Gosam Lake
By Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporter
The view of Gosam Lake unfolds like an oriental painting. A flock of ducks paddles by, leaving behind ripples that seep into the still waters like ink strokes bleeding onto a paper canvas. The morning mist announces the coming of the day and an almost mystical sight meets the eye.
Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, is home to over 60 lakes, including reservoirs that were crucial to farming during the Three Kingdoms Period (1 B.C.to the 7th Century A.D.) and through the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).
Gosam Lake is one of the reservoirs, which was completed in 1963. Spanning over 840,000 pyeong, it is wide enough to be called an inland sea. It even has three small uninhabited islets that protrude in the center: 8-sided Palja Island, round Dongeuram Island and Biseok Island, which got its name from a legendary dragon that set up the ``biseok,'' or stone slab.
Small floating lake houses can also be spotted on the lake. Many come to enjoy fishing while taking in the breathtaking scenery at anytime of the week. The pure water and abundant waterweed cater to large schools of goldfish, carp and various freshwater fish.
The lake is also famous as the backdrop of ``The Island'' by critically acclaimed filmmaker Kim Ki-duk, making it a favorite destination among tourists and photographers.
The looping highway around Gosam Lake also provides for a delightful drive.
For more information visit https://tour.anseong.go.kr (Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese) or call (031)-677-1330.
