Yehliu is a long cape on the north coast of Taiwan in the town
of Wanli between Taipei and Keelung. The cape, known by geologists
as the Yehliu Promontory, forms part of the Taliao Miocene
Formation. It stretches approximately 1,700 meters into the ocean
and was formed as geological forces pushed Datun Mountain out of
the sea. Because the rock layer of nearby seashore contains
limestone subject to sea erosion, weathering and earth movements, a
distinctive feature of the cape is the hoodoo rocks that dot its
surface in the shape of mushroom, candle, ginger, and the
chessboard.
Evolution process
Originally these rocks had gone through sea erosion and, as time
went by, the hard concretion came out to have experience the impact
of wind, sun, rain, sea-water and stong northeastern monsoon.
Muchroom rocks
About 180 rocks in the shape of mushroom, as a show window of their
eroding process from no neck, broad neck to narrow neck ones. Among
them, the famous Queen's Head demonstrates majestic elegance. It
now becoms the landmark of Yehliu Geology Park.
Candle
rocks
Candles shaped rocks here were carved by sea erosion. After the
softer surfae had been scoured off, the ball-like concretion stood
out in candlewick shape. Meanwhile, sea erosion had not only
created a circular trench on the top but also encroached downward
to shape a cone candlestick.
Honeycombed rocks
Honeycombed rocks refer to mushrrom shaped crags whose surface is
filled with sea eroded holse of different sizes. The Weathering
Window, the Marine Bird Rock, and the 24- Filial-Piety Hill are the
best-known among them.
Ginger
rocks
After the softer surface had been washed away as a result of long
period sea erosion, the hard calcium concretion of rock were
further squeezed by earth movement to take the shape of gingers.
The Fairy's Shose is most famous among them. You would almost
believe that it was left in a hurry by a fairy.
Pot
holes
Pebbles were brought by wave to wave-cut platform and then bumped
deeper and deeper to form many pot-shaped holes. Inside these holes
grow many seaweeds, small fishes and small crabs.
Chessboard rocks
In the coast area between Fairy's Shose and the ligthhouse lies a
complete bean curd rock. Such square crags were pressed and
squeezed as a result of weathering to show latticed joints. After
long period sea erosion, these fissures form small lines of gutter,
just like pieces of delicious bean curd.
Fossils
There are plenty of fossils in the rock bedding, including the sea
urchin fossil, which is in the petal shape and is belong to the
body fossil; as well as to show the trace of th ecrab's motion,
like sand pipe fossil, it is belong to the trace fossil.
Transportation - By bus:
1. Take the express bus (bound for Jinshan Youth Activity Center)
of Kuo-Kuang Co. At Taipei Bus Terminal in Taipei city; alight at
Yehliu stop.
2. Take the express bus (bound for Jinshan or Tamsui) at Keelung
station (near Keelung Railway Station).
3. Take the express bus (bound to Jinshan) at Tamshui station (near
Tamshui MRT station); alight at Yehliu stop.
To log this cache, please send the answer of the following
questions to owner:
1. What kinds of minerals between rock layer of nearby seashore,
subject to sea erosion, weathering and earth movements?
2. Estimate the height of Queen's Head muchroom rocks.
3. Estimate the diameter of most thinest part of Queen's Head.
(Don't touch it. Use your eye.)
4. Please name any 3 "cannot do behaviour" to save the Yehliu
environment.
5. (Optional) Post any 2 photos of your GPSr with Yehliu Geopark in
the background.
Please don't post the answer into the log.
(P.S. An EarthCache site is a special place that people can
visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of our
Earth. The treasure is the lessons people learn about our plant
when they visit the site. Any irrelevant misleading information
will be deleted.)