Yushan National Park
Encyclopedia
Yushan National Park is one of the seven national parks in Taiwan
and was named after the summit Yushan
, the highest peak of the park. The Park covers a total of 105,490 hectares including large sections of the Central Mountain Range
. The Park contains over thirty peaks more than 3,000 meters in elevation, and two-thirds of the area within the park is above 2,000 meters. The elevation difference in the park is 3,600 meters, and there are many canyons, cliffs, and valleys.
Because its remote location and entry control, Yushan National Park is not among the most visited national parks in Taiwan. Even so, the Park still attracted 1,349,281 visitors in 2005.
, which owes its existence to the power of plate tectonics, remains a place of regular seismic activity. Examples of geological features such as fault lines, joints, and folding can be seen throughout Yushan National Park:
The southern Cross Island Highway and Yushan Scenic Highway both offer countless opportunities to witness the area’s special geological features.
(高屏溪), and Siouguluan River
(秀 姑巒溪). The Chenyoulan (陳有蘭溪), Jyunda (郡大溪), Nanzaisian (楠梓仙溪), Laonong (荖濃溪), and Lekuleku
(拉庫拉庫溪) rivers are all young rivers from Yushan
with V-shaped river bed. Jinmentong cliffs (金門峒斷崖) is a unique landmark along the Chenyoulan River (陳有蘭溪). It was formed when Chenyoulan River (陳有蘭溪) cuts through land traversed by a fault line, it showcases one of the best examples of headway erosion
. Jinmentong cliffs (金門峒斷崖), Yunlong Waterfall (雲龍瀑布) and Yinyu Waterfall (乙女瀑布; also known as 七絲瀑布) are some popular scenic points in the park.
Alpine lakes such as Dashueiku (大水窟), Tafen Pond (塔芬池), Jiaming Lake (嘉明湖), and Tienchih (天池) are formed from rain and melting snows in the shadows of surrounding mountain peaks. These lakes provide animals including visitors precious water from the mountains. However, the ecosystem around them is fragile and need further protection.
. The plants found in the Park spans from subtropical at its foothills to alpine
at its summits.
A wide difference in altitudes, precipitous cliffs
, and plunging valleys in the Yushan National Park lend to the park highly unstable weather conditions. Temperatures can vary from warm to cold at the same time at places relatively close. Therefore, the diversity of plants found here is truly remarkable. While accounting for merely 3% of Taiwan’s total land area, the park has fully half of Taiwan’s native plant species growing within its boundaries. In surveys, there are 2,522 different kinds of plants found in the park.
With increasing elevation, there are the following six vegetation zonations in the park:
In the past, many of these species became endangered due to over-hunting; but with the establishment of the Yushan National Park, they are gradually making a comeback. Larger mammals such as the black bear
, sambar deer
, Taiwan macaque
, and serows can sometimes be seen, and their call is often heard.
(布農), an aboriginal tribe, presently inhabits the villages of Dongpu (Tungpu;東埔) and Meishan (梅山). They emigrated from the coastal plains to the mountains some 300 years ago. Another tribal people, Tsou, who live in the west of the park, have been largely assimilated by the Bunun
. Displacement of aboriginals by settlers occurred during the Qing Dynasty
with the construction of the 100-km Patung-kuan Historical Trail (Batongguan Historic Trail; 八通關古道) in 1874 for defense purposes. Some stone steps, walls and guard-posts are the remains from that past.
For public safety, a lot of bridges and wooden pathways have been installed on difficult terrains.
There are three visitor centers in the Park:
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and was named after the summit Yushan
Yushan
-Mainland China:* Yushan County , a county of Shangrao City in the northeast of Jiangxi* Yushan District , Ma'anshan, AnhuiTowns* Yushan, Jinxiang County , in Jinxiang County, ShandongWritten as "玉山镇":* Yushan, Jian'ou, in Jian'ou City, Fujian...
