Taroko National Park
Taroko National Park is known for two amazing views - one created by nature, the Taroko gorge, and the other, a man-made highway arc of Taiwan. The road crosses the Taiwan east-west length and is 195 km long. It is literally carved into the steep cliffs of the Taroko gorge, which is one of the most impressive sceneries in the world. Taroko National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Taiwan.
From the park one can see the 19 km long canyon, whose walls are mostly marble and granite. The high cliffs are more than 200 million years old, with strings of rapids and waterfalls adding to the beauty of the surroundings. In the Toroko gorge, one can find a very specific nephritis, which can be found only there. The path that has been cut into the wall is considered one of the most dangerous paths in the world, not only for tourists, but also for the transport of marble, quarried in abundance from the local mountains.
The translation of Taroko means "great". Construction of the unique Highway was never a "great" experience, as at least 450 workers who were killed here during the five years of her construction. In the mid 20th century, the government decided to pave the way through the Taroko National Park and connect Taichung to the west, and Taroko to the east. They are located 195 km apart. The end result is the Rainbow of Taiwan, crossing the whole island in an east-west direction. This is considered a real engineering marvel and in places it is literally carved into the steep rocky slopes.
In memory of those killed during the building of the highway over the Taroko gorge, is a monument - the Temple of the Eternal spring, consisting of a pavilion with a red roof and a waterfall. In the morning, bells greet the dawn, and sunrise is meet with drums.
The natural beauty of the Taroko National Park cannot be described in words. Surrounded by steep walls of various colored marble, is what paves the way to the turbulent Livu River, which winds of up to 20 kilometers from the scenic mountains to the sea. The highway is a path that reveals the full force of wealth, with Taiwanese marble deposits. Some time ago there were plans to make Taroko gorge in a marble quarry, but now the gorge and surrounding mountains , forests and cliffs have been declared the Taroko National Park.
Among the wildlife of the Taroko National Park you can see black bears, wild boars, monkeys, spotted deer, mountain goats, 25 species of reptiles and numerous birds , including rare species of Mikado Pheasants. In the Taroko National Park, the locals like to engage in traditional activities such as farming and hunting, as well as celebrate with colorful festivals that are open to tourists.
The largest city on the east coast is Hualyan, where there are nearby quarries, where marble is extracted. This place is unique, as it boasts the only marble airport in the world. At further glance, one will see a lot more marble - the streets are paved with marble mosaics, there are marble temples, and marble in hotel bathtubs, sinks and so on.
A highlight of the Taroko National Park is the Tunnel of Nine Turns - a section of highway with more than 9 tunnels and semi-tunnels, also carved in marble. The Taroko National Park was founded in 1937, during the Japanese administration of the island. The park was closed in August 1945, and rebuilt in 1986. The sight of 19 km long canyon in Taroko is something that must be seen as well as the Eternal Spring Shrine Temple, which is a place like no marble in the world.
