tourism

Laccolith in Janggun Peak

Laccolith in Janggun Peak is at the southeast of the crater of Lake Chon on Mt Paektu.

Janggun Peak Volcano was formed as a result of the several alternations of explosive and effusive eruptions. The lavas that flowed at that time mainly consisted of trachydacite.

As the volcanic body sank, Janggun Peak collapsed on the side of Lake Chon to form a steep cliff with a gradient of about 85°.

At this cliff, the laccolith is distinct. A highly viscous rhyolitic magma failed to intrude into the roof rock while ascending through a nearly perpendicular fracture and flowed between the strata, which were formed as the magma pushed up the roof rock, before solidifying into the shape of a mushroom at the 5th stage of Mt Paektu volcanic eruption.

When seen from Lake Chon, this mass of rock looks like a mushroom. The stem of the “mushroom” is 5-7 metres in diameter, its cap is 50-55 metres wide and the laccolith is 34 metres high at the maximum.

Laccolith in Janggun Peak is of great academic value as it is a geosite vividly showing the phenomenon of the pouring between strata of the magma that ascended through a vent.

Ryongma Rock

Ryongma Rock is located in Paektusanmilyong-dong in the city of Samjiyon.

Situated in the north of Ryongma Peak, the rock was formed as a volcanic body made up of trachytic lavas was cut by faulting.

The trachydacite contains 30-40 percent sanidine phenocryst which is 4×5mm in size.

The rock stands beside Janggom Rock at the entrance to Chairman Kim Jong Il’s birthplace in the Paektusan Secret Camp.

It is of great academic value in research into the formation of fantastic rock geosites that developed around Jong Il Peak and the features of faulting.

Chongun Rock

Chongun Rock is located about 6km upstream along the Amnok River from where the Sobaek Stream joins the Amnok. In the southwest of Mt Kom, the rock forms the eastern wall of the Amnok River gorge and unfolds wonderful rocky cliffs extending for some kilometres.

It was formed by river water erosion of ignimbrites, an accumulation of pyroclasts which erupted at the last stage of Mt Paektu formation.

The cliffs are dozens of metres high and 20-30 metres wide on average.

Chongun Rock shows unique geological and geomorphological phenomena of Mt Paektu volcano and adds natural beauty to the Amnok River gorge as it forms a chain of sharp-edged rock peaks and steep cliffs.