, the highest peak of the park. The Park covers a total of 105,490 hectares including large sections of the Central Mountain Range
Central Mountain Range
The Central Mountain Range, also known as the Chungyang Range , is the principal range of mountains in Taiwan. It runs from the north of the island to the south.Due to this separation, connecting between the west and east is not so convenient...
. The Park contains over thirty peaks more than 3,000 meters in elevation, and two-thirds of the area within the park is above 2,000 meters. The elevation difference in the park is 3,600 meters, and there are many canyons, cliffs, and valleys.
Because its remote location and entry control, Yushan National Park is not among the most visited national parks in Taiwan. Even so, the Park still attracted 1,349,281 visitors in 2005.
Geology
TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, which owes its existence to the power of plate tectonics, remains a place of regular seismic activity. Examples of geological features such as fault lines, joints, and folding can be seen throughout Yushan National Park:
- Great Precipice (大峭壁) — Great Precipice (23.4683339 120.9396649) is located 1.2 km before Paiyun Lodge (排雲山莊) on the Yushan Trail. A precipitous cliff with fossils of ancient marine species and a few wavy marks in the rock can still remind us its oceanic past.
- Scree slope at the foot of Main Peak
- Fault scarpFault scarpA fault scarp is the topographic expression of faulting attributed to the displacement of the land surface by movement along faults. They are exhibited either by differential movement and subsequent erosion along an old inactive geologic fault , or by a movement on a recent active fault...
in Laonong (荖濃) between Main Peak and Batongguan (八通關) - Fuzi Cliff (父子斷崖) and Guanshan Cliff (關山斷崖)
The southern Cross Island Highway and Yushan Scenic Highway both offer countless opportunities to witness the area’s special geological features.
Hydrology
Yushan area is an important watershed of main river systems in central, southern, and eastern Taiwan http://english.ysnp.gov.tw/Publication.aspx?CurrentNodeID=1826&Level=3. It is the water sources of Zhuoshui River (濁水溪), Kaoping RiverKaoping River
The Kaoping or Gaoping River is a major river in Taiwan. It flows through Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County for , draining a basin of , with an average discharge of ....
(高屏溪), and Siouguluan River
Siouguluan River
The Siouguluan River is a river in southeastern Taiwan. It flows through Hualien County for before emptying into the Pacific Ocean.-Overview:...
(秀 姑巒溪). The Chenyoulan (陳有蘭溪), Jyunda (郡大溪), Nanzaisian (楠梓仙溪), Laonong (荖濃溪), and Lekuleku
Lekuleku River
The Lekuleku River is a tributary of the Siouguluan River in Taiwan. It flows through Hualien County for 54km....
(拉庫拉庫溪) rivers are all young rivers from Yushan
Yushan
-Mainland China:* Yushan County , a county of Shangrao City in the northeast of Jiangxi* Yushan District , Ma'anshan, AnhuiTowns* Yushan, Jinxiang County , in Jinxiang County, ShandongWritten as "玉山镇":* Yushan, Jian'ou, in Jian'ou City, Fujian...
with V-shaped river bed. Jinmentong cliffs (金門峒斷崖) is a unique landmark along the Chenyoulan River (陳有蘭溪). It was formed when Chenyoulan River (陳有蘭溪) cuts through land traversed by a fault line, it showcases one of the best examples of headway erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
. Jinmentong cliffs (金門峒斷崖), Yunlong Waterfall (雲龍瀑布) and Yinyu Waterfall (乙女瀑布; also known as 七絲瀑布) are some popular scenic points in the park.
Alpine lakes such as Dashueiku (大水窟), Tafen Pond (塔芬池), Jiaming Lake (嘉明湖), and Tienchih (天池) are formed from rain and melting snows in the shadows of surrounding mountain peaks. These lakes provide animals including visitors precious water from the mountains. However, the ecosystem around them is fragile and need further protection.
Flora
Due to its unique geography and entrancing landscape, Yushan National Park is well known for its diverse climate zones and rich biodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. The plants found in the Park spans from subtropical at its foothills to alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
at its summits.
