during the Paleozoic Era. Evidence of this can be found everywhere.

It seems no wonder that the Paleozoic Natural History Museum was built here, where traces of strata still exist, from 470 million to 450 million years ago. Before looking at the Paleozoic terrain and geology scattered around the site, it is the first step to take a tour of the museum. The museum commentator's explanation is kind to the traveler who is not good at geology.

The Taebaek Paleozoic Natural History Museum is a specialty museum with the theme of Paleozoic era. It is not a boring museum that conveys only hard knowledge, but a living museum where you can experience the geology of the Paleozoic era while exploring the museum and its surroundings. Through an on-site experience with a commentary, you can see and feel the traces of the Paleozoic sea environment and marine life scattered around the museum.

The first floor of the museum is an experience exhibition room. It is composed of various learning rooms that visitors can experience directly. Experiential learning is possible through play such as takbon, chromakey and fossil excavation. In the exhibition room on the 2nd floor, you can observe the pre-cambrian period, the electricity and the middle Paleozoic strata and various biomes. In addition, you will encounter the caves of Taebaek and the use of limestone, the fossil world, and the trilobite fossil. Finally, in the exhibition room on the 3rd floor, you can examine various flora and fauna of the late Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras and feel the nature of Taebaek and the seriousness of global warming.

It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to tour all the museums with the commentators. After roughly examining geological history and Paleozoic organisms, such as the changes of Paleozoic Earth and the appearance of creatures, you can now go out and face the traces of various geological layers and creatures directly in the field.

After a 10-minute walk from the museum, you can encounter a variety of sedimentary structures that can observe the distribution and inconsistency of strata from the Precambrian to the Upper Paleozoic. It can be observed that the hydrochloric acid handed out from the museum is sprinkled lightly on this limestone zone. In addition, it is possible to observe various fossils such as trilobites, brachiopods, gastropods, and stromatolites, as well as sedimentary structures such as wave marks, salt marks, and snow structures that can determine the upper and lower structures of the Paleozoic era. This area, which tells the mystery of earth's history as well as its geological value, has been designated and protected as a natural monument.
When you see the Paleozoic strata and fossils with your own eyes and touch them and listen carefully to the explanations of the commentators, you can feel the modern self standing on the Paleozoic strata.

The sideways phrase is a bonus. Water from the Hwangji, the birthplace of the Nakdong River, reached here and passed through rocks, creating large stone gates and cows. What used to be called “hole cow” in the sense of a river with a hole in it became “gate station”. The river flows through the mountain, so it is sometimes called ‘Turunae’.

If you run 30 ~ 40 minutes by car from Guseongso, you will see Geomryongso. There is a legend that Geomryongso was the origin of the Han River and stayed back on the Han River to become a dragon that lived in the West Sea. Through the limestone, the groundwater rises 2,000 to 3,000 tons per day. If you are looking at the serene Geomryongso, you may be wondering if the water is coming from here.

In fact, the 1.6km cozy trail to Geomryongso is more attractive than Geomryongso itself. In snowy winters, snow tunnels are often used. Daedeok Mountain, which is also the best wildflower complex in Korea, and Geumdaebong Natural Ecosystem Conservation Area, can be used as a mountain climber.

If you can't afford to go to the Jeongseon Hwaam Cave, take a sip of Hwaam Mineral Water and take a walk on a light autumnal path. It is said that Hwaam Mineral Water, which is characterized by its spicy taste, contains nine elements that are good for the body such as carbonate ions, iron, calcium, and fluoride, and is effective for gastrointestinal diseases, eye diseases, and skin diseases. Even if there is not much dissolution per day, people who want to drink mineral water always have long lines. Body-friendly water is sweet in your mouth.

After descending the neck with Hwaam mineral water, the way down is the autumn leaves. It's nice to see families with tents around and camping. Now, run along the Donggang. Dongri Waterway 100-ri flows with the twisting years and stories like Arirang, as it is today.

The Joyang River and Jijangcheon met to become one of the Donggang River, and a large zelkova tree stood beside the flowing stream. The zelkova, which silently testifies to the years overlooking the Dong River, is also enjoying the autumn.

Donggang grandiflora, which lives only in the Donggang, and dullness that inhabit only the first grade are all children of the Donggang. It blooms in the arms of the Donggang like a mother and lives like that.

Along the road, along the water, along the footsteps, you will experience a new journey on the hillsides of Taebaek and Jeongseon that have crossed the Paleozoic and Hyundai.

The road running along the Dong River is like a river, winding like our lives. People seem to get sick of that meandering life, but the flowing water is silent. Thousands of years, tens of thousands of years, like it flows and flows so casually.

Taebaek Paleozoic Natural History Museum: 2249, Taebaek-ro, Taebaek-si, 033-581-8181, www.paleozoic.go.kr
Taebaek City Tourist Information Center: 033-550-2828, tour.taebaek.go.kr
Jeongseon-gun Tourist Information Phone: 1544-9053, www.ariaritour.com

1.Access

* Self-driving

Gyeongbu Expressway → Shingal JC → Yeongdong Expressway (Wonju direction) → Manjong JC → Jungang Expressway (Jecheon direction) → Jecheon IC → National Road No. 38 toward Yeongwol, Taebaek

* public transport

The bus to Taebaek from Dong Seoul Terminal runs from time to time (06: 00-22: 30). It takes 3 hours and 10 minutes. 9 times a day (07: 01-18: 46) from East Seoul Terminal to Jeongseon, takes 3 hours and 30 minutes
From Cheongnyangni Station to Taebaek Station, Saemaul No. 1 (11:51) and Mugunghwa No. 6 (07: 10-23: 15) operate. On the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th of every month, Jeongseon's market, there is a sightseeing train that goes from Cheongnyangni Station to Mindongsan Station and Jeongseon Station to Aura Area (1544-7788, www.korail.go.kr ).

2. Restaurants around

Taebaek Chicken Ribs: Water Chicken Ribs / 10 Jungangnam 1-gil, Taebaek-si / 033-553-8119
Taebaek Hanwoogol: Hanwoogui / 35, Daehak-gil, Taebaek-si / 033-554-4599

Pyongyang Naengmyeon: Naengmyeon / 17 Bodmi-gil, Taebaek-si / 033-581-0101
Grandmother's sushi restaurant: Trout society, Hyangeo Baeksuk / 80-23, Saltgang-ro, Hwaam-myeon, Jeongseon-gun / 033-563-2785

3.Accommodation

Taebaek Plateau Natural Recreation Forest: 153, Myeonggol-gil, Taebaek-si / 033-582-7440

http://forest.taebaek.go.kr/html/intro.html

O2 Resort: 861 Seohak-ro, Taebaek-si / 033-580-7000

http://www.o2resort.com/main.xhtml

Taebaeksanminbakchon: 134, Cheonjaedan-gil, Taebaek-si / 033-553-7440
Ararichon: 37 Aesan-ro, Jeongseon-eup, Jeongseon-gun / 033-560-2059

Ari Hills Accommodation: 34 Bongyang 7-gil, Jeongseon-eup, Jeongseon-gun / 033-563-4100

※ The above information was created in November 2013, and may change later, so be sure to check it before you travel.
※ Information, such as text, photos, and videos used in this article, is copyrighted by the Korea Tourism Organization, and unauthorized use of the article is prohibited.