Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats
Located in the eastern Yellow Sea off the southwestern and southern coasts of South Korea, the site consists of four components: Seocheon Tidal Flat, Gochang Tidal Flat, Sinan Tidal Flat, and Boseong-Suncheon Tidal Flat. The site exhibits complex geological, oceanographic, and climatic conditions that resulted in the formation of diverse sedimentary systems along the coast. Each component represents one of the four tidal flat subtypes (estuarine, open bay, archipelagic, and semi-enclosed). The site has a high degree of biodiversity, with 2,150 species of plants and animals reported, including 22 globally endangered or near-threatened species. It is home to 47 endemic and five endangered marine invertebrates, in addition to a total of 118 species of migratory birds, for which the site provides an important habitat. Endemic fauna include mud octopus (Octopus minor) and sediment feeders such as Japanese mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonica), fiddler crab (Uca lactea) and polychaetes (polychaetes), Stimpson's ghost crab (Ocypode stimpsoni), Yellow Sea sand snail (Umbonium thomasi), and various suspension feeders such as clams. The site demonstrates the connection between geodiversity and biodiversity, and demonstrates cultural diversity and the dependence of human activities on the natural environment.