During the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, it is said that there were three major lakes in Gyeongsang Province alone, and to this day, traces of such lakes can be found in the Namhae coastal area. Such traces are particularly distinct in Uhangri, Haenam-gun. The Uhangri area had originally been a part of the sea, but this changed when the Damsuho Lake and surrounding area was formed by the building of the Geumho Tide Embankment. This lake has a sea cliff that is 3-4 meters high, stretches about 5km in length, and is made up of sedimentary rock formed during the Cretaceous age. Embedded in the rock around the lake are footprints of dinosaurs, pterosaurs and water birds that lived in this area tens of millions of years ago. There is no other place in the world where footprint fossils of all these different dinosaurs were found in a single area. The footprint fossil of a pterosaur discovered in this area is the largest in the world at a length of 20-35cm. Also, the footprint fossil of a bird with webbed feet showed that the bird lived in the Cretaceous period, which is at least around 20-30 million years earlier than the Eocene of the Cenozoic era discovered in the US.

Manyeonsa Temple is known to have been built in 1208, the fourth year of King Heejong’s (r. 1204-1211) reign during the Goryeo Dynasty. It is said that Manyeonsa Temple was constructed by Great Monk Manyeon after he dreamt of 16 nahans, Buddha’s disciples, preparing to build a temple to preserve Buddha’s statue when taking a short nap during his journey back to Songwangsa Temple in Jogyesan Mountain from Wonhyosa Temple in Mudeungsan Mountain. When he awoke from his nap, he noticed that snow had completely covered his nearby surroundings except for the exact spot where he lied down, which remained so warm that snow had melted and steam was rising from the ground. He then settled in the area by building a dugout where he continued to practice asceticism and later built Manyeonsa Temple. The temple was partially destroyed during the Korean War (1950) and restoration efforts were made in 1978.

Yeongwol Station finished its construction in June, 1955 with its titled roof a nod to the region where King Danjong was from. The station was selected as one of the most beautiful stations in Korea due to its antique ambience.

Jukgyegugok Valley is the valley stretching from Baejeom-ri to Choamsa Temple. Joseon-era Confucian scholar Toegye Yi Hwang (1501-1570) was inspired by the scenery of the valley and the enchanting sound of the flowing water, so he came up with names for each of the nine sections of the valley and collectively called them Jukgyegugok (nine bamboo valleys). The valley presents a splendid sight indeed with crystal clear waters, lush forest, and white rocks. In summer, vacationers from around the country flock to Jukgyegugok Valley to cool off from the sweltering heat by dipping their feet in the refreshing waters of the valley. Famous tourist attractions near the valley include Sosuseowon Confucian Academy, Buseoksa Temple, and Eupnaeri Mural Tomb. * Choamsa Temple On the path that ascends from Jukgyegugok Valley, there is a small temple located at the foot of Sobaeksan Mountain. The great monk Uisang Daesa of the Silla Kingdom reached this place during his search for an ideal site to build a Buddhist temple invoking national security. He set up a small thatched hut for a temporary stay until he found the most propitious spot, on which he built Buseoksa Temple. In the site where his thatched hut once stood, he built another temple and named it Choamsa Temple. The original structure was destroyed by fire during the Korean War (1950-1953). The temple has been restored to its present state by the Buddhist monk Lee Bo-won after years of arduous efforts.

Nestled in the East coast of Dolsando Island (돌산도), the tranquil waters on this resort have mild waves that lap up on the shiny golden sand along the beach. Nearby there is a thick pine grove where some of the trees are 200 years old. This area is blessed with plenty of fresh inland water despite it being on the coast. The myriad of rocks near the sea are great for fishing. The beach is a popular spot to watch the sunrise. It is also situated on the way to Hyangiram Hermitage, one of Korea’s four hermitages where Buddhist followers come to pray.

Situated at an altitude of 400 meters between Gamaksan Mountain and Seokgiam Peak, Myeongam Well-Being Town is nestled in the countryside and surrounded by mountains and streams. The town has eight hanok (traditional Korean architechture) pension lodgings made of stone and red clay, a jjimjilbang (Korean sauna), an Oriental medicine clinic, a medicinal herb garden, weekend rural market, sports field, barbeque area, karaoke machine, restaurant, benches by the stream, pavilion, hiking trails, and mountain bike paths. This family-oriented well-being resort also provides hanbang (herbal medicine) treatments, and a pine needle and sweat therapy. The Oriental medicine clinic (Hanbang Myeonguichon) was established by the city of Jecheon to offer treatments for visitors with atopy, geriatric diseases and chronic diseases.

Gangjin has many scenic landscapes with Wolchulsan Mountain to the north and the sea of Gugangpo dotted with numerous islets and wetlands to the south. It is also home to beautiful mountains, rivers, and plains that add to its scenic beauty and natural features. The Baengnyeonsa Temple and Dasan Chodang to the west of Gangjinman Bay, and the reeds along the coastline are a beautiful sight to behold. Also, the National Highway No. 23 that runs along the eastern border of the Gangjinman Bay, past the town of Gangjin-eup to Maryang, is famous for its many spectacular sights. Above all, it is highly recommended to hike up the Cheonilgak Pavilion in front of the Dasan Chodong Dongam (east hermitage) for a panoramic view of Gugangpo’s coastal waters. The hiking trail that traverses Mandeoksan Mountain leads to Baengnyeonsa, which is a temple with breathtaking ocean view.