| HOME |
| Economy |
| Geography |
| Population |
| Want to list here? |
| Partners |
| Hong Kong Exporter Net |
| WTO Network |
| MOffY |
| Airlines |
| Airport |
| Bank |
|
|
|
Geography in Taiwan |
||
| Off the eastern coast of Asia lie the
mountainous island arcs of the Western Pacific. The island chain closest
to the continent marks the edge of the Asiatic Continental Shelf. Taiwan,
one of the islands of this chain, is the largest body of land between
Japan and the Philippines.
The island of Taiwan is 394 km long, 144 km at its widest point, and shaped like a leaf. It is located between 21°53'50"and 25°18'20"N latitude and between 120°01'00"and 121°59'15"E longitude. With a total area of nearly 36,000 sq. km, Taiwan is separated from China by the Taiwan Strait, which is about 220 km at its widest point and 130 km at its narrowest. The island is almost equidistant from Shanghai and Hong Kong. |
|
|
| The surface geology of the island varies in age
from very recent alluvial deposits to early sedimentary and crystalline
rocks. The structure is formed by a tilted fault block running roughly
northeast to southwest along the entire length. The steep slope of this
tilted block faces east and the rock mass slopes more gently to the west.
This block is composed primarily of old rocks, some of which have been
subjected to heat and pressure. Only one-third of the land area is arable.
The mountains are mostly forested, with some minerals, chiefly coal, at
the northern end.
On the east coast, the mountains rise steeply from the Pacific. To the west, level sediments lie just below the surface of the sea. As a result, river deposits have filled the shallow waters and extended the land 15 to 30 km westward from the foothills, giving Taiwan a larger proportion of useful level land than either Japan or the Philippines. Natural resources and agricultural potential make this coastal plain of great importance.
|
||
| The shoreline of Taiwan is relatively smooth and unbroken with a total length of 1,566 km (including the Penghu Islands). Off the southern end of the island lie small areas of coral reefs, which have built up along the island's shores. | ||
| The most important feature of Taiwan's topography is the central range of high mountains running from the northeast corner to the southern tip of the island. Steep mountains over 1,000 meters high constitute about 31 percent of the island's land area; hills and terraces between 100 and 1,000 meters above sea level make up 38 percent; and alluvial plains below 100 meters in elevation, where most communities, farming activities, and industries are concentrated, account for the remaining 31 percent. Based on differences in elevation, relative relief character of rock formations, and structural patterns, the island can be divided physiographically into five major divisions: mountain ranges, volcanic mountains, foothills, tablelands, and coastal plains and basins. | ||
