Discover Taiwan

Geography of Taiwan

16 Dec 2014 | From Victoria of Taiwan

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This is my second postcard showing an illustrated map of Taiwan. The postcard may be a part of the 'Share Taiwan with the world' postcard series.

Taiwan, historically called Formosa, is an island in East Asia located some 180 kilometres (112 miles) off the southeastern coast of China across the Taiwan Strait.  It is shaped like a leaf that is narrow at both ends. Taiwan proper makes up 99% of the territory of the Republic of China (ROC), after the ROC lost its mainland China territory in the Chinese Civil War and fled to the island in 1949, and the country itself is commonly referred to as simply "Taiwan".

Taiwan is a tilted fault block, characterized by the contrast between the eastern two-thirds, consisting mostly of five rugged mountain ranges parallel to the east coast, and the flat to gently rolling plains of the western third, where most of Taiwan's population reside.

Taiwan lies on the western edge of the Pacific "rim of fire," and continuous tectonic movements have created majestic peaks, rolling hills and plains, basins, coastlines, and other natural landscapes. Taiwan's tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate climates provide clear differentiation between the different seasons. There are rare or endangered species of wildlife on the island. Among these are the land-locked salmon, Taiwan serow, Formosan rock monkey, Formosan black bear, blue magpie, Mikado pheasant, and Hsuehshan grass lizard.