Penghu Marine Geopark
Sea cliffs and gullies: These are created by marine processes, mainly ocean waves, tidal flows and sea currents. The waves delivered ocean energy, transmitted it to the coast, and caused the coast to retreat and to form various coastal landforms. The most attacked area on the coast by marine processes includes capes or headland areas.
Sea cliffs and gullies: These are created by marine processes, mainly ocean waves, tidal flows and sea currents. The waves delivered ocean energy, transmitted it to the coast, and caused the coast to retreat and to form various coastal landforms. The most attacked area on the coast by marine processes includes capes or headland areas.
Sea cliffs and gullies: These are created by marine processes, mainly ocean waves, tidal flows and sea currents. The waves delivered ocean energy, transmitted it to the coast, and caused the coast to retreat and to form various coastal landforms. The most attacked area on the coast by marine processes includes capes or headland areas.
Dikes: These are intrusions of magma into earlier rocks. The dikes, due to their better resistance to weathering, show their geological environments and shapes well. Many dikes at the archipelago have a width of 50 cm and various length. For example, a long dike on the flat tidal area between Kueibishan and Chiyu has a length of 300 meters.
Sea cliffs and gullies: These are created by marine processes, mainly ocean waves, tidal flows and sea currents. The waves delivered ocean energy, transmitted it to the coast, and caused the coast to retreat and to form various coastal landforms. The most attacked area on the coast by marine processes includes capes or headland areas.
Sea cliffs and gullies: These are created by marine processes, mainly ocean waves, tidal flows and sea currents. The waves delivered ocean energy, transmitted it to the coast, and caused the coast to retreat and to form various coastal landforms. The most attacked area on the coast by marine processes includes capes or headland areas.
Sea cliffs and gullies: These are created by marine processes, mainly ocean waves, tidal flows and sea currents. The waves delivered ocean energy, transmitted it to the coast, and caused the coast to retreat and to form various coastal landforms. The most attacked area on the coast by marine processes includes capes or headland areas.
Stone pagoda: The livelihoods of most islanders depend highly on fisheries. In order to survive in this difficult environment, a special talisman – stone pagoda (one type of protective deities) is situated in the surroundings of the village. It is believed to quiet down the wind and ward off the ghost. Stone pagoda is one of the largest sized talismans in Taiwan and one of the most powerful talismans believed by the villagers.
Walking north along the east coast of Xiyuping, you can see the gravel slope formed by basalt weathering and avalanche. Obviously, most of the crumbling rocks that fall down are massive. From the vegetation-covered area to the gravel slope, we can see the differences in properties such as lines and hue.
Inter-tidal zone will disappear during high tide at Kueibishan: About 10000 years ago, during to the last glacial period, the sea level was 100 meters lower than the present sea level. At that time, the present Penghu archipelago was part of the Eurasian continent When the last glacial periods ended about 8000 years ago, with the sea level rise, the archipelago appeared. Weathering, crust compression and marine processes (including tidal and current erosion) then became important elements for the coastal landscape today
Tongpan Island. The upper part is covered by basalt lava flows. After weathering and erosion, irregularly shaped basalt blocks are formed, with some rounded appearance. The entire columnar basalt resembles a stacked chess piece. Its shape is special and has special scenery value. The island is known as the elegant name of "Penghu Yellowstone Park".
Dikes: These are intrusions of magma into earlier rocks. The dikes, due to their better resistance to weathering, show their geological environments and shapes well. Many dikes at the archipelago have a width of 50 cm and various length. For example, a long dike on the flat tidal area between Kueibishan and Chiyu has a length of 300 meters.
The walking path surrounding the coast of Tongpan Island, on the one hand, provides visitors with access to these landscapes; on the other hand, it also protects the landscape from excessive human damage. These facilities can not only improve the quality of recreation, maintain the safety of tourists, but also avoid the destruction of the landscape.
The beach on the north side of Dongjiyu Pier. The beach is mainly composed of shellfish, foraminifera and coral reef debris. The length of the sandy beaches inside and outside the quay embankment exceeds 100 meters. The area can be seen on the sea erosion cliffs as a large intrusive rock structure, which is quite special.
On the rock wall of the Hutoushan sea erosion cliff on Dongjiyu Island, the bedding of columnar basalt and sandstone can be clearly seen. From the sea erosion cliff profile, it can be divided into three types of rock layers. The bottom is porous basalt, the middle part is sedimentary rock, and the top is columnar basalt. The different characteristics of the upper and lower rock layers are presumed to be a period of accumulation between the volcanism in two different periods.
The inclined basalt joint in the photo is a special landscape created by rapid cooling of the magma during the flow. Different magma flow directions form different joint directions. Pentagonal and hexagonal joint surfaces at the top of the columnar basalt can also be observed in the lower right corner of the photo.
Dajishanyu in Penghu. Dajishanyu is one of the nature reserves designated by the Agricultural Commission of the Executive Yuan. It is mainly based on columnar joints of basalt and abundant bird resources. Basalt columnar joints stand in the sea and are constantly beaten by sea water, and the coastal landscape is also changing dynamically.
The beach is located on the southeast of Dongjiyu Island. The beach is about 100 meters. The beach is mainly composed of foraminifera and coral or shellfish debris, and there are basalt beach rocks in front of the beach. At low tide, the basalt in front of the beach emerges, forming a beach with a strong contrast of dark and light colors.
Qimei "waiting husband" Cliff in Penghu. The two small hills along the coast formed by basalt lava seem to be women lying flat, and the locals call it "waiting husband Cliff." According to archaeologist research, the area is an ancient basalt stone processing factory. In the past, ancient people took materials on site and made stone tools for export.
In the south of Dongyuping Wharf, there is a huge reef. This reef will be connected to the sandy beach on the land at low tide. It is called Lulian Island. The intertidal zone of the reef and the beach is filled with large and small rocks. It is mainly basalt and sedimentary rock with a large amount of shellfish debris.
Beehive farmland and crop house: Facing with the strong northeast wind, every single lap-go stone or basalt rock was used to build the wind proof wall. Agricultures for dry crop usually scatter around their houses and are therefore called "crop house". And all these agricultures are so close that the whole land looks like a beehive with those walls and then people call it bee hive farmland.
Honeycomb weathering Maokong rock is a local name for the rock with many small holes on its surface. Hu-Jin island is famous for its many Maokong rocks. The Maokong rocks are outcomes of various weathering and erosion processes. They include mainly biological and salt processes. The acid emitted from sea urchins and barnacles enhances the weathering processes.
The rock layer here is called the Penghu layer, which is a stack of basalt lava flows, weathered soil layers, and sandstones. Volcanic activity started about 18 million years ago, and it ended about 8 million years ago after several eruptions. We can clearly see on the island that two to three layers of lava are stacked, with sandy mud layers in between. This Penghu layer is the clearest on Yuweng Island, so it is also called "Yuweng Island layer".
The rock layer here is called the Penghu layer, which is a stack of basalt lava flows, weathered soil layers, and sandstones. Volcanic activity started about 18 million years ago, and it ended about 8 million years ago after several eruptions. We can clearly see on the island that two to three layers of lava are stacked, with sandy mud layers in between. This Penghu layer is the clearest on Yuweng Island, so it is also called "Yuweng Island layer".
Basalt pillars will fall. In addition to the unstable foundation below, falling rocks from the rear are also one of the reasons. The crack behind the basalt column in the picture is stuck by a falling stone. As the weathering progressed, the stones propped them down along the fissures, causing the top of the stone pillars to tilt more forward, increasing the chance of falling.
The sea erosion cliff joints of the Xijiyu basalt are quite developed, and the columnar joints formed are quite obvious. However, these joints have been beaten and weathered by the seawater for a long time. The bottom basalt is eroded by the seawater and collapsed. The phenomenon of rock mass accumulation.
Honeycomb weathering Maokong rock is a local name for the rock with many small holes on its surface. Hu-Jin island is famous for its many Maokong rocks. The Maokong rocks are outcomes of various weathering and erosion processes. They include mainly biological and salt processes. The acid emitted from sea urchins and barnacles enhances the weathering processes.
Stone weirs: The stone weirs were made of coral, basalt stones and rocks show the traditional wisdom of capitalizing on the shadow tidal flats to harvest fish from the sea. Stone weirs must be built in the broad inter-tidal zone with strong waves and large tidal range, and in the area where the stone material can be easily obtained. Nowadays, those fishing stone weir architectures become unique and valuable heritages attracting tourists.
Submerged Double-heart stone weir and its islet at low tide: The stone weirs were made of coral, basalt stones and rocks show the traditional wisdom of capitalizing on the shadow tidal flats to harvest fish from the sea. Stone weirs must be built in the broad inter-tidal zone with strong waves and large tidal range, and in the area where the stone material can be easily obtained. Nowadays, those fishing stone weir architectures become unique and valuable heritages attracting tourists.
Stone weirs: The stone weirs were made of coral, basalt stones and rocks show the traditional wisdom of capitalizing on the shadow tidal flats to harvest fish from the sea. Stone weirs must be built in the broad intertidal zone with strong waves and large tidal range, and in the area where the stone material can be easily obtained. Nowsaday, those fishing stone weir architectures become unique and valuable heritages attracting tourists.
Sea cliffs and gullies: These are created by marine processes, mainly ocean waves, tidal flows and sea currents. The waves delivered ocean energy, transmitted it to the coast, and caused the coast to retreat and to form various coastal landforms. The most attacked area on the coast by marine processes includes capes or headland areas.
Sea cliffs and gullies: These are created by marine processes, mainly ocean waves, tidal flows and sea currents. The waves delivered ocean energy, transmitted it to the coast, and caused the coast to retreat and to form various coastal landforms. The most attacked area on the coast by marine processes includes capes or headland areas.