The island of Taiwan lies some 120 kilometers off the southeastern coast of
mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait, and has an area of 35,801 square
kilometers (13,823 square miles). The East China Sea lies to the north, the
Philippine Sea to the east, the Luzon Strait directly to the south and the South
China Sea to the southwest. The island is characterized by the contrast between
the eastern two-thirds, consisting mostly of rugged mountains running in five
ranges from the northern to the southern tip of the island, and the flat to
gently rolling plains in the west that are also home to most of Taiwan's
population. Taiwan's highest point is the Yu Shan at 3,952 meters, and there are
five other peaks over 3,500 meters. This makes it the world's seventh-highest
island. Taroko National Park,located on the mountainous eastern side of the
island, has good examples of mountainous terrain, gorges and erosion caused by a
swiftly flowing river.
The shape of the main island of Taiwan is similar to a sweet potato seen in a
south-to-north direction, and therefore, Taiwanese people, especially the Min-nan
division, often call themselves "children of the Sweet Potato."[17] There are
also other interpretations of the island shape, one of which is a whale in the
ocean (the Pacific Ocean) if viewed in a west-to-east direction, which is a
common orientation in ancient maps, plotted either by Western explorers or the
Ching Dynasty.
Siouguluan RiverTaiwan's climate is marine tropical.[18] The Northern part of
the island has a rainy season that lasts from January to late March during the
southwest monsoon, and also experiences meiyu in May.[19] The entire island
succumbs to hot humid weather from June until September, while October to
December are arguably the most pleasant times of year. The middle and southern
parts of the island do not have an extended monsoon season during the winter
months, but can experience several weeks of rain, especially during and after
Lunar New Year. Natural hazards such as typhoons and earthquakes[20] are common
in the region.
Taiwan is a center of bird endemism; see Endemic birds of Taiwan for further
information
With its high population density and many factories, some areas in Taiwan
suffer from heavy pollution. Most notable are the southern suburbs of Taipei and
the western stretch from Tainan to Lin Yuan, south of Kaohsiung. In the past,
Taipei suffered from extensive vehicle and factory air pollution, but with
mandatory use of unleaded gasoline and the establishment of the Environmental
Protection Agency, the air quality of Taiwan has improved dramatically.[21]
Motor scooters, especially older or cheaper two-stroke versions, which are
ubiquitous in Taiwan, also contribute disproportionately to air pollution in
Taiwan.
Land and soil pollution has decreased as Taiwanese industry moves out of heavy
industry; however, several toxic sites continue to pose challenges. Solid waste
disposal has become less of a problem as a nation-wide recycling movement has
taken hold, especially with support from Buddhist charity
organizations.[citation needed]
Water pollution remains a problematic issue. Nearly 90% of sewage waste in
Taiwan is dumped untreated into waterways. Several rivers are so heavily
polluted that it would take billions of dollars to clean them
Because of the intensive exploitation throughout Taiwan's pre-modern and
modern history, the island's mineral resources (eg. coal, gold, marble), as well
as wild animal reserves (eg. deer), have been virtually exhausted. Moreover,
much of its forestry resources was harvested during Japanese rule for the
construction of shrines (using particularly firs) and has only recovered
slightly since then. The remaining forests nowadays do not contribute to
significant timber production mainly because of concerns about production costs
and regulations of environmental protection.
Camphor oil extraction and cane sugar production played an important role in
Taiwan's exportation from the late nineteenth century through the first half of
the twentieth century. The importance of the above industries subsequently
declined not because of the exhaustion of related natural resources but mainly
of the decline of international market demands.
Nowadays, few natural resources with significant economic value are retained in
Taiwan, which are essentially agriculture-associated. Domestic agriculture (rice
being the dominant kind of crop) and fishery retain importance to a certain
degree, but they have been greatly challenged by foreign imports since Taiwan's
accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001. Consequently, upon the
decline of subsistent importance, Taiwan's agriculture now relies heavily on the
marketing and exportation of certain kinds of specialty, such as banana, guava,
lychee, wax apple, and high-mountain tea.
See also: Energy policy of Taiwan
Taiwan has significant coal deposits and some insignificant oil and gas
deposits. Electrical power generation is nearly 55% coal-based, 18% nuclear
power, 17% natural gas, and about 5% oil, and 5% from renewable energy sources.
Nearly all oil and gas for transportation and power needs must be imported,
making Taiwan particularly sensitive to fluctuations in energy prices. Because
of this, Taiwan's Executive Yuan is pushing for 10% of energy generation to come
from renewable energy by 2010, double from the current figure of approximately
5%. In fact, several wind-farms built by American and German companies have come
online or will in the near future. Taiwan is rich in wind-energy resources, both
on-shore and off-shore, though limited land area favors offshore wind resources.
Solar energy is also a potential resource to some extent. By promoting renewable
energy, Taiwan's government hopes to also aid the nascent renewable energy
manufacturing industry, and develop it into an export market