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Introduction



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Caoling Geopark, also known as Tsaoling Geopark, is located in Gukeng, Yunlin County and famous for its abundant natural landscape resources and the dynamic landform evolution of landslides, huge cliffs, waterfalls and potholes. Caoling has always been a popular tourist spot until the 921 Earthquake in 1999, when the famous Tsaoling landslide occurred on the southwestern dip slope of the Geopark. This landslide is among the largest in Taiwan in terms of total area and magnitude and the fifth event that has occurred during the last 150 years (Lin & Su, 2019). Consequently, a new landslide dam, Tsaoling Lake, was formed. The lake was filled with debris and rocky mud flushed down from the upstream during heavy rain. The rapidly changing landforms of the area demonstrate the sensitivity of the landform to natural power of quakes and rains. Interestingly, these landslides have been utilized effectively for environmental education and landscape conservation in the local community (Chen, 2017).

In 2004, in response to the international trend of geoconservation development, Caoling geopark was established with the focus on geotourism development to conserve their diverse landscapes (Lee & Su, 2017) and boost the area’s social and economic development (Lee, 2011).
 
 
[1] Lin, J. C., Su, S. C. (2019). Geoparks of Taiwan. Their development and Prospects for a Sustainable Future
[2] Chen, Y. H. (2017). A geopark filled with Life and Death stories, in Taiwan on Geological scale: Tracing Taiwan Geology from Geopark, pp. 148-171. Taipei: Taiwan: Metropolis Publisher. (in Chinese).
[3] Lee, C. T. and Su, C. H. (2017). Geodiversity and Management of Caoling Geopark, Yunlin County, Taiwan. 2017 International Geopark Conference in Taiwan.
[4] Lee, C. T. (2011). The development process of Tsaoling Geopark. Taipei: Forestry Bureau of Taiwan and National Taiwan University co-published. (in Chinese)