Geography of Taiwan
).]]Taiwan is a medium-sized archipelago in East Asia, located at 23°30N, 121°00E and running through the middle of the Tropic of Cancer (23°5N). It is located 100 miles (161km) off mainland China and is the largest part of the Republic of China. The main island is Taiwan Island, which comprises about 98 percent of the current jurisdiction of the Republic of China; the other 2 percent are the smaller islands of Quemoy, Matsu, Lanyu, and the Pescadores, along with the tiny islets of Green Island, Liuchiu, and Wuchiu. Taiwan island is separated from the mainland by the Taiwan Strait and borders the South China Sea and Philippine Sea to the south, the East China Sea in the north, and the Pacific Ocean in the west.
Taiwan's area is 35,980km,² of which 32,260km,² is land and 3,720km² is territorial water claims, making it slightly smaller than the combined area of Maryland and Delaware. It is 244 miles (394km) long and 89 miles (144km) wide. It has a coastline of 1,566.3km, and claims an exclusive economic of 200 nautical miles and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles.
The climate on the island is generally marine and varies widely by season. From June to August is the rainy season, when monsoons are most likely to hit. In the northern part of Taiwan, cloudiness is persistent and extensive during the year; in the south, however, the rainy days are always in the summer time, and 90 percent of the annual rainfall is calculated during this period. The annual rainfall is usually is more than 2500 mm.
The terrain in Taiwan is divided into two parts: the flat to gently rolling plains in the west, where 90 percent of the population lives, and the mostly rugged forest-covered mountains in the eastern two-thirds.
The western mountain forests are mostly cypress, although camphor was once also widespread. The higest elevation in Taiwan (and east Asia) is Jade Mountain (Yu Shan), at 12,963 feet (3,952m). Prior to major Taiwanese economic success, the mountainous areas held several endemic animal species, such as the Formosan Black Bear (Selanarctos thibetanus formosanus), the Formosan Sika Deer (Cervus nippon taiwanensis or cervus nippon taiouanus) and the Formosan landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus). A few of these species are now extinct, and many others have been designated endangered species.
Natural resources on the islands include small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos. The island is 55 percent forests and woodland (mostly on the mountains) and 24 percent arable land (mostly on the plains), with 15 percent going to other purposes. Five percent is permanent pastures and 1 percent is permanent crops.
Natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons. In September 21, 1999, an earthquake occurred in the center of Taiwan. The death toll in this catastrophe was more than two thousand. Besides, mudslides resulting from intensive rain caused by typhoons often bring disaster.
Environment - current issues: air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal