Geography of Taiwan - Terrain

Terrain

The terrain in Taiwan is divided into two parts: the flat to gently rolling plains in the west, where 90% of the population lives, and the mostly rugged forest-covered mountains in the eastern two-thirds.

The eastern part of the island is dominated by five mountain ranges, each running from north-northeast to south-southwest, roughly parallel to the east coast of the island. As a group, they extend 330 kilometres (210 mi) from north to south and average about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from east to west. They include more than two hundred peaks with elevations of over 3,000 m (9,843 ft).

• The Central Mountain Range (中央山脈) extends from Su-ao in the northeast to Eluanbi at the southern tip of the island, forming a ridge of high mountains and serving as the island's major watershed for rivers and streams. The mountains are predominantly composed of hard rock formations resistant to weathering and erosion, although heavy rainfall has deeply scarred the sides with gorges and sharp valleys. Taroko National Park, located on the mountainous eastern side of the island, has good examples of mountainous terrain, gorges and erosion caused by a swiftly flowing river. The relative relief of the terrain is usually extensive, and the forest-clad mountains with their extreme ruggedness are almost impenetrable. The east side of the Central Mountain Range is the steepest mountain slope in Taiwan, with fault scarps ranging in height from 120 to 1,200 m (3,937 ft).

• The Hsuehshan Range (雪山山脈) lies northwest of the Central Mountain Range, beginning at Sandiaojiao in the northeast and gaining elevation as it extends toward the southwest. Syue Mountain, the main peak, is 3,886 m (12,749 ft) high.

• The Yushan Range (玉山山脈) runs along the southwestern flank of the Central Mountain Range. It includes the island's tallest peak, the 3,952 m (12,966 ft) Jade Mountain (Yu Shan).

• The Alishan Range (阿里山山脈) lies west of the Yushan Mountain Range, with major elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 m (6,562 ft). The main peak, Data Mountain (大塔山), towers 2,663 m (8,737 ft).

• The East Coast Mountain Range (海岸山脈) extends from the mouth of the Hualien River in the north to Taitung County in the south, and chiefly consist of sandstone and shale. Although Hsinkangshan (新港山), the highest peak, reaches an elevation of 1,682 m (5,518 ft), most of the range is composed of large hills. Small streams have developed on the flanks, but only one large river cuts across the range. Badlands are located at the western foot of the range, where the ground water level is the lowest and rock formations are the least resistant to weathering. Raised coral reefs along the east coast and the frequent occurrences of earthquakes in the rift valley indicate that the fault block is still rising.

Taroko National Park, located on the mountainous eastern side of the island, has good examples of mountainous terrain, gorges and erosion caused by a swiftly flowing river.