Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Forget overcrowding and vandalism. A national park in South Korea is facing a very different challenge: a lot of ramen. 

The instant noodles are a popular food in South Korea. Many visitors pack them for lunch or a snack while they explore Mount Halla in Hallasan National Park. But they often dump their leftover broth on the ground and in streams—up to 31 gallons of it a day. 

That’s a problem, local authorities say. The broth contains a lot of salt, which can harm endangered plant species on the mountain and wildlife in its streams. Plus, the broth’s scent attracts pests, such as crows and weasels. 

After noodling over the issue, park officials have come up with a plan to help solve it. For starters, they’ve posted signs encouraging visitors to bring along just half a serving of ramen. And for those who end up with leftover broth anyway, officials are now providing designated places for them to discard it: large containers set along the trail.

—Lisa M. Herrington