White-Headed Mountain - Perpetually White Mountain

Koreans called it Baekdu-san, meaning "white-headed mountain". The Chinese named it Changbai Shan and in Manchu, Golmin Šanggiyan Alin, which means "perpetually white mountain". Baekdu Mountain is a volcanic mountain on the border between China and North Korea. It is the highest mountain of the Changbai mountain range to the north and Baekdudaegan mountain range to the south.


Located within the caldera atop the mountain is a large crater lake called Heaven Lake. Baekdu mountain is a stratovolcano about 5km wide and 850m deep. The lake has a circumference of 12 to 14 kilometres, with an average depth of 213 m and maximum depth of 384 m. From mid-October to mid-June, the lake is typically covered with ice. Its highest peak is called Janggan Peak, covered with snow about eight months of the year. Its slop is relatively gentle until about 1,800 metres.


The weather on the mountain can be very erratic. The annual average temperature at the peak is about -8.3 degrees Celsius. During summer, temperatures of about 18 degrees Celsius can be reached, and during winter temperatures can drop to -48 degrees Celsius. Average temperature is -24 degrees Celsius in January, 10 degrees Celsius in July, remaining below freezing for eight months of the year. Average wind speed is 11.7 meters per second, reaching an average of 17.6 m/s in December. Relative humidity averages 74%. In recent decades, there has been significant climate warming on the mountain. Summer snow cover on the peak has reduced dramatically during that time.

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Baekdu Mountain