Guryongso Pothole (Gyeongbuk East Coast National Geopark)

Guryongso is a pond-like terrain located on the coast of Daedongbae-ri, Homigot-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The name Guryongso originates from a legend that nine dragons once lived here and ascended to heaven. The ponds where the nine dragons are said to have lived remain throughout the Guryongso area, and these are actually marine potholes (coastal potholes). Marine potholes are dish-shaped structures carved into conglomerate rock by the movement of gravel along waves, and when seawater fills them, they appear like ponds.<br /><br />Some marine potholes here are open and connected to the sea, so seawater can often be seen spouting up through the potholes onto the land, reminiscent of the dragon's breath in the Guryongso legend. Additionally, at Guryongso, you can observe wave-cut platforms created by waves eroding the land, and tafoni. When stone fragments embedded in the conglomerate rock fall out, leaving holes, salt crystals enter these holes and erode the surrounding rock, creating larger holes. These large holes gather to form a honeycomb-like terrain called tafoni.<br /><br />* Marine pothole (coastal pothole): A hollow terrain formed by gravel moved by seawater<br />* Conglomerate rock: Rock formed by the accumulation of stones and lava of various sizes and shapes erupted from a volcano