Baengnokdam, Mt. Halla

Baengnokdam is a crater lake at the summit of Mt. Halla, rising at the center of Jeju.

It forms an oval crater roughly 400m north-south and 600m east-west, with a 1,720m perimeter, sitting at 1,841.7m elevation and 108m deep. As the highest summit crater lake in South Korea, it has escaped significant erosion, preserving remarkably well the original form of a shield volcano — one with the gentle slopes of an overturned shield.

Several trails lead to the summit, each differing in distance and difficulty, and many require advance reservations, so it's worth checking ahead. Depending on rainfall and season, the crater may appear full of water or completely dry. Reaching South Korea's highest peak and standing before this crater lake is, for many, one of the most rewarding moments of a trip to Jeju.