Upo wetland is a complex of natural
wetlands located in
Changnyeong County,
South Korea, near the
Nakdong River. It is located in portions of Yueo-myeon, Ibang-myeon and Daehap-myeon. It derives its name from the largest of the wetlands, Upo. Other wetlands in the complex include Mokpo, Sajipo and Jjokjibeol wetlands. The complex as a whole covers 2.13
km², and is the largest inland wetland in South Korea today. It is one of eight
Ramsar wetlands in the country and one of the official visiting sites for that was held in Changwon, Korea in October, 2008.
Upo is home to numerous endangered, threatened and rare
species. Based on a 1997 survey, the wetland is believed to be home to a total of 342 endangered or threatened species: 168 species of
plants, 62 species of
birds, 55 species of
arthropods, 28 species of
fish, 12 species of
mammals, 7 species of
reptiles, 5 species of
amphibians, and 5 species of
molluscs.
The most famous rare plant found here is the
prickly lotus,
Asin euryale. A particularly noted bird species is the
Black-faced Spoonbill. Upo provides habitat to large numbers of
migrant birds, including other rare species such as the
White-naped Crane and
Taiga Bean Goose. A notable reptile species is the
Reeves turtle.
Most of Upo has been protected since 1997, and is now part of the Upo Ecological Park. However,
agricultural and
fishing activity still takes place on the wetland. A growing
eco-tourism sector has developed in the country, although many...
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