Cheonjiyeon Waterfall

Not to be confused with Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls.

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (Korean: 천지연폭포) is a waterfall on Jeju Island, South Korea.^[1] It is 22 m (72 ft) high and 12 m (39 ft) wide.^[2][3] It is one of the main tourist attractions on Jeju,^[4][5] particularly when they are illuminated at night time.^[3] At night, the "Hidden Face," a formation of rocks, may be visible with the night lights.^[4][3]

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
The falls (2008)
Location	Jeju Province, South Korea
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
Hangul	천지연폭포
Hanja	天地淵瀑布
Revised Romanization	Cheonjiyeon Pokpo
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'ŏnjiyŏn P'okp'o

Description

Its name implies it is a meeting point between sky and land, as cheon means sky, and ji means land.^[1]

Though water always falls in one particular area, depending on the amount of recent rain, the water may spread out.^[4] At the bottom of the waterfall is an artificial pond that is 20 m (66 ft) deep.^[3] Two small dams help keep the water at a specific level.^[4]

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.^[4]

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][2][3] Migratory ducks,^[4] 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] Its pond is known for being a habitat of the marbled eel (Anguilla marmorata), which is mainly active at night.^[2] Known as the Mutae (무태) eel, it is classified in Korea as Natural Monument no. 27.^[1][3]

The falls illuminated at night (2007)

In order to reach the waterfall, visitors must walk on a landscaped trail.^[4] Near the beginning of the path is a traditional Korean raft (테우; teu).^[4] 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. 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]