Mt Kumgang, 1 639 metres above sea level, is among the DPRK’s celebrated mountains. A compound of natural beauties of all descriptions, the mountain boasts a wide variety of animal and plant species.
Registered as a world biosphere reserve in 2018, the mountain is home to more than 1 800 species of vascular plants, 40 species of mammals, 170 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles and amphibious animals, 20 species of freshwater fishes and 400 species of insects. These animals and plants are of polar, subarctic and subtropical origin, but most of them are of temperate origin.
According to the heights above sea level, it is divided largely into swampy grassland, pine simple forest, mixed forest of needle- and broad-leaved tree grove at the low level, broad-leaved tree grove at the halfway level, subalpine needle- and broad-leaved tree grove, and subalpine shrub grove.
The swampy grassland is inhabited by plants including pine, sweet brier, Smilax china , sea bells and reels, birds including pelagic shag, swan, Larus ridibundus , Egretta intermedia , and stork, reptiles and amphibious animals such as Korean terrapin, Bufostejnegeri Schmidt and Eremias argus , tilapia and other fresh-water fishes and marine animals.
As you go up, an increasing number of broad-leaved trees are distributed, and the pine tree grove at the lower level changes into broad-leaved tree grove.
The mountain is also covered with glacial relics including Lycopodium obscurum and Rhododendron fauriei , medicinal plants such as figwort, Maackia amurensis , Oenothera lamarckiana and Sorbus commixta , and maple and bamboo trees, as well as Pentactina rupicola , Keumkangsania asiatica and other endemic and unique species.
Bear, roe deer, raccoon dog, Sorex caecutiens , great tit, black woodpecker and other animals live in the mountain.
Besides, various species of marine plants and animals including laver, Undaria pinnatifida , shellfish, sea urchin, trepang, octopus and brown sole inhabit the clear and deep water of Sea Kumgang.
The mountain is also of great academic significance in studying the ecological and biological evolution followed by the glacial period.
Mt Kumgang was placed on the world cultural and natural heritage list in the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO held in July in Paris, France, for its rich biodiversity featured by the peculiar physiographic and climatic conditions.
O Chol Su, PhD, Asso. Professor and section chief of the Life Science Faculty of Kim Il Sung University
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