Taroko National Park

Coordinates: 24°10′N 121°20′E / 24.167°N 121.333°E / 24.167; 121.333
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Taroko National Park
Tunnel of Nine Turns
Location of Taroko National Park
LocationTaiwan
Nearest cityXiulin, Hualien
Coordinates24°10′N 121°20′E / 24.167°N 121.333°E / 24.167; 121.333
Area920 km2 (360 sq mi)
Established28 November 1986

Taroko National Park (

nine national parks in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park carved by the Liwu River. The park spans Taichung Municipality, Nantou County, and Hualien County
and is located in Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan.

History

Map of Taroko area (1944)

This national park was originally established as the

Republic of China took over Taiwan in consequence. The ROC government subsequently abolished the park on 15 August 1945. It was not until 28 November 1986 that the park was reestablished.[1]
Taroko National Park covers an area of 92,000 hectares (360 sq mi). It is located in Hualien County, Taichung City, and Nantou County, and is home to unique geological and natural resources, including twenty-seven peaks over 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) located in and around the Qilai and Nanhu Mountain ranges. It includes the marble gorge of Taroko, the Qingshui Cliff, the trail along the Shakadang River, and the waterfalls of the Baiyang trail.

The Central Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway 8) extends from Asian tropical deciduous forests to high mountain pine and cedar forests.

On November 28, 2021, Google commemorated the park on its homepage doodle to celebrate its 35th anniversary.[2]

In 2024, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Taiwan's eastern coast, resulting in widespread devastation and significant loss of life.[3] Landslides obstructed Provincial Highway No. 8 at Taroko Gorge, trapping hundreds of individuals. The landscape of Taroko Gorge, was scarred by the aftermath of the earthquake mainly due to the landslides that occurred.[4]

Origin of the name

The name "Taroko" (太魯閣) derives from the

Truku language called "Klbiyun") to the Liwu River. The Truku tribe continues to reside in Hualien County, including within the designated National Park area.[5]

Geology

Taroko Gorge and Liwu River

Taiwan was created through the collision of the Philippine and the Eurasian plates in what is known as the Penglai Orogeny. This movement occurred some four million years ago and is responsible for the formation of the Central Mountain Range that runs north-south through much of Taiwan. Even today the shift in tectonic plates continues and this area continues to rise a few millimeters every year.

Marble formations only revealed themselves after millions of years of erosion and continued uplifting. Calcium Carbonate remains accumulated some 230 million years ago. These deposits through time, pressure, and the elements were gradually lithified into the limestone that in turn metamorphosed into marble. As Taiwan was uplifted from the pressures of the colliding plates, the erosive forces of weathering and water worked to carve out the gorges we see today.

Erosion by the river against the constantly elevating land combined with the heavy sub-tropical rains resulted in a rapid transformation of the landscape. Marble, which is relatively hard and resistant to erosion, nevertheless relented to these forces resulting in the unusually steep and narrow canyons.[6]

The gorge itself was carved into the marble by the erosive power of the Liwu River.[7]

Sights include:

  • Tunnel of Nine Turns (九曲洞 Jiuqudong) (Opened in November 2017)
  • Eternal Spring Shrine
  • Yenzikou, Swallow Grotto Trail (燕子口)
  • Jinheng Park (靳珩公園)
  • Cimu Bridge, Motherly Devotion Bridge (慈母橋)
  • Tianxiang [zh]
  • Zhuilu Cliff (錐麓斷崖)
  • Liufang Bridge (流芳橋)
  • Dayuling (大禹嶺)
  • Buluowan (布洛灣)
  • Qingshui Cliffs (清水斷崖)
  • Shakadang Trail
  • Changuang Temple (禪光寺)
  • Baiyang Trail (白楊步道)

Transportation

Taroko National Park is typically accessed from Hualien City where various tours, buses, and transport options are available next to the Hualien Train station. The closest train station to the park is

Xincheng Station of the Taiwan Railways Administration, roughly 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the park's main headquarters.[8]
Due to Xincheng's distance from the park itself, visitors looking to get closer to the park will typically utilize the many tour buses and taxis available.

Gallery

  • Xiangde Temple at Tianxiang
    Xiangde Temple at Tianxiang
  • Bicycling uphill
    Bicycling uphill
  • Bicyclists share narrow roads with motor vehicles
    Bicyclists share narrow roads with motor vehicles
  • Rockfall Prevention Tunnel(明隧道)
    Rockfall Prevention Tunnel(明隧道)
  • Gorge views
    Gorge views
  • Taroko Gorge at Swallow Grotto Trail
    Taroko Gorge at Swallow Grotto Trail
  • Eternal Spring Shrine, Taroko National Park, Hualien on the east coast.
    Eternal Spring Shrine, Taroko National Park, Hualien on the east coast.
  • Shakadang River
    Shakadang River
  • Liwu River
    Liwu River
  • Zhuilu Suspension Bridge with road bridge behind it
    Zhuilu Suspension Bridge with road bridge behind it
  • (Shakadang) Bridge of 100 Lions
    (Shakadang) Bridge of 100 Lions
  • Taroko National Park as seen from a moped, 2011
  • Changchun Bridge
    Changchun Bridge
  • Zhuilu Suspension Bridge(East of Zhuilu Old Road)
    Zhuilu Suspension Bridge(East of Zhuilu Old Road)
  • Bell Tower at Eternal Spring Shrine Trail
    Bell Tower at Eternal Spring Shrine Trail
  • Taroko Music Festival
    Taroko Music Festival
  • Changuang Temple
    Changuang Temple
  • Taroko Gorge from Zhuilu Old Road
    Taroko Gorge from Zhuilu Old Road
  • Zhuilu Tunnel from Zhuilu Old Road
    Zhuilu Tunnel from Zhuilu Old Road

See also

  • List of national parks in Taiwan

References

  1. ^ Wei-han, Chen (15 June 2017). "Mining companies to face make-up reviews: Cabinet". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  2. ^ "35th Anniversary of Taroko National Park Doodle - Google Doodles". doodles.google. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  3. ^ "Rescuers in Taiwan search for those missing or stranded after major earthquake kills 10". AP News. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  4. ^ "Rescue effort in massive Taiwan earthquake may take a 'Herculean effort': Updates". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  5. ^ 內政部國家公園署太魯閣國家公園管理處全球資訊網. Taroko National Park (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  6. ^ "Landform and Geology". Taroko National Park Official Website. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  7. JSTOR 3060369
    .
  8. ^ "By Train - Taroko National Park". Taroko National Park. 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taroko National Park.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Taroko Gorge.
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