10 Facts About Taiwan’s Geography That Will Surprise You

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Taiwan’s geography is incredibly diverse. Discover 10 surprising facts about Taiwan’s landscape! From snow-capped mountains to daily earthquakes – get ready to be amazed!

1. Taiwan has more than 200 mountains over 3,000 meters

A high mountain range runs from north to south through Taiwan, featuring numerous peaks over 3,000 meters. The Baiyue (台灣百岳) is a list of 100 mountains that stand above this elevation. These mountains are considered particularly beautiful, unique, dangerous, high, or prominent. For ambitious hikers, conquering all 100 peaks is the ultimate goal.

2. Taiwan experiences more than 20,000 earthquakes per year

Taiwan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its high tectonic activity. As a result, earthquakes and volcanoes are common. Most of Taiwan’s earthquakes are very weak and go unnoticed, causing no damage. However, there are also many strong quakes, with several occurring every year. Fortunately, major disasters remain rare.

3. Taiwan’s rivers are not navigable

Despite their often wide riverbeds and sometimes significant water flow, most rivers in Taiwan are not navigable. Only a few can support boats, and even then, only in short sections near their mouths. During heavy rains or typhoons, rivers can swell dramatically, but in dry periods, many riverbeds become almost completely dry, leaving only shallow streams.

4. Taiwan’s highest mountain just misses the 4,000-meter mark

Taiwan’s highest peak, Yushan or Jade Mountain (玉山), stands at an impressive 3,952 meters—nearly 1,000 meters higher than Germany’s Zugspitze. Unlike the Alps, where the tree line is around 2,000 meters, Taiwan’s mountains remain covered in lush greenery all the way to their highest summits. This gives them a softer, less rugged appearance compared to many other high mountain ranges.

5. Taiwan once had glaciers

During the last Ice Age (115,000 to 11,700 years ago), glaciers formed in Taiwan’s high mountains. Today, they have completely disappeared due to melting. Because of the intense erosion in Taiwan’s mountains, only a few traces remain. One such clue is the Jiaming Lake (嘉明湖), which sits in a cirque, a bowl-shaped depression formed by glaciers.

6. Taiwan’s coastline is shorter than you might think

Even though Taiwan is an island, and its territory includes several smaller islands, its total coastline is only 1,566 kilometers long—much shorter than Germany’s 2,389-kilometer coastline. This is because Taiwan has a more compact shape and fewer deeply indented coastal areas. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s coastline offers a wide variety of stunning landscapes and impressive coastal formations.

7. Taiwan has mud volcanoes and eternal flames

In southern Taiwan, particularly in Pingtung, you can find mud volcanoes. These formations resemble regular volcanoes, but instead of lava, they erupt with water-saturated mud, often mixed with methane gas. Occasionally, they produce larger eruptions, such as in 2022, when a mud volcano erupted right next to a temple.

Another fascinating phenomenon in southern Taiwan, specifically in Hengchun, is the “eternal flame” (Chuhuo). Here, natural gas seeps from the ground and has been continuously burning since it was first ignited. This has given rise to the name “eternal flame.”

8. It snows in Taiwan during winter

Although Taiwan has a subtropical and tropical climate, temperatures rarely dropping below 10°C, snow does fall in the high mountains during winter. In fact, this happens almost every year. In particularly cold winters, even the mountains around Taipei can receive a dusting of snow.

These snowy landscapes in Taiwan’s high mountains create a fascinating contrast to the lush tropical vegetation, offering a unique and breathtaking experience for visitors. Exploring these snow-covered peaks while surrounded by Taiwan’s natural beauty is truly special.

9. Natural lakes are rare in Taiwan

Taiwan’s largest lake, Sun Moon Lake, covers 7.93 km², making it about the same size as Germany’s Rur Reservoir. However, the original Sun Moon Lake was actually smaller—its size increased in the 1930s when a dam and hydropower plant were built, turning it into a reservoir.

In fact, all of Taiwan’s large lakes are reservoirs. Natural lakes are relatively rare and tend to be quite small. This is due to Taiwan’s topography: in the high mountains, deep valleys dominate, preventing lake formation, while in the lowlands, there are few natural depressions that could hold lakes.

Nevertheless, Taiwan’s lakes, such as Sun Moon Lake, are beautiful and attract many visitors. Surrounded by picturesque mountains, they offer great opportunities for boating, cycling, and hiking.

10. Taiwan has active volcanoes

For a long time, scientists believed that the volcanoes in northern Taiwan were extinct. However, recent studies discovered a magma chamber beneath these volcanoes, indicating ongoing volcanic activity. The numerous sulfur springs and hot springs in the Yangmingshan area also suggest underground activity.

At present, experts do not expect an eruption anytime soon. The volcanoes are closely monitored to detect any early warning signs. However, some research challenges the idea of an active magma chamber, arguing that the volcanoes may still be extinct. The scientific debate is ongoing, and further studies are needed to determine their true status.

Despite these differing views, keeping an eye on Taiwan’s volcanoes is essential to ensure safety and preparedness in case of future volcanic activity.

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