page_title: Changnyeong County
section_title: Tourism
hierarchical_section_title: Changnyeong County / Tourism
caption_attribution_description: English: Upo Wetland (Yueo-myeon, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do) 한국어: 우포늪 (경상남도 창녕군 유어면)
context_page_description: Changnyeong County is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
  In the early Three Kingdoms period, Changnyeong was the seat of Bihwa Gaya, a member of the Gaya confederacy which was later conquered by Silla.
  The Nakdong River flows through the county. The Upo wetland, an important ecological resource and tourist attraction, occupies a portion of the river basin.
  The county government is located in Changnyeong Town, the largest town and center of the county.
  Famous people from Changnyeong include North Korean actress Song Hye-rim and the former mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon.
context_section_description: Upo wetland (우포 늪)
  Upo wetland in Changnyeong county is the largest wetlands in all of Korea. These wetlands are estimated to be created about 140 million years ago. It spreads out over Changnyeong county's Yueo, Ibang, Daehap, Daeji and other townships, covering over 2,310,000㎡, with a circumference area of 7.5 km. There are over 340 species of endangered plants such as the Euryale ferox, as well as 62 wild birds, and 28 fish located within the swamp.
  Upo wetland was designated as a natural monument during the time of Japanese occupation in 1933. As soon as the Cultural Properties Protection Law was enacted on December 3, 1962, the wetland was designated as Cultural property 15 under the name of Changnyeong Swan habitat. However, on July 19, 1973 it was found that migratory bird numbers had decreased and therefore its status as a natural monument was cancelled. After another evaluation done on January 13, 2001 in order to determine the geographical scenic value of the biology living there, it was determined that the wetlands be considered natural preserve area number 524.
  Bugok Hot Springs (부곡온천)
  In 1973 a hot springs resort was developed in Keomun village in the Bugok township (부곡면 거문리). Bugok In that year, after the natural hot springs was discovered under scenic Deokam Mountain (덕암산). The 48 geothermal wells that were discovered produce in one day an abundance of over 3,000 tons of hot springs well water. In 1977년 Bugok was determined to be a national tourist attraction with high quality hotels, recreational facilities, parks and forestation. One of the most famous hotel and spa is Bugok Hawaii, a resort style facility with a water and amusement park as well as a large hotel.
  Bugok Hawaii (부곡하와이)
  Mount Hwawang (화왕산)
caption: View overlooking the Upo wetlands
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