When Portuguese explorers discovered Taiwan in the 16th century, they called it "Ilha Formosa," which means "Beautiful Island." If you visit the Taroko Gorge on Taiwan's east coast, you can easily see why.
The gorge was formed over millions of years as ocean sediments hardened into limestone, then metamorphosed into marble due to tectonic compression, then were eroded by the Liwu River. The result is a unique geological masterpiece. Jagged canyon walls plunge thousands of feet into the icy blue river, which narrowly snakes its way through the lush green landscape. One of the highlights of the gorge is a more recent addition: the Shrine of the Eternal Spring, which was built about 50 years ago to commemorate those who died building the roadway through the gorge. The Shrine is built on the steep rocky slopes of the gorge, right over a rushing waterfall. The place is especially dramatic in wet weather, when the wind carries thick mists past the Shrine and over the high cliffs. It's no surprise that the gorge is one of Taiwan's premier tourist attractions.
I don't have any more to say about it - instead, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
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| Shrine of the Eternal Spring |
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| Statue of some dude near the entrance to the national park |
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| Window shopping near the gorge |
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| Eating dumplings near the gorge |
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