Charles Dickens once characterized London and Paris as “A Tale of Two Cities.” But, with a slight modification of the British writer’s classic novel, Taiwan might be well characterized as “A Tale of Two Countries.”
Information provided on Lycos’ Web site “Lonely Planet” paints a stark picture of the differences that exist on this small island nation located in East Asia.
Parts of the country are modern and industrialized, while many residents still cling to ancient beliefs such as Buddhism and Taoism. Taiwan’s clash of culture can also be contrast against its scenery, with a series of deteriorating cities that sit at the foot of a mountain range that has left the country with the title of “the beautiful island.”
The island of Taiwan is literally a living painting. The island’s mountain peaks stand tall, reaching in to the heavens, while shiny volcanic rock dots the coastline and mists punctuate waterfalls with a surreal feeling.
Taiwan’s most beautiful scenery can be found at Taroko Gorge in the city of Tienhsiang, probably Taiwan’s most beautiful scenic spot. The gorge is 12 miles high with long, sheer cliffs that fall into a rushing river of white water.
Located at the top of the waterfall is the Eternal Spring Shrine, a memorial to the 450 workers who died building the Taroko highway. Extreme in weather can also be included among the country’s contrasts. Winter months bring almost constant rain I the northeast, yet the southwest is much warmer and drier. While Taiwan is subtropical, the mountains can be chilly in the months from June until August and snowy from December till February.
Summer usually brings hot, sticky conditions throughout the island’s low parts, while the mountains are drenched with rain. Daytime temperatures in the capital city of Taipei average 86 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter.
Neighbor to China
Located approximately 99 miles off the coast of mainland China, Taiwan’s total area is 13,869 square miles, making it roughly the same size as West Virginia.
Ninety percent of Taiwan’s population lives on the fertile plain located on the west side of the island. The east is a rocky coastline preceding the island’s ridge of steep mountains. At 12, 963-feet, Mount Yushan is the highest peak in northeast Asia outside of Tibet.
Efforts toward economic progress have destroyed much of the wildlife and forestry on the west coast. As a result, some species have been eliminated.
However, some areas of the island are inaccessible, resulting in a natural wildlife reserve. In the last 20 years, Taiwan has declared 67 reserves, including six national parks and instituted strict environmental legislation.
“Lonely Planet” notes that Taiwan’s mountain forests are mainly Cyprus, addin that camphor used to grow there in abundance.
Taiwan was also once home to several species, including the Formosan black bear, the Formosan Sika deer and the Formosan landlocked salmon.
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