A sandstone rock formation in the shape of Taiwan has been spotted at Yehliu Geopark in Taipei County’s Wanli Township. Although the rock is visible from a nearby pathway, the park authorities have refrained from promoting it in case an influx of visitors damages the rock. At the moment only park guides are aware of it.
The rock formation can be found beside a pathway in Yehliu Geopark’s second scenic area. A spokesman for Neo-Space International Inc, the company that runs Yehliu Geopark, said that the rock is about 390cm long and 121cm wide. The part that resembles southern Taiwan is 21cm at its thinnest, with the highest point standing at 47cm.
Neo-Space International Vice President Tang Ching-huei said that they stumbled upon the rock formation a while ago. After discussing the matter, the administration agreed that they would not promote their new discovery because it would be difficult to manage the influx of visitors. After talking it over with academics and officials from the Tourism Bureau, they decided not to advertise it, in order to keep it intact as long as possible.
Tang said that the Taiwan-shaped rock has an “east coast” pitted with little holes, making it look like the Central Mountain Range. There’s also a protruding central section and a slight slope that leads to the sea. And it’s not just academics who have been amazed by the rock — park visitors have also been struck by the resemblance to Taiwan. When visitors spot the rock, the park guides simply say: “That’s right! It’s Taiwan. It’s new.” Although park guides encourage visitors to take a look at the rock, they run the risk of being fined if they touch it.
(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY TAIJING WU)
台北縣萬里鄉「野柳地質公園」，最近發現新的地質景觀，外形酷似台灣島，相似度百分之九十。由於台灣島就在步道旁，民眾很容易靠近，園方唯恐大肆宣導造成民眾破壞，低調未廣為宣傳，只有園區解說員才知道。
新的地質景觀「台灣島地圖」，位在野柳地質公園第二景觀區步道旁（未上矮橋前），公園經營者新空間國際公司說，經過測量長度為三百九十公分，最寬處為一百二十一公分，南台灣最細處有二十一公分，最高點與地面距離為四十七公分，為砂岩所構成。
新空間公司副總經理湯景惠表示，發現台灣島地圖已有一段時間，當初是無意中發現，經過內部討論，考量台灣島地圖景觀位在前往女王頭的步道旁，經過的人非常多，管理秩序不易；所以與學者、觀光局北觀處研究後，決定不對外宣傳，可以維持較長久的壽命。
湯景惠說，這個台灣島地圖景觀，外形就像個台灣島，東半部蜂岩坑坑洞洞造型，酷似台灣中央山脈，中間隆起，中部以南以緩降方式慢慢降入海底；不只是學者看了大呼神奇，許多遊客看了喃喃自語的說好像台灣島時，解說員也會順口說：「對啊！它就是台灣島，是新的景觀。」也呼籲民眾下次經過停下腳步多瞧一眼，但千萬不要觸摸，以免挨罰。
（自由時報記者俞肇福)
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