Taroko Gorge

Location: Taiwan

Taroko Gorge in eastern Taiwan is a spectacular 12-mile-long ravine of sheer marble cliffs, white-water rivers and stunning waterfalls. This landscape originated over 230 million years ago, when coral reefs formed in the tropical shallows where Taiwan is now located. Time transformed the coral into limestone, which the intense heat of geotectonic movements turned into marble.

The park area is extremely rich in ecological resources. Its vegetation cover consists mainly of broadleaf forests, whilst the Formosan red-bellied tree squirrel and the Formosan rock-money are the most commonly seen animals in the gorge area. Bird watching in the gorge is also highly recommended, with over 85 species of birds in the area.