Gueishan Island

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Gueishan Island (Kueishantao)
View from Dasi Station
Elevation	401 m (1,316 ft)
Location	East China Sea, off the NE coast of Yilan, Taiwan
Prominence	401 m (1,316 ft)
Coordinates	24°51′N, 121°55′E
Type	Stratovolcano
Age of rock	Pleistocene
Last eruption	5000 BC

Gueishan Island or Steep Island or Turtle Island (traditional Chinese: 龜山島; pinyin: Guīshāndǎo; Wade-Giles: Kuei¹-shan¹-tao³; literally "Turtle Mountain Island"), also known as Kueishan Island, is an island in the Pacific Ocean currently administered by Yilan County, Taiwan and located 9.1 km east of port of Gengfang Fishery Harbor. The island is the top of an andesite stratovolcano which rises from the seafloor. It is the only active volcano in Taiwan, displaying active fumaroles and solfataras. It has an area of 2.841 square kilometres (1.097 sq mi), and the highest point reaches 401 m (1,316 ft) above sea level.

The local population, consisting mainly of fishermen, was relocated in 1977 due to the hardships associated with living on the island. Between 1977 and 2000 it became the site of a military base, and currently it is managed as a tourist destination and natural conservation area. There are restrictions for visitors due to environmental protection.

1 Head Turning of the Turtle Mountain
2 Visiting the island
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Head Turning of the Turtle Mountain

View from Shicheng Station.

It is interesting that from different views at different locations of Yilan County, the shape of Gueishan Island is quite different. Also the shape of the turtle's head is different; from Northeast Coastal Areas of Toucheng Town such as Shicheng and Dasi, the shape is close to the head of a turtle, while from Luodong Town and Wujie Country, the shape is triangular. The reason for this is the curvy shape of the seashore of Yilan, circling the very island. There is hence the term "Head Turning of the Turtle Mountain" (龜山轉頭).

[edit] Visiting the island

Before going to the island, the schedule about visitor numbers has to be reviewed to see which day is still left for registration. The online application (線上申請) for visiting this island is available here:here (in Chinese, though). Key points for traveling to Gueishan Island in English is also available [1].

The application must be completed with shipping agreement with local ferry owners at least one week prior to the visiting date, and there is another application form for going to the highest point of the island, where is often restricted.