Day 60: Upo Wetlands Natural Reserve

A very brief stop at Upo Wetland Nature Reserve. It was too cold to walk around. And it is a huge area. Originally we thought the bus would drop us off on the other side of the Wetland, but it’s not. So that’s why we will double back our walk.

This is the largest inland wetlands area in Korea, offering four wetland areas (Upo, Mokpo, Sajipo, and Jjokjlbeol). The origin of the area near Nakdonggang River coincides with the birth of the Korean Peninsula.

This wetlands are home to over 500 species of tracheophytes including water plants (such as Eanyale ferox, Nympbodes peltata, and Irapa japonica), 400 species of phytoplanktons, 20 species of mammals, 180 species of birds, 20 species of reptilia and amphibla, 30 species of fish and 800 species of insects. Thanks to being a
rich habitat for plants and animals year-round, the area confers stability to diverse food chains, and many migratory birds stop over temporarily before they reach their breeding and wintering area. In the spring, the area is full of vibrancy with water plants while it boasts gorgeous landscapes thanks to water fogs (arising
from temperature differences) and migratory birds flying through the sky along with the picturesque view
fishing folk catching fish or snails. Thus, the area showcases the harmonious existence of humans and nature. These ecological geographical, and scenic characteristics contributed to the area becoming an
internationallv-recognized wetlands; it became a Ramsar site in 1998 and a potential site for the UNESCO
World Natural Heritage lists in 2011.Læs mere