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Nature of Dokdo
In November 1982, the Cultural Heritage Administration designated
Dokdo as Natural Monument No. 336. In 1999, Dokdo became
“Environmentally Protected Area”In September 2000, Dokdo became a
“Special Island”by a Special Act from the Ministry of Environment.
Such efforts were made to protect the natural environment and
ecological system of Dokdo.
Dokdo consists of volcanic rocks and does not provide a good
environment for vegetation. Because the slope of the island is
steep, the island does not retain rainwater well and the soil tends
to be dry. Despite its harsh environment, about 50 to 60 types of
plants are found on the island. Most of the island's plants are
Poaceae plants, such as purple eulalias and small reeds. The
island's aceous plants include dandelions, creeping woodsorrels
(Oxalis corniculata), foxtails, plantains, Tetragonia tetragonoides
O. Kuntze, and Aster spathulifolius Maxim. Trees naturally growing
on Dokdo include Pinus thunbergii, raspberry, and camellia.
Dokdo functions as a stopover habitat for birds that cross the East
Sea. Twenty-two types of birds can be observed on Dokdo, such as
the fork-tailed petrel, streaked shearwater, Larus crassirostris,
kestrel, osprey, dusky thrush, glaucous gull, and redstart. Dokdo
was designated Natural Monument No. 336, as a breeding place for
seabirds like the fork-tailed petrel, streaked shearwater, and
Larus crassirostris.
Since Dokdo is located south of the polar front, it is influenced
by warm currents most of the year. Warm and cold currents meet
there, making the Dokdo area a rish fishing ground where diverse
fish species coexist. The rocks of Dokdo are home to many types of
seaweed, such as brown seaweed, kelp and green laver. The most
abundant marine life includes cuttlefish, saury, Seriola
quinqueradiata Temminck et Schegel, globefish, gizzard shad, and
flatfish. Shellfish such as abalone, conch, and sea mussels inhabit
the island along with sea slugs, shrimp, and red snow
crabs. |