Yeosu (beautiful Yeosu): Seward’s Sister City in South Korea
Posted on: November 3, 2009 | admin | Comments Off | Print Article | Rate Post:
(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)By: Ian M. Dutton, President & CEO, Alaska SeaLife Center
I just had the pleasure of spending two days in Yeosu, Seward’s sister city in South Korea. Yeosu is located on the south coast of Korea, about 45 mins flight south of Seoul – see http://www.yeosu.go.kr/en/. My visit coincided with a field trip by the evaluation committee of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club (http://www.world-bays.com/) who were evaluating the nomination by Yeosu to join the club.
Mr. Dutton with the Mayor of Yeosu, Mr. Oh Hyun-sup
Yeosu has 900 km of shoreline, 317 islands and is bordered on three sides by the sea so clearly has all the attributes to be Korea’s first designated beautiful bay!
I was joined for the final day of my visit by Dr Clarence Pautzke, Executive Director of the North Pacific Research Board. I was traveling with Dr Pautzke to Jeju for the annual North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) Conference and so it was convenient to stop by Yeosu en route.
Yeosu was founded in the 6th century and has some magnificent historical sites, including the ancient Hyangiram Buddhist temple and the famed Jinnamgwan Hall (the HQ for a famous naval battle in the 16th century). The natural heritage of Yeosu is equally remarkable – the city covers some 500km2 of which 62% is still under forest (and contains beautiful azalea and camellia forests).
Read more on the new Sealife Blog>
