Chapter 3 : Coast and Islands

        The coast lies between land and sea. The east, west, south, and north coasts of Taiwan are distinct. With different ecological environments and marine resources, they support different economic activities and lifestyles.

 

Coastal Terrain: Types and Locations

        Taiwan is an island and the coastline is relatively long. The appearance of the coast varies. The main types of terrain on the west coast are sandy beaches, sandbars, and lagoons. The coastline is monotonously straight, and the sea is shallow. On the east coast, high mountains verge on deep sea, with a narrow coastal plain in between. The north coast boasts the greatest variation in terrain. It is rocky with numerous capes and bays. The major type of terrain along the south coast is coral reef. The full length of Taiwan¡¦s coastline has great value for tourism and education.

        The east, north, and south coasts are all rocky. Their common feature is mountains or hills close to the coast. Along the west coast, on the other hand, the coastline is typically sandy and borders on plainsland.

 

The Exploitation of Marine Resources

        In international maritime law, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a seazone over which a state has special rights concerning the exploration and use of marine resources. Generally a state's EEZ extends to a distance of 200 nautical miles (370.64 km) out from its coast. In 1979, the ROC government declared that Taiwan¡¦s territorial waters extend to 12 nautical miles from the coast, and its EEZ extends to 200 nautical miles from the coast. Within its EEZ, Taiwan has the right to conduct economic or scientific exploration, development, administration, conservation and other activities. An unoccupied islet may seem insignificant, but the EEZ around it may be of great economic or scientific importance.

       

The Offshore Islands

        In addition to the Island of Taiwan, there are many offshore islands under the jurisdiction of Taiwan (Figure 3-1). These islands can be divided into two major types depending on how they formed.

Figure 3-1 Locations of Kinmen, Matsu, and Taiwan¡¦s Offshore Islands

 

        1. Volcanic Islands

        The crust underneath Taiwan is fragile and unstable, due to its position at the boundary of a continental plate and an oceanic plate. Whenever there is a fissure in the crust, lava gushes out, and then cools and hardens into an undersea volcano. Volcanoes that rise above sea level form volcanic islands. Most of the offshore islands around Taiwan are volcanic, including the Penghu Archipelago, Green Island, Orchid Island, and the Diaoyutai Archipelago.

 

        2. Coral Reef Islands

        Islands made of coral reefs that have risen above sea level are coral reef islands. Examples include the Ryukyu Islands, the Dongsha Islands, and the Taiping Islands.

 

        Each of these islands formed in a slightly different way, but their inhabitants all rely on marine resources. Fishing is the most important economic activity. However, tourism is also important to their economic development, because distinctive natural landscapes and cultural activities make these islands attractive tourist destinations.

 

Kinmen and Matsu

        Kinmen and the Matsu islands were once coastal hills of mainland China. When the sea level rose, the lower parts of the hills sunk underwater. The tops of the hills became islands.

        Kinmen County includes Kinmen Island and surrounding islets. It is located at the outside of Siamen Bay, across from the island of Siamen. The major terrain on the island is low hills. The tallest is Taiwu Hill, which stands only 253 meters high. The government established Kinmen National Park on October, 1995. This is the only national park in Taiwan that emphasizes preserving historical sites and cultural landscapes. The Matsu Archipelago comprises nineteen islands. It is located outside of the mouth of the Min River. Its great variations in terrain restrict agricultural development. Nevertheless, the fishery and the aquatic product industries are prosperous.