Located off the coast of Yunlin and Chiayi counties, Waisanding Sandbar (外傘頂洲), the country's largest offshore sandbar, is in need of protection because of rapid erosion, the head of National Sun Yat-sen University's College of Marine Sciences warned.
Dean Chen Yang-yi (陳陽益) said research carried out by the university has shown that 1,067 hectares of the island disappeared due to erosion over the past 40 years, a trend that continues to this day. He also said that currents and north-easterly winds were gradually pushing the island southwest out to sea at a rate of about 60m to 70m per year, while also pulling the mass of land apart.
Chen says the island was probably formed by sediment accretion at the mouths of the Chuoshui River (濁水溪), Peikang River (北港溪) and Hsiluo River (西螺溪). However, river dredging and engineering projects by the Japanese government beginning in 1911 greatly reduced the amount of silt flowing into the ocean. Without a resupply of sediment on its east side, the island began to erode and migrate further out to sea.
Chen suggested constructing artificial barriers to block ocean waves and planting more vegetation to help hold the island together. He also recommended filling in depleted areas with earth from Putai Port (布袋港), which has a problem with sediment buildup.
Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (
Yunlin County Commissioner Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) said on Thursday that the island had already moved to a position off the coast of Chiayi County, making it difficult for Yunlin County to administer it. She urged the central government to help coordinate between the two counties to prevent further erosion.
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of a new COVID-19 subvariant — BA.3.2 — in a 10-year-old Singaporean girl who had a fever upon arrival in Taiwan and tested positive for the disease. The girl left Taiwan on March 20 and the case did not have a direct impact on the local community, it said. The WHO added the BA.3.2 strain to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December last year, but this was the first imported case of the COVID-19 variant in Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said. The girl arrived in Taiwan on
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