AN OROGRAPHIC SKETCH OF KOREA [5 



cast, the No-ryöng nms with its steep side towards the north-wesl till 

 ii reaches the Chhyu-phung-nyong 15 passai the boundary of three pro- 

 vinces, where the projected Fusan-Seoul Railway will «toss the 

 highest poinl of the Line (only 200 meters !). In lCyong-syang Do, 

 ir is cut down to the easl by the Syo-Päik-san 2J whose tilted edge runs 

 obliquely to the No-ryöng from NT.N.E. to S.S.W., culminating ai the 

 Chi-ri-san massive on the south, and terminating near the shore of 

 Kansr-neunff 3) in southern Kang-uön Do. This Syo-Päik-san is one 

 of the most important topographic elements in South Korea, separat- 

 ing 1 Kyonff-syane Do on one hand from Chhyunff-cKhvonff Do and 

 Chyöl-la Do on the other. 



The old No-ryöng fold, after being submerged under the Kyöng- 

 syang 4J formation, and further invaded by a gigantic laccolite of 

 granite, reappears at Ul-chm 5) in the south corner of Kang-uön Do, 

 still keeping its former strike-direction. This granitic area usually 

 called the Thai-Paik-san 6) region embraces about 4,000 square kilome- 

 ters. It is a tree-less tract, and the biotite-granite of the post-Permo- 

 Triassic age is fast falling into ruins and disintegration through the 

 action of the atmospheric agencies so as to be almost base-levelled into 

 peneplain. The entire aspect of the country is dreary and desert-like. 

 It is labyrinthic with rolling naked hills, and flat valley-bottoms are 

 drowned in loose sand. The ground is dry and clean. ft is the 

 Seoul region of the south. Though we were here in the heart of 

 Kyöng-syang Do, my barometer showed an altitude of but 150 meters, 

 and a little to the west only 60. From Mun-gyong 7 ' to the mouth of 

 the Nak-tong it is 200 kilometers with a gradient of only 60 meters. 

 The region is, therefore, a depression by denudation. We shall see 



l) fcm.&- -I 'hÛOr 3) ïIK 



4) It is possibly of the Permo-Triassic age. 5) '$t& 

 6) *fâUl 7l 



