Primary SOURCES for these listings:
1. The actual hiking of these ranges in South Korea by Roger
Shepherd and Andrew Douch
2. Namhan San-gyeong-do map published in 2009 published by
Wolgan SAN magazine, Seoul
3. 1 Baekdu-daegan, 13 Jeongmaek book of maps published by
Saram-gwa-San magazine, Seoul
4. Shiljeon Baekdudaegan Jongju Sanhaeng, a book by Bang
Sang-hoon, published by Choson-ilbo-sa (the Seoul newspaper
company) in 1997
5. Daehan-minguk 2005 Map of the Korean Peninsula, published
by Jungang Atlas, Seoul
6. Doro-jido Choishinpan Jido-daesajeon, a book of 1:100,000
maps of South Korea, 2005 edition by Seongji Munhwasa
Publishers, Seoul.
7. Yeongjin 5-man Jido, a book of 1:50,000 maps of South Korea,
2006 edition by Yeongjin Munhwasa Publishers, Seoul.
These sources each contain differing information, and contradict each
other in various ways, including the names, heights and exact locations
of some peaks. I have done my best to combine and reconcile those
differences, to make it make sense, in many hours of consideration of
multiple sources.
In particular, some peaks are named "-bong" [peak] on some maps and
"-san" [mountain] on others; there is also the suffix "-dae" [platform, with
a Buddhist meaning] used for a few peaks. There doesn't seem to be any
consistent rule for which of those suffixes gets used (neither altitude nor
distance from other peaks seems to have much to do with it), and there
seems to be no consistent system for grouping peaks together as one
overall "-san"; these seems to be only matters of common usage. When
in doubt, I have used "-san".
The mountain-ranges located in what is now North Korea pose particular
problems, as their names, precise locations and altitudes differ on the
various sources available -- we just don't yet have very exact and reliable
information.
The Republic of Korea's new Romanization system has been used
throughout, even for the North Korean mountains, in order to match with
contemporary South Korean maps and websites, and in the interest of
consistent accuracy. I would welcome any corrections or suggestions
for improvement for these listings.
The 15 Currently-Most Sacred
Mountains on these 13 Branches:
(mostly in South Korea, due to our lack of info
about the North, especially modern conditions)
|
name
|
branch
#
|
location
|
highest
peak
|
Myohyang-san
|
3
|
Pyeongan-namdo
Province
|
1909m
|
Songak-san
|
5
|
Gaeseong City
|
488m
|
Surak-san
|
6
|
NE Seoul
|
638m
|
Dobong-san
Seonin-bong
|
6
|
North Seoul
|
740m
|
Ilwol-san
|
7
|
N. Gyeongsang
|
1219m
|
Juwang-san
|
7
|
N. Gyeongsang
|
721m
|
Danseok-san
|
7
|
N. Gyeongsang
|
827m
|
Gaji-san
|
7
|
S. Gyeongsang
|
1240m
|
Yeongchuk-san
|
7
|
S. Gyeongsang
|
1081m
|
Geumjeong-san
|
7
|
Busan City
|
802m
|
Ma-i-san
|
11
|
North Jeolla
|
618m
|
Gyeryong-san
|
11
|
W of Daejeon City
|
878m
|
Mudeung-san
|
12
|
E of Gwangju City
|
1187m
|
Baekun-san
|
12
|
S of Jiri-san
|
1218m
|
Jiri-san
Samshin-bong
|
13
|
Hadong County
|
1284m
|
|
Jangbaek-jeonggan
Branch-Range #1
of the Baekdu-daegan Mountain-System of Korea
|
The Jangbaek-jeonggan Range begins at Seolleong-bong Peak of
Godu-san, in far-northern North Korea, heading northeast through:
Mantap-san 2206m
Gwaesang-bong 2136m
Gwisang-bong 2333m
Tugu-bong 2335m
Gwonmo-san 2541m
Dojeong-san 2201m
Jayu-san 1669m
Songjin-san 1164m
ending at "Seosura" north of Najin City
Note: this branch has the different designation-title -jeong-gan
(instead of -jeongmaek) because it does not channel a major river
from the Baekdu-daegan entirely inside of Korea down to the ocean,
as all the others do; it is the southern range guiding the Duman-
gang [Tumen River] which originates at Baekdu-san and forms the
northeastern border of Korea with China (and Russia for 10 miles).