Baekdu-daegan
Baekdu-daegan is a traditional Korean conception of the mountains and consequently the watersheds of the Korean peninsula. The mountain range stretches the length of the Korean peninsula, around 1500 km, from Baekdu Mountain in the north to Jirisan or Hallasan on Jeju Island in the south. The mountain range is often associated with national identity and traditional Korean shamanism.
Baekdu-daegan | |
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The summit caldera of Paektu Mountain, the tallest mountain of Baekdu-daegan (2012) | |
Highest point | |
Peak | Paektu Mountain |
Coordinates | 41°59′36″N 128°04′39″E |
Dimensions | |
Length | 1,500 km (930 mi) |
Geography | |
Countries |
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Korean name | |
Hangul | 백두대간 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Baekdu-daegan |
McCune–Reischauer | Paektu-taegan |
Baekdu-daegan is considered to include the Sobaek and Taebaek mountain ranges. Although currently impossible due to the Korean Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, hiking the length of the mountains is considered a desirable goal aligned with the Korean reunification movement. The 687 km South Korean portion of the range is popular for hiking.
It is often referred to as the "spine" or "backbone" of the Korean Peninsula.