Carp Mountain Mud Volcano Introduction
Liuyushan, as the name suggests, is named after its shape resembling a koi fish. In the early days, it was also known as Gunshui Mountain due to the springs that would burst forth from the mountain's peak. The first eruption of the mud volcano at Liuyushan reportedly occurred over a century ago during the Qing Dynasty, and since then, it has exhibited intermittent eruptions. Starting from the 77th year of the Republic of China, it has erupted almost every year, and the eruption sites have even shifted from the mountaintop to the plains. From a geological perspective, the ground beneath contains natural gas, oil, water, and mud. When the energy beneath accumulates to a certain level, it is released through fractures in the Earth's crust. Liuyushan is situated on an unstable fault line, which contributes to its spectacular mud eruptions. During these eruptions, rich natural gas is released alongside the mud, and to accelerate gas combustion, artificial ignition is applied. The resulting mud and fiery spectacle features columns of flames shooting upwards by several meters with great intensity. In recent years, the eruption points of the mud volcano have been located around the Huangyuan Shengdian (Huangyuan Temple). According to religious beliefs, this temple was built under divine instruction, and within the main hall of Huangyuan Shengdian hangs a photo depicting the "Manifestation of the Golden Dragon" captured during a volcanic eruption, adding a layer of legend to this natural wonder. Interestingly, although the eruption holes are located not far from the temple, the structure of Huangyuan Shengdian remains unharmed despite being surrounded by flowing magma during each eruption. The mud volcano is always in an unpredictable state of eruption. Even if one does not have the opportunity to witness the eruption of "Liuyushan," the unique geological features left behind, such as the eruption holes and mud, are still worth exploring.
