Travelling Ulleungdo
Before You Travel
Volcanic Island of Raw Natural Beauties
Ulleungdo is not a resort island meant for leisurely basking in the sun. It is an island full of ruggedness and energy where nature is alive in its primitive state. The only way to get there is to travel to the East Coast and take a boat from Donghae or Pohang. Ferries only run once a day and services are often cancelled if the wind is too strong or the weather is too fierce, so consider yourself lucky if your trip to Ulleungdo goes exactly as planned!
A volcanic island the shape of a pentagon, Ulleungdo is an island lost in time, covered in ferns and craggy rocks and reminiscent of scenes from Jurassic Park. With steep cliffs rising up from the coastline and no plains to speak of, a visit to Ulleungdo is a true adventure. Even a traveler unfamiliar with the unique features of volcanic islands will appreciate the wonders of the rugged rocks, simply by walking along the coastal path for an afternoon. Once night falls, the island reveals its docile side, as dozens of lights from the cuttlefish boats dot the sea around the island. In the morning, the night’s cuttlefish catch is hung up to dry all around the coast, making for a stunning image (and smell) that’s hard to forget! Paintings and installations paying tribute to the island’s cuttlefish can be found all over Ulleungdo Island.
About Ulleungdo Island:
Ulleungdo is a tholoide (bell-shaped volcano) that was formed by a major explosive eruption that occurred between the Tertiary Period and the early Quarternary Period in the Cenozoic Era. The rocky, steep-sided island is 10 kilometers long east to west, 9.5 kilometers north to south, and has 56.5 kilometers of coastline. The island’s maximum elevation is 987 meters at Seonginbong Peak. On the northern side of the island is Naribunji, a basin formed by the collapse of a caldera crater; inside the crater is the only large plain on the island. The oceanic climate has an average annual temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, but there is a lot of snow in the winter and strong winds that make traveling along the coastline difficult. The island has about 10,000 inhabitants who earn their living through herb farming, fishing, and the tourism industry. The island is mainly composed of trachyte, andesite, and basalt rock.
Ulleungdo is a haven for flora and fauna with 650 native species of plants and is famous for its Chinese juniper trees. Another special characteristic of Ulleungdo is the high-quality cuttlefish caught where the cold and warm currents meet.
Ulleungdo Tours
