The DuWoong wetland is a coastal sand dune in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. The DuWoong wetland is located in the south of the Sinduri coastal sand dune at Sinduri beach, Wonbukmeon, Taean, South Chungcheong Do. Its coastal length is 3.4 km and its width is 500 m, which is relatively wide. The Sinduri coastal sand dune was formed by sands carried to the coast many years ago.

Characteristics

The DuWoong wetland is a typical sand dune wetland. The term "sand dune wetland" denotes wetlands formed by sand dunes, but the DuWoong wetland is the only one which has the form of a lake with water. Unlike other wetlands, the DuWoong wetland's base is formed with sand, and it does not allow sea water to penetrate even though it is located at the seashore. This distinction results from underground water which forms a large fresh water lake that prevents sea water from penetrating through to the coastal sand dune.

Importance to people

Although sand dunes may be considered useless land, in fact the region acts as a bridge connecting coastal ecology and inland ecology. It also protects the coastline and farmland from hurricanes and

storm surge A storm surge, storm flood, tidal surge, or storm tide is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones. It is measured as the rise in water level above the n ...

s. People feel relaxed while watching the sand dunes. At sunset, seagulls flying over the sand dunes give mental comfort to visitors, and the location is recognized as one of the eight most beautiful scenic spots in Teaan. The DuWoong wetland is designated a

National Treasure of South Korea A National Treasure () is a tangible treasure, artifact, site, or building which is recognized by the South Korean government as having exceptional artistic, cultural and historical value to the country. The title is one of the eight State-designa ...

by the

Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea The Cultural Heritage Administration () or CHA, formerly the Cultural Properties Administration, is the agency of the South Korean government charged with preserving and promoting Korean cultural heritage. It is headquartered in the city of Dae ...

and also as an Ecosystem Preserved Area by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. In 2002, the

Ministry of Environment An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment ...

designated DuWoong wetland as a "Wetland Protection Area". In December 2007, the DuWoong wetland was designated a Ramsar wetland.

Organisms in DuWoong wetland

Animals * Korean Golden Frog (''Rana Plancyi chosen'') * Narrow-mouthed frog (''Kaloula borealis'') * Chinese sparrow hawk (''Accipiter soloenisis'') *

Little Cuckoo The little cuckoo (''Coccycua minuta'') is a species of bird in the cuckoo family (Cuculidae) from South America and Panama. It was formerly placed in the genus ''Piaya'', but was moved to the reinstated genus ''Coccycua'' following the discovery ...

(''Cuculus poliocephalus'') *

Broad-billed roller The broad-billed roller (''Eurystomus glaucurus'') is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across tropical Africa and Madagascar in all but the driest regions. It is a wet season breeder, which migrates from the northern and south ...

(''Eurystomus orientalis'') * Skylark (''Alauda arvensi'') Insects * Garden Cicindelidae (''Cicindela transbaicalica'') *

Ant lion The antlions are a group of about 2,000 species of insect in the neuropteran family Myrmeleontidae. They are known for the predatory habits of their larvae, which mostly dig pits to trap passing ants or other prey. In North America, the larvae ...

(''Myrmeleontidae'') Plants *

Hornwort Hornworts are a group of non-vascular Embryophytes (land plants) constituting the division Anthocerotophyta (). The common name refers to the elongated horn-like structure, which is the sporophyte. As in mosses and liverworts, hornworts have a ...

(''Ceratophyllum demersum'') *

Water lily Water lily or water lilies may refer to: Plants * Members of family Nymphaeaceae * Formerly, members of the genus ''Nelumbo'' (the genus to which lotus belongs) * Some members of the genus ''Nymphoides'' Other uses * ''Water Lilies'' (Monet ...

(''Nymphaea teragona'') *

Wild rice Wild rice, also called manoomin, Canada rice, Indian rice, or water oats, is any of four species of grasses that form the genus ''Zizania'', and the grain that can be harvested from them. The grain was historically gathered and eaten in both ...

(''Zizania latitolia'') * Reed (''Phragmites communis'') * Sedge (family ''

Cyperaceae The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus ''Carex'' w ...

'') * Seashore false bindweed (''

Calystegia soldanella The morning glory ''Calystegia soldanella'' (syn. ''Convolvulus soldanella'') is a species of bindweed known by various common names such as sea bindweed, seashore false bindweed, shore bindweed, shore convolvulus and beach morning glory. Descri ...

'') * Dune wild rye (''Elymus mollis'') {{coord missing, South Korea Landforms of South Chungcheong Province Landforms of South Korea Taean County Wetlands of South Korea Dunes of Asia