The Luxuriant Outlook of Taiwan's Natural Habitats                 Taiwan has set aside numerous areas of land with the goal of protecting wildlife and preserving the natural environment, including 19 nature reserves, 39 wildlife refuges and habitats, 6 national parks, and 10 forest reserves. These four types of protected areas occupy a total of 699,197 hectares of land, or 19.2 percent of Taiwan's total land area, and cover a variety of different ecosystems ranging from tropical to frigid zones. Thus, Taiwan has a rich and complex network of plants, animals, and microorganisms, with roughly 25 percent of the island's flora and fauna considered indigenous. This great diversity is a treasure of Taiwan's natural heritage.   Mt. Tapachien Mt. Tapachien, Located in Shei-Pa National Park, is deemed by the Atayal to be sacred to their ancestors' spirits and has some of Taiwan's most preciptious cliffs. It is also known as "Mt. Liquor Barrel" because of its appearance. Taroko Gorge The all-natural cliffs forming the 5,000-meter-tall swallow pass in Taroko Gorge are the result of a slow geological collision and a folding movement of landmasses that have lasted tens of thousands of years. The pass is a famous tourist spot of the gorge along the Central Cross-Island Highway. Yangmingshan National Park Yangmingshan National Park consists entirely of volcanic geological formations, and thus has many hot springs. Many of these hot springs contain solitary patches of moss volcanic liverwort(jungermannia vulcanicola), a species that has adapted itself to survive under the harsh conditions of volcanic sulfurous gases and extreme heat. Thus, the moss has become representative of Yangmingshan National Park's hot springs. Yangmingshan National Park (2) Many of the geothermal springs found in Yangmingshan National Park produce hot springs containing a variety of volcanic gases. These extra elements have made most of the park's waters fairly acidic, and over time, these acids have gradually changed the elements in the rocks and pebbles, giving the area many particular geographic features. Geothermal springs in Yangmingshan National Park Many of the geothermal springs found in Yangmingshan National Park produce hot springs containing a variety of volcanic gases. These extra elements have made most of the park's waters fairly acidic, and over time, these acids have gradually changed the elements in the rocks and pebbles, giving the area many particular geographic features. Taroko National Park (Liwu River Valley) Taroko National Park is best known for the Liwu River Valley and the canyon created by its flowing waters, Taroko Gorge. In addition to these world-renown landscapes, however, the gorge is also famous for its huge rock walls of rare marble. Evergreen hemlock trees Evergreen hemlock trees (Tsuga chinensis) are often seen in Taroko National Park growing either along the crest line or among arrow bamboo bushes. Mt. Huangtsui Mt. Huangtsui, one of three wildlife refuges found in Yangmingshan National Park, has one of the best-preserved volcanic craters in Taiwan, complete with all of the remnants of volcanic formations.   An Untrammeled Trip to Experience Taiwan's Ecological Wonders           Taiwan's diverse ecology and many flourishing features make it an ideal place for travelers wishing to experience nature at its finest. Indeed, as mankind explores the great outdoors and comes in contact with nature's plants and animals, he not only rediscovers the precious value inherent in nature, but also finds happiness and satisfaction. The best such trips are those that create a sense of fulfillment in both body and mind without consuming an excessive amount of the environment's natural resources. Today, more and more of Taiwan's city residents are travelling into the countryside to explore everything from the island's fields to its seashores. From these trips into Taiwan's vast countryside to explore the diverse and ever-changing life found on the island, the people of Taiwan are bringing back new experiences, new discoveries, and new pleasures. Yehliu's seacoast Yehliu's seacoast, located on Taiwan's northern coast, is a cape protruding into the ocean. Its unique sedimentary rock formations, which have been shaped from erosion, can be divided into three different categories: mushroom-, candleholder-, and arch-shaped. The famous "queen's head" is an example of a mushroom-shaped rock formation. Chingshui Cliff Chingshui Cliff, one of Taiwan's eight top scenic spots, is located near Hualien County's Chingshui Station in Taroko National Park. The five-kilometer-long stretch of cliff is the most characteristic section of the Suao-Hualien Coastline and is the highest coastal cliff in Taiwan. Yangmingshan National Park Yangmingshan National Park, the only national park in Taiwan where volcanic geology is preserved, has many rich and unique geothermal resources and volcanic features, such as sulfur fumaroles spouting clouds of geothermal steam. Yangmingshan National Park The volcanic geothermal features preserved in Yangmingshan National Park's Hsiaoyukeng are a unique characteristic not just among Taiwan's six national parks, but also throughout all of China. Yangmingshan National Park's Mt. Tatun Mt. Yangming, or Yangmingshan, was formerly known as Tsaoshan (Mt. Grass) because of its carpeting of silvergrass. It is home to one of the most famous views in Northern Taiwan: the sunset over Yangmingshan National Park's Mt. Tatun. The Tunnel of Nine Turns The Tunnel of Nine Turns in Eastern Taiwan's Taroko Gorge is a man-made attraction that was built during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway. The caverns comprising the tunnel were carved directly out of the hard marble walls, creating a series of marble pillars and passageways that form a special, corridor-style view of the gorge. Tsueifeng Lake At an altitude of 1,840 meters, Tsueifeng Lake is Taiwan's largest alpine lake and forms a part of the forest preserve found in the Mt. Taiping Forest Recreation Area. The ecological resources protected in the preserve comprise the lake itself and various species of avifauna, such as the Mandarin ducks Fushan Botanical Garden Fushan Botanical Garden, whose primary purpose is for research and environmental education, is divided into three areas: the Water Source Reserve, the Botanical Garden, and the Hahpen Nature Preserve. Only the Botanical Garden is open to the public. Mt. Tachien Mt. Tachien, which rises 318 meters high into the blues skies of the Hengchun Peninsula, is a landmark of Kenting National Park. Its base is made up of conglomerate rocks rooted deep in the sea. Little Yehliu Located on the northeastern side of Fukang Port (formerly Chiehlan Port), Little Yehliu is the East Coast Scenic Area's southern-most recreational site. Its name comes from the interesting rock formations found there. Coastline between Hualien and Taitung The coastline between Hualien and Taitung is located on the eastern side of Taiwan proper, facing the Pacific Ocean. It has a diverse topography that includes bays, capes, beaches, cliffs, terraces, coral reefs, rivers, and a variety of other geographical and geological formations.