By Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporter

Where can we escape this sizzling hot weather? The beach? The mountains? Or air-conditioned indoors? How about a cave, where the temperature dips more than 20 degrees once you step inside of it?

There are many caves located throughout the country. On Jeju Island alone, more than 120 lava caves exist. Among them, the array of caves at Geomun Oreum (parasitic volcano) are some of the best in the world.

The lava that flowed from Geomun Oreum created 13 kilometers of lava tubes - the Manjanggul, Bangdwi, Gimyeong, Yongcheon and Dangcheomul lava tubes. Among these only Manjanggul is open to the public, and only partially too.

About 8 kilometers long, the tube retains a yearly average temperature ranging from 15 to 18 degrees Celsius and 87 to 100 percent humidity. In 1962, it was designated as natural monument No. 98. Inside, the tracks where the lava flowed(200,000 to 300,000 years ago) can still be seen.

One can also see geomorphological features such as the world’s largest, 7.8-meter high, lava column. Other features exist inside but the public can only view up to the column. One can also spot rare red owls in the cave. The red owl is also listed on the International Union of Conservation of Nature’s 2007 Red List of Threatened Species.

Originally Posted by Kiera79 Cool, I wanna go. Nice pics even in the dark. I have to travel Korea at least once in my life. Can't wait!