Kenting National Park

Infobox_protected_area
name = Kenting National Park
iucn_category = II


caption = Location of Kenting National Park in Taiwan
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Taiwan
nearest_city = Hengchun, Pingtung
lat_degrees =
lat_minutes =
lat_seconds =
lat_direction =
long_degrees =
long_minutes =
long_seconds =
long_direction =
area = 333 km²
established = 1984
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

Kenting National Park (zh-tp|t=墾丁國家公園|p=kěndīng gúojiā gōngyuán; Taiwanese POJ: Khún-teng kok-ka kong-hn̂g) is a national park in Hengchun, Pingtung County, Taiwan. The park is the oldest and southernmost park in Taiwan and was established on January 1, 1984. It is located near Kenting on a bay a short distance from Taiwan's southernmost tip. The park is famous for its coral reef cliffs, and for housing the historical lighthouse of Eluanbi (鵝鑾鼻).

Notable sights include:
* 'Chuanfanshih' : Translates to "Boat Sail Rock"
* 'Cingwashih' : "Frog Rock"
* 'Fongchueisha' : Literally translates to "Wind blowing sand", named after the cliffs covered by sand.
* 'Maobitou' : "Cat's Nose Rock", literally translated.

Geography

The park covers about 181 square kilometers of land, 152 square kilometers of sea, weighing in at 333 square kilometers combined. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait. 90 kilometers from the city of Kaohsiung, the park can be easily accessed by road, rail or air.

The landscape boasted by Kenting National Park is divided into two parts by the long and narrow Hengchun Longitudinal Valley Plain that extends from north to south. With coral sea cliffs teemed with fringing reefs along the west coast, the park features a large number of mountains in the north, and coral tablelands and foothills in the south. The plain, which is formed by fault valleys, has a vast lake called Longlyuantan, together with rising coral tablelands and limestone caves to the east. The east side of the coral tablelands features unique sand rivers and sand waterfalls formed by the combined effects of winds and rivers, as well as coral cliffs, sunken caves and stalactites.

Pictures

ee also

*List of national parks in Taiwan

External links

* [http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/eng/index.htm Official website] (in English)