Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is a waterfall on Jeju Island, South Korea.[1] Literally, the name Cheonjiyeon means sky (Ch'eon) connected with land (ji).[1] It is one of the main tourist attractions on Jeju-do.[2][3] It is 22 m (72 ft) high and 12 m (39 ft) wide.[4][5] Though water always falls in one particular area, depending on the amount of recent rain, the water may spread out.[2] At the bottom of the waterfall is an artificial pond that is 20 m (66 ft) deep.[5] Two small dams help keep the water at a specific level.[2] Large volcanic rocks form landbridges that allow tourists to pose for photographs in front of the falls.[6] These falls are characterized by its trachyte andesite rocks.[7] The source of Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is a spring that comes out of the floor of the Somban Stream.[8] The stream Yeonhee-chun is the source of the waterfall.[9] The waterfall is one of the three famous waterfalls of Jeju, the other two being Cheonjeyeon Waterfall and Jeongbang Waterfall.[2]

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
Location of Cheonjiyeon on the map
Location	Korea, Jeju Province
Coordinates	33°14′49.0″N 126°33′15.9″E
Total height	22 m (72 ft)
Number of drops	1
Total width	12 m (39 ft)

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
Cheonjiyeon Waterfall at Night
Korean name
Hangul	천지연폭포
Hanja	天地淵瀑布
Revised Romanization	Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'ŏnjiyŏn Waterfall

In order to reach the waterfall, visitors must walk on a landscaped trail.[2] Near the beginning of the path is a traditional Korean raft called t'e-u (테우), symbolizing Korean culture.[2] It is the most popular at night, because the falls are illuminated.[5] At night, the "Hidden Face," a formation of rocks, may be visible with the night lights, and the falls are popular for lovers.[2][5] The Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is also known for its diverse plant and animal life, as the path to the waterfall goes through a garden of subtropical plants.[1][4][5] Migratory ducks,[2] Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus (Natural Monument no. 163), Psilotum nudum, and Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii, Xylosma congesta, and Camellia are some examples of the flora and fauna around the falls.[10] Just before reaching the falls on the path, one must cross a bridge from which a wide variety of koi fish can be seen below.[6] Along the way are three piles of stacked or balanced rocks that are a common sight throughout the whole of South Korea. In olden days, a person would place a small stone under a larger stone and pray for the health and prosperity of their family.[6] Its pond is known for being a habitat of the marbled eel (Anguilla marmorata), which is mainly active at night.[4] Known as the Mutae (무태) eel, it is classified in Korea as Natural Monument no. 27.[1][5]

See also

• Jeju-do

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cheonjiyeon Waterfall.

• Cheonjiyeon Waterfall Tourist Information
• Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
• Map of Cheonjiyeon Waterfall's location