A wide difference in altitudes, precipitous cliffs
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
, and plunging valleys in the Yushan National Park lend to the park highly unstable weather conditions. Temperatures can vary from warm to cold at the same time at places relatively close. Therefore, the diversity of plants found here is truly remarkable. While accounting for merely 3% of Taiwan’s total land area, the park has fully half of Taiwan’s native plant species growing within its boundaries. In surveys, there are 2,522 different kinds of plants found in the park.
With increasing elevation, there are the following six vegetation zonations in the park:
| Altitude | Characteristics | |
| Broadleaf Forest Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Mixed forests are a temperate and humid biome. The typical structure of these forests includes four layers. The uppermost layer is the canopy composed of tall mature trees ranging from 33 to 66 m high. Below the canopy is the three-layered, shade-tolerant understory that is roughly 9 to... Zone |
Below 1800 metres (5,906 ft) | The broadleaved forest is mainly dominated by trees of the Lauraceae Lauraceae The Lauraceae or Laurel family comprises a group of flowering plants included in the order Laurales. The family contains about 55 genera and over 3500, perhaps as many as 4000, species world-wide, mostly from warm or tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America... and Fagaceae Fagaceae The family Fagaceae, or beech family, comprises about 900 species of both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, which are characterized by alternate simple leaves with pinnate venation, unisexual flowers in the form of catkins, and fruit in the form of cup-like nuts. Fagaceous leaves are often... and forms the mixed forest zone. The second tree layer is composed of members of the Fagaceae Fagaceae The family Fagaceae, or beech family, comprises about 900 species of both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, which are characterized by alternate simple leaves with pinnate venation, unisexual flowers in the form of catkins, and fruit in the form of cup-like nuts. Fagaceous leaves are often... , such as Cyclobalanopsis morii, Castanopsis carlesii 小红栲 and Lithocarpus amygdalifolius 杏叶柯. The ground layer plants are also plentiful and include ferns Fern A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants... and bracken Bracken Bracken are several species of large, coarse ferns of the genus Pteridium. Ferns are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells . Brackens are in the family Dennstaedtiaceae, which are noted for their large, highly... . |
| Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis is a genus of conifers in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to eastern Asia and western and eastern North America. In the nursery trade it is often incorrectly known as "false cypress" for lack of other common name, so as to distinguish it from other similar genera bearing... Zone |
1800 metres (5,906 ft) — 2500 metres (8,202 ft) | In this zone, it grows some precious Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis is a genus of conifers in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to eastern Asia and western and eastern North America. In the nursery trade it is often incorrectly known as "false cypress" for lack of other common name, so as to distinguish it from other similar genera bearing... pure forests. |
| Tsuga Chinensis Tsuga chinensis Tsuga chinensis, commonly referred to as the Taiwan or Chinese Hemlock, or in Chinese as Tieshan , is a coniferous tree species native to China, Taiwan, Tibet and Vietnam. The tree is quite variable and has many recognised varieties, though some are also maintained to be separate species by certain... Zone |
2500 metres (8,202 ft) — 3500 metres (11,483 ft) | In this zone,the coniferous trees are represented by Chamaecyparis formosensis,Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana (台湾扁柏), Taiwan cryptomerioides Hayata, Chunninghamia konishii Hayata and Pseudotsuga wilsoniana Hayata;and the deciduous Deciduous Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe... tree by Acer morrisonensis Hayata and Acer serriulatum Hayata.Chamaecyparis formosensis and Chamaecypairs obtusa var. formosana are commonly called cypress Cypress Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs... . |
| Abies Kawakamii Abies kawakamii Abies kawakamii is a species of conifer in the Pinaceae family.It is found only in Taiwan.-Source:* Conifer Specialist Group 1998. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007.... Zone |
