Manjanggul Lava Tubes, Jeju

Site details

It is one of the world’s largest lava tubes located in Jeju. Manjanggul, which has been called 'Manjaengi-geomeori-gul' in Jeju dialect, meaning 'very deep cave,' is estimated to have formed 100,000 to 300,000 years ago. However, it was not until 1958 that it was discovered and introduced to the world by Bu Jong-hyu, a teacher at Gimnyeong Elementary School at the time. With a total length of approximately 7.4 km, a main passage width of 18 meters, and a height of 23 meters, Manjanggul has three entrances formed by the collapse of the ceiling in the middle section. Currently, the second entrance is the only one accessible to the public, and only 1 km of the cave is open for exploration. Inside, the cave features lava stalactites, lava stalagmites, lava flowlines, and lava benches, with a 7.6-meter-high lava column being one of the most spectacular features. The lava column, formed by molten lava dripping from the ceiling and meeting with solidified lava on the floor, is considered the largest of its kind in the world. Manjanggul is also a significant bat habitat, hosting thousands of Jeju Leaf-nosed bats and Long-fingered bats, although the chances of encountering them in the accessible area are slim.