Ahobiryong Mountains
The Ahobiryong Mountains is a mountain range stretching from north to south in central North Korea. The range straddles the border between North Hwanghae and Kangwon provinces. The most famous part of the range is located near Kaesong, the ancient capital of the Koryo dynasty, located in North Hwanghaew; because of its natural beauty, it is sometimes called the "Kumgangsan" of Kaesong.
| Ahobiryong Mountains | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 아호비령산맥 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 阿虎飛嶺山脈 |
| Revised Romanization | Ahobiryeong-sanmaek |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ahobiryŏng-sanmaek |
| Ahobiryong Mountains | |
|---|---|
| Naming | |
| Etymology | Tiger Leaping Peak |
| Geography | |
| Country | North Korea |
| Provinces | North Hwanghae and Kangwon |
Etymology
The name "Ahobiryong" means "Tiger Leaping Peak" in Korean.
Historical and tourism significance
This region a tourist attraction, and the valley between Mts. Chonma (天摩山) and Songgo (聖居山) is home to the Pakyon Falls, one of the three famous falls of Korea, as well as the Koryo-era Taehungsan Fortress, which in turn encompasses two ancient Buddhist temples (Kwanumsa and Taehungsa. The Ryongtongsa Buddhist temple, which was the origin place of the Chontae sect, is also located in the mountains at the foot of Mt. Ogwan (五關山). It was once a place of pilgrimage, as it contained the ashes of Uichon, founder of the Chontae sect, but burned down in the 17th century. It was reconstructed between 2001–05 as an inter-Korean project.