About 3530 metres (11,581 ft) | Groups of Abies kawakamii Abies kawakamii Abies kawakamii is a species of conifer in the Pinaceae family.It is found only in Taiwan.-Source:* Conifer Specialist Group 1998. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007.... grow on the western slope of Yushan. |
| Subalpine Shrub Zone | 3500 metres (11,483 ft) — 3800 metres (12,467 ft) | Dwarf plants, which grow prostrate and leeward, are the dominant vegetation types of this area. |
| Alpine Herbaceous Zone | Above 3800 metres (12,467 ft) | When summer comes, herbaceous plants,such as Adenophora uehatae Yamamoto (高山沙參),Leontopodium microphyllum Hayata, Sedum morrisonensis and Gentiana arisanensis Hayata, give rise to colorful flowers in this area, |
Fauna
The park is home to a large variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies. Between the months of March and May, visitors have the chance to see processions of butterflies fluttering through mountain valleys. In the following table, it shows total different kinds of animals found in the Park:| Mammals | Reptiles | Amphibians | Insects | Birds | Fishes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 18 | 13 | 780 | 151 | 12 |
In the past, many of these species became endangered due to over-hunting; but with the establishment of the Yushan National Park, they are gradually making a comeback. Larger mammals such as the black bear
Formosan Black Bear
The Formosan black bear , also known as the white-throated bear, is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear. Formosan black bears are endemic to Taiwan. In 2001, they were voted the most representative wildlife of Taiwan in a half-year long countrywide voting campaign...
, sambar deer
Formosan Sambar Deer
The Formosan Sambar is a subspecies of sambar found in Taiwan. It is the largest native herbivore there. Its fur color changes with season to provide camouflage, it is yellowish brown in the summer and dark brown in the winter....
, Taiwan macaque
Formosan Rock Macaque
The Formosan Rock Macaque is a macaque endemic to the island of Taiwan and has been introduced to Japan. Besides humans, Formosan Rock Macaques are the only native primates living in Taiwan.-Physical Characteristics:...
, and serows can sometimes be seen, and their call is often heard.
Cultural Heritage
Prehistoric relics, such as stone tools and pottery, found in the Wangshiang (望鄉) and Dongpu (Tungpu;東埔) areas, provide evidence of early human occupation. The BununBunun People
The Bunun , also historically known as the Vonum, are a tribe of Taiwanese aborigines and are best known for their sophisticated polyphonic vocal music. They speak the Bunun language. Unlike other aboriginal tribes in Taiwan, the Bunun are widely dispersed across the island. In the year 2000 the...
(布農), an aboriginal tribe, presently inhabits the villages of Dongpu (Tungpu;東埔) and Meishan (梅山). They emigrated from the coastal plains to the mountains some 300 years ago. Another tribal people, Tsou, who live in the west of the park, have been largely assimilated by the Bunun
Bunun People
The Bunun , also historically known as the Vonum, are a tribe of Taiwanese aborigines and are best known for their sophisticated polyphonic vocal music. They speak the Bunun language. Unlike other aboriginal tribes in Taiwan, the Bunun are widely dispersed across the island. In the year 2000 the...
. Displacement of aboriginals by settlers occurred during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
with the construction of the 100-km Patung-kuan Historical Trail (Batongguan Historic Trail; 八通關古道) in 1874 for defense purposes. Some stone steps, walls and guard-posts are the remains from that past.
Eco-Tourism
To promote eco-tourism, the Park has established protection laws and raised public awareness of the importance of nature conservation on one hand and provided public facilities for easy access on the other hand. Public facilities provided in the Park include:| Foot Paths (metres) | Parking Lots | Pedestrian Protective Rails (metres) | Suspension Bridges | Rest Rooms | Sewage Treatment Plants | Tourist Centers | Training Centers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39,880 | 17 | 1,111 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
For public safety, a lot of bridges and wooden pathways have been installed on difficult terrains.
There are three visitor centers in the Park:
See also
- TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
- Yushan
- Yushan RangeYushan RangeYushan Range, also known as the Jade Mountain Range, is a mountain range in central-southern region of Taiwan. It faces the Central Mountain Range on the east, and separated by Nantzuhsien River from the Alishan Range which is on the west of Yushan Range...
- List of mountains in Taiwan
- List of islands by highest point