Paljoryeong is a mountain pass

Mountain pass

A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...

 in southeastern South Korea

South Korea

The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

, lying between the peaks of Bonghwasan and Sangwonsan

Sangwonsan

Sangwonsan is a mountain in the county of Jeongseon, Gangwon-do in South Korea. It has an elevation of ....

, which are both slightly over 660 meters high. The pass itself is slightly less than 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) above sea level. It lies on the border of modern-day Daegu

Daegu

Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...

 metropolitan city and Cheongdo, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Gyeongsangbuk-do

Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...

 province. At one time it was the major overland route between Daegu and the region to its south. The north side of the pass is in Daegu, in Gachang-myeon

Gachang-myeon

Gachang-myeon is a myeon, or township in rural southeastern Daegu, South Korea. Part of Dalseong County, it is separated from the urban center of Daegu by the ridgelines of Yongjibong and Apsan. These two mountains are separated by the narrow valley of the Sincheon, a tributary of the Nakdong...

, Dalseong-gun

Dalseong-gun

Dalseong-gun or Dalseong County is a gun occupying much of south and western Daegu, South Korea. A largely rural district lying along the Nakdong River, it makes up nearly half of Daegu's total area...

. The south side is in Cheongdo's Iseo-myeon

Iseo-myeon

Iseo-myeon can refer to three different myeon in South Korea:*Iseo-myeon, Cheongdo, in Cheongdo County, Gyeongsangbuk-do*Iseo-myeon, Wanju, in Wanju County, Jeollabuk-do*Iseo-myeon, Hwasun, in Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do...

.

During the later Joseon Dynasty

Joseon Dynasty

Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...

, the Great Yeongnam Road

Great Yeongnam Road

The Great Yeongnam Road, or Yeongnamdaero, was one of the principal roads of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910. It ran between Hanseong and Dongnae . More generally, it served to connect the Gyeongsang province to the capital. It takes its name from Yeongnam, an alternate name for the...

 crossed over Paljoryeong, on its way from Seoul to Busan. Paljoryeong was the highest point on the route between Mungyeong Saejae

Mungyeong Saejae

Mungyeong Saejae is a mountain pass in central South Korea. It lies on Joryeong Mountain between the main peak and Sinseon Peak . The pass itself rises to above sea level. Mungyeong Saejae connects Mungyeong City, North Gyeongsang province with Goesan County in North Chungcheong province...

 and Busan. With the construction of the Gyeongbu Line

Gyeongbu Line

The Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea...

 railroad in the early 20th century, this route fell out of use. Today, most traffic crossing Paljoryeong goes underground through the Paljoryeong Tunnel on Local Highway 30. However, a two-lane road still carries tourists over the top of the pass.

Both sides of the pass ultimately drain into the Nakdong River

Nakdong River

The Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan.-Geography:...

. Water flowing north from Paljoryeong enters a stream called the Naengcheon, "cold stream," so named because of the cold mountain water. This goes on to join the Sincheon

Sincheon

Sincheon or Sinch'ŏn can refer to several things in South and North Korea:* Sincheon , a stream in northern Gyeonggi province* Sincheon , a stream in Daegu* Sincheon , a neighborhood in Songpa-gu, Seoul...

, which flows through the central Daegu to join the Geumho River

Geumho River

The Geumho River flows through North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and drains into the Nakdong River. It rises in the hilly area of western Pohang, flows west for 116 kilometers before its meeting with the Nakdong in western Daegu. It drains an area of more than 2,000 square kilometers. ...

 and then the Nakdong. Water flowing south eventually joins the Nakdong via the Miryang River

Miryang River

The Miryang River is a tributary of the Nakdong River which flows through Miryang City. It rises in Ulsan metropolitan city, on the slopes of Gohyeonsan, and flows for 101.5 kilometers before joining the Nakdong in Miryang's Samnangjin-eup. Its narrower upper reaches are often called the...

, passing first through the Daegokcheon which joins the Cheongdocheon in Iseo and finally meets the Miryang River in Sangdong-myeon.