The Bizarre Landscape of YehLiu Geopark

Apr 7, 2012 0 comments

Yehliu is a cape on the north coast of Taiwan in the town of Wanli, famous for its stunning geological landscape. The unique rocks are concentrated at a region called the Yeliu Geopark - a 1,700 meter-long peninsula jutting out into the ocean and dotted with strange rock formation such as mushroom rocks, honeycomb rocks, ginger rock, pothole erosion and other appropriately named oddities.

A number of rock formations have been given imaginative names based on their shapes. The most well-known is the "The Queen's Head", an iconic image in Taiwan and an unofficial emblem for the town of Wanli. Other formations include "The Fairy Shoe", "The Bee Hive", "The Ginger Rocks" and "The Sea Candles. Many of these rocks contain fossils, which showcase creatures native to Taiwan from a not-so-distant-past.

The area is studded with seawater-eroded holes teeming with sea-life, as well as unusual rock formations, which make the surrounding environment rich in ecological resources. Sun, wind, rain, waves and strong northeastern typhoons all make a major impact on this narrow strip of land.

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Ginger rocks. Photo credit.

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There are around 180 mushroom rock formations in different stages of erosion. Amongst them, you’ll find Yehliu’s most recognizable landmark, the Queen’s Head Rock. Photo credit.

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The Fairy Shoe. Photo credit.

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Candle rocks have a ball-shaped core standing out from the rest of the rock. Photo credit.

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Honeycomb rocks are mushroom-shaped, but the surface of these rocks is covered with holes of different shapes and sizes. Photo credit.

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