Geography


Taiwan was known for almost four centuries in the West as Ilha Formosa - meaning 'Beautiful Island'. It was named by the Portuguese, who held control of the island through much of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. However, for the Chinese it has always been known as Taiwan (meaning 'terraced bay'). It is 384 km (240mi.) long by 136 km (85mi.) wide. Although created by tectonic shifts and volcanoes many millions of years ago, there are no longer any active volcanoes in Taiwan.

Taiwan is mountainous and rugged in the interior of the island with 90% of the people living along the gentler west coast. It is located 144 km (90mi.) off the southeast coast of Mainland China's Fujian Province. Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung offer easy weekend access to the mountains for climbing and recreation, and Kaohsiung has Kenting National Park, known for its beaches and beautiful scenery.