Kenting National Forest Recreation Area Introduction
Kenting National Forest Recreation Area is the only tropical botanical garden in Taiwan and is recognized as one of the top ten tropical botanical gardens in the world. The park is home to over a thousand species of tropical plants, as well as rich resources of butterflies, birds, insects, and reptiles. Visitors may occasionally see groups of Formosan macaques playing, and during the autumn and winter months, large numbers of migratory birds, including the Japanese sparrowhawk, honey buzzard, cattle egret, black-faced spoonbill, red-tailed shrike, gray-faced buzzard, and sea swallows, inhabit the area, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the pristine forest. The elevation of Kenting National Forest Recreation Area ranges from 200 to 300 meters, covering an area of approximately 435 hectares. Due to the complex topography and variable climate of the Hengchun Peninsula, it nurtures a rich and unique collection of valuable plant resources. The forest can be generally divided into three layers: the first layer is the tree layer, primarily composed of mulberry and laurel family trees; the second layer is the shrub layer, dominated by small palms; and the third layer consists of ground-level plants, mostly low grasses and climbing vines. There are as many as 1,200 species of both ornamental and conservation plants, making it a forest area with diverse landscapes. Kenting National Forest Recreation Area is covered with raised coral reef limestone, which is mainly composