Mudstone and Basaltic Landforms

A strip of mudstone area in south-western Taiwan covers 1,200 km 2 . Mudstone landforms are easily eroded and change by precipitation, typhoons and torrential rains. Mud volcanos are created by the eruption of muddy liquids and gases that originate under the earth's surface in the mudstone area. Mud volcanos, small in size though, form attractive landscapes. Basaltic mesas are made possible by the basic characteristics of lava flow of the Penghu Archipelago. The quiet eruption and slow movement of the lava allowed the hexagonal joint patterns of basaltic columns to be formed. Today, basaltic columns can be observed widely in Penghu Archipalego.