Taroko Gorge, Marble canyon in Xiulin Township, Taiwan.
Taroko Gorge is a marble canyon in Taiwan, carved by the Liwu River over millions of years. The canyon walls rise nearly straight up on both sides, and at its deepest points the drop is substantial, creating a narrow passage through the rock.
The area was declared Taiwan's first national park in 1937 under Japanese rule, then closed shortly after. It reopened in 1986 under the name Taroko National Park and has been managed as a nature reserve since then.
The name of the gorge comes from the Truku people, who have lived in this region for generations. Along the trails, visitors can still find places that mark where these communities once settled and moved through the land.
The gorge can be reached through several entrances, and the trails range from easy walks to more demanding routes. Sturdy shoes and enough water are a good idea, as some paths are narrow and the sun can be strong between the rock walls.
The collision of two tectonic plates around 4 million years ago pushed former seabed rock upward, and the canyon walls are partly made of that material. This means that some of the marble visible along the trails was once at the bottom of the ocean.
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