Mount Myohyang

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Myohyang

| photo = Mounts Myohyang from the Pohyon Temple.jpg

| photo_caption = Myohyang as seen from Pohyon temple

| elevation_m = 1909

| elevation_ref = https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=10739

| prominence_m = 1151

| listing = Ribu

| prominence_ref =

| coordinates = {{coord|40.018611|N|126.333056|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| label_position = left

| location = North Pyongan Province, North Korea

| module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto

| hangul=^묘향산

| hanja=妙香山

| lk = mysterious fragrant mountain

| child = yes

}}

Mount Myohyang{{Cite web|url=http://portal.unesco.org/es/ev.php-URL_ID=45548&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html|title=Mount Myohyang 5|website=portal.unesco.org|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=2019-05-18}} ({{Korean|hangul=묘향산|lit=mysterious fragrant mountain}}) is a mountain in North Korea. It is named for the mystic shapes and fragrances found in the area. In the foundation myth of Gojoseon, the Samguk sagi listed Mount Myohyang as the home of King Tangun, forefather of the Korean people, however, it is now believed that the myth originally meant Paektu Mountain.{{cite web |last1=David A. |first1=Mason |title=The Background and Contemporary Spiritual-Nationalist Significance of Mt. Baekdu-san and the Baekdu-daegan Range, in All of Korea |url=http://seed.upol.cz/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/lecture-essay-david-mason.pdf. |access-date=30 December 2024}}

Tourism

Myohyang is a North Korean tourist attraction and visited by many national tourists. There are several hiking routes on the mountain. Apart from the view, tourists are attracted by the Pohyon temple, built in the 11th century, the Sangwon hermitage, the Kumgang hermitage, and the Habiro hermitage. The Ryongmun cavern is open to the public.

At Myohyang-san is the International Friendship Exhibition centre, dubbed the world's biggest treasure-house. On exhibit are presents received by North Korean leaders over the years.{{cite web | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/11729207/Train-tour-to-reveal-North-Koreas-undiscovered-cities.html | title = Train tour to reveal North Korea's 'undiscovered cities' | author = Soo Kim | date = 9 July 2015 | publisher = The Telegraph | access-date = 11 November 2015 }} One building stores the presents given to Kim Il Sung, while a smaller one holds those given to his son Kim Jong Il.

The Hyangsan Hotel caters to luxury visitors, while the Chongchon Hotel is second-class.

Environment

Much of the mountain is covered by mixed broadleaf and coniferous forest and protected in a {{convert|16000|ha|sqmi}} national park. Some {{convert|7000|ha|sqmi}} has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA).{{cite web |url= http://www.birdlife.org |title= Mount Myohyang|accessdate=12 May 2013 |work= Important Bird Areas factsheet |first= |last= |publisher= BirdLife International |year= 2013}}

=World Biosphere Reserve=

In 2009 UNESCO designated Mount Myohyang a world biosphere reserve, citing its cultural significance as well as the spectacular cliffs providing habitat for 30 endemic plant species, 16 plant species that are threatened globally and 12 endangered animal species.{{cite web|last=Revkin |first=Andrew C. |url=http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/un-names-22-new-biosphere-reserves/?hp |title=The New York Times |publisher=Dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com |date=2009-05-26 |accessdate=2012-12-21}}

References

External links

[http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/book/new_window.php?10+10094 Ryongmun Cavern picture album] at Naenara
[http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/book/new_window.php?10+10133 Hyangsan Hotel picture album] at Naenara
[http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/book/new_window.php?10+10104 Another picture album] at Naenara

Category:Mountains of North Korea

Category:Biosphere reserves of North Korea

Category:Important Bird Areas of North Korea

Category:Sacred mountains of North Korea