Guishan Island (Yilan)
Guishan (Gueishan) Island; Kueishan (Kweishan) Island | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 361 m (1,184 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 361 m (1,184 ft) |
Coordinates | 24°50′31″N 121°57′06″E / 24.84194°N 121.95167°E |
Dimensions | |
Area | 2.841 km2 (1.097 sq mi) (prior to 2024)[2][3] |
Geography | |
Geology | |
Age of rock | Pleistocene |
Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
Last eruption | 1853 |
Guishan Island[4] / Gueishan Island[5] or Steep Island or Turtle Island[6] (Chinese:
There is a smaller island south of Gueishan Island called Gueiluan Island (Chinese:
History[edit]
The local population, consisting mainly of fishermen, was relocated in 1977 due to the hardships associated with living on the island. Between 1977 and 2000 it became the site of a military base, and currently it is managed as a tourist destination and natural conservation area. There are restrictions for visitors due to environmental protection. In 2000, the island was officially opened to tourists as a maritime ecological park.[8]
On May 13, 2016, President Ma Ying-jeou visited the island.[9]
In December 2016 until February 2017, the island was closed for environmental protection reasons.
On 3 April 2024, a large portion of the island collapsed into the ocean following the 2024 Taiwan earthquake.[10]
Geology[edit]
The island is the top of an andesite stratovolcano which rises from the seafloor. It is the only active volcano in Taiwan, displaying active fumaroles and solfataras. It has an area of 2.841 square kilometers (1.097 sq mi), and the highest point reaches 361 m (1,184 ft) above sea level.[1][11]
Ecology[edit]
Endemic species of crab, Xenograpsus testudinatus feeds on sulfur and lives around underwater hot springs of the island. Surrounding waters support rich ecosystem that attracts the top predators of ocean; cetaceans. This allows whale watching as one of major attractions in local tourism, targeting mostly smaller toothed whales such as pygmy sperm whales, false killer whales, and dolphins while larger whales such as sperm whales and humpback may be observed less frequently.[12][13]
Head Turning of the Turtle Mountain[edit]
From different views at different locations of Yilan County, the shape of Gueishan Island is quite different. Also the shape of the turtle's head is different; from Northeast Coastal Areas of Toucheng Township such as Shihcheng and Dasi, the shape is close to the head of a turtle, while from Luodong and Wujie Townships, the shape is triangular. The reason for this is the curvy shape of the seashore of Yilan, circling the very island. There is hence the term "Head Turning of the Turtle Mountain" (
Visiting the island[edit]
Before going to the island, visitor numbers have to be reviewed to see which day is available for registration.
The application must be completed and shipping agreed with local ferry owners at least one week prior to the visiting date, there is also another application form for going to the highest point of the island, which is often restricted.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Kueishantao". Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^
龜山 里 .宜 蘭 縣 頭 城 鎮公所 Toucheng Township Office. Retrieved 19 October 2019.全島 面積 2.841平方 公里 , - ^ a b c d
教育 部 重 編 國語 辭典 修訂 本 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 19 October 2019.字 詞 【龜山 島 】注 音 ㄍㄨㄟ ㄕㄢ ㄉㄠˇ漢語 拼音 guī shān dǎo釋義 島名 。位 於宜蘭 縣 頭 城 鎮外海 。為 一 火山 島 ,屬 頭 城 鎮管轄 。周圍 海岸 線 長 八 點 七 公里 ,面積 二 點 八 平方 公里 ,以形狀 似 龜 而得名 。 - ^ "Guishan Island". Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Tourist Information Website. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Watch dolphins and whales". Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Tourist Information Website. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
The Gueishan Island is located off the coast of Yilan County, Taiwan.
- ^ Robert Kelly; Joshua Samuel Brown, eds. (March 2011). Taiwan. Lonely Planet (8 ed.). Singapore. p. 134. ISBN 9781741790436.
Turtle Island (Kueishgan [sic] Island)
龜山 島 {{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ 05-19
臺灣 島嶼 面積 [Location and Area of Islands in Taiwan]. Ministry of the Interior (in Chinese (Taiwan) and English). Retrieved 20 October 2019.縣 市 別 Locality島嶼 名稱 位置 Location面積 (平方 公里 ) (1)經度 緯度 Name of Islands Longitude Latitude Area (K m2){...}宜 蘭 縣 Yilan County{...}龜 卵 島 Gueiluan Island 121°55′47〞~121°55′51〞 24°48′30〞~24°48′32〞 0.0123 - ^ "Premier inspects scenic Gueishan Island". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 4 July 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
- ^
總統 視察 龜山 島 401高地 周邊 設 施 、慰訪龜山 島 安 檢 所 海 巡 幹部 ,並 與 「海 巡 署 岸 巡 第 一 二 大隊 」同 仁 餐敘.中華民國 總統 府 Office of the President Republic of China (Taiwan) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 13 May 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2019.馬 英 九 總統 今 (13)日 上 午前 往宜蘭 縣 視察 龜山 島 401高地 周邊 設 施 並 慰訪龜山 島 安 檢 所 海 巡 幹部 ,除 對 海 巡 人員 的 辛勞 表 達 肯定 與 慰勉之 意 ,亦 重 申 我 漁民 在 公海 之 漁 權 ,並 期待 臺 日 雙方 能 就沖之 鳥 礁爭議 持續 進行 協商 。 - ^ "
台湾 7.2可 怕强震 宜 兰外海 惊见龟山岛「龟头断 裂 」" (in Chinese (China)). 2 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024. - ^ Shen, Worthy; Huang, Romulo (28 February 2017). "Turtle Island to be reopened to tourists Wednesday". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ Apple Daily (Taiwan). 2015.
龜山 島 「鯨 」奇 船長 :第 一次看到那麼大的. Retrieved on October 06, 2017 - ^ ba ha. 2014. 2014.12.24
龜山 島 船 釣 ~遇 到 鯨 魚 . YouTube. Retrieved on October 06, 2017
External links[edit]
- National Northeast Coastal Scenic Area -- Gueishan Island Archived 2017-06-29 at the Wayback Machine (in English)