Jialeshuei: A Virtual Tour of Taiwan's Bizarre Southeastern Coastline

On the east side of Taiwan's southern tip is a bizarre landscape where three layers of rock (deep ocean stratum, sandstone, and coastal rocks) have been shaped by the relentless pounding of waves and shearing of high winds into unearthly formations. The area is called Jialeshuei (which roughly translates to beautiful happy waters), but it looks like the surface of Mars. It's the kind of place where geologists act giddy, photographers wet their pants, and bearded backpackers with tribal tattoos say, "Dude, we totally gotta eat some mushrooms here."

Here are some pictures of it.

 

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It's a scenic 1.20-mile walk from the parking lot to the end of the road where the strangest rocks are found.

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It's a scenic 1.20-mile walk from the parking lot to the end of the road where the strangest rocks are found.

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Um Amazing!

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Comments

[mlkx]

11:43 AM on 12/01/2010

lovely - brings back lots of good memories for me.

[nonnta]

12:15 AM on 12/01/2010

It's great! I want to go there.

[Cynth]

09:43 PM on 11/30/2010

Wonderful photos that do the landscape justice. On Taiwan's nortern coast, the geopark at Yehliu also features stunning formations like it's famous Queen's Head.

[Cynth]

10:38 PM on 11/30/2010

"its"

[Matt Gibson]

12:04 AM on 12/01/2010

Thanks very much Cynth. I haven't been to Yehliu, but I also want to go shoot it for a series of articles I am writing on Taiwan's diverse geography. Also on the list are location where the ground is on fire because of natural gas leakage, a pool of burning water caused by the same phenomenon, Chishan's Moonscape world where there are more (inland) strange rock formations, the coral caves of Xiaoliuchiu, the mineral hotsprings at Guanzling (one of only three or four such hotsprings in the world), and the natural seawater hotsprings on Green Island, which are also incredibly rare. Of course, Jade Mountain and Taroko Gorge may find their ways in there as well.

Of course, I'm always open to inquiries from interested editors ;-), and can be reached at [e-mail].

[Pema]

05:32 PM on 11/30/2010

incredible