Geography and Climate

Popularly known as “Taiwan,” the Republic of China is situated in the West Pacific between Japan and the Philippines. The territory of the ROC includes the main island of Taiwan, the archipelagoes of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, as well as numerous other islets—altogether covering an area of 36,191 square kilometers (13,973 square miles). At about the size of the Netherlands and with a population of 23 million, Taiwan is more populous than three-quarters of the world’s nations.

Taiwan proper, measuring 395 kilometers (245 miles) from north to south and 144 kilometers (89 miles) from east to west at its widest, has more than its share of natural splendor. Mountain ranges with many peaks reaching over 3,000 meters—including East Asia’s highest, Jade Mountain—and forested foothills occupy over half of its area. Other physiographical regions include volcanic mountains, tablelands, and coastal plains and basins.

Sitting in the path of warm ocean currents off the east coast of Asia, the main island is uniquely blessed with a full range of climatic zones from tropical to temperate. This, in combination with fertile soil and abundant rainfall, makes it an agricultural paradise, where virtually any kind of fruit or vegetable can be grown. It also makes the island a recreational paradise. In the winter, one can go skiing on the frigid slopes of Hehuan Mountain in Nantou County and then travel a mere 200 kilometers (124 miles) to balmy Pingtung County to enjoy skin diving at coral reefs along the island’s southern tip.

The smaller islands, meanwhile, have their own unique natural features, such as the basaltic pillars on one of the Penghu Islands and the marine hot springs along the shore of Green Island and Turtle Island.

The rock formations sculpted by wind and sea erosion on Peace Island off the coast of Keelung are a major tourist attraction in northeastern Taiwan. (Tang Wei-kuang, courtesy of the Tourism Bureau)

Flora and Fauna

Taiwan’s tropical-to-temperate spectrum of climatic zones and contrasting topographies have endowed the island with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Some 110 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles, 38 species of amphibians, 400 butterfly species and 3,000 species of fish are known to inhabit Taiwan. The abundant plant life in Taiwan includes over 7,500 species of vascular plants (including indigenous, exotic and horticultural varieties), as well as a spectrum of six forest types.

To protect the ecosystems in which these plants and animals reside, the government has reserved about 20 percent of the nation’s land area as protected areas, comprising eight national parks, 20 nature reserves, nine forest reserves, 17 wildlife refuges and 34 major wildlife habitats.

Perhaps the most famous Taiwanese species of fauna is the Formosan landlocked salmon. It is believed to have become trapped in the frigid mountain waters of central Taiwan during the last Ice Age when ocean levels dropped dramatically and the salmon could no longer migrate back and forth between fresh water and salt water. To protect the endangered species, the Formosan Landlocked Salmon Refuge was established in the upper reaches of the Dajia River in Shei-pa National Park.

National Parks

National Parks of Taiwan: http://np.cpami.gov.tw 
Kenting National Park: http://www.ktnp.gov.tw 
Yushan (Jade Mountain) National Park: http://www.ysnp.gov.tw 
Yangmingshan National Park: http://www.ymsnp.gov.tw 
Taroko National Park: http://www.taroko.gov.tw 
Shei-pa National Park: http://www.spnp.gov.tw 
Kinmen National Park: http://www.kmnp.gov.tw 
Dongsha Atoll National Park: http://dongsha.cpami.gov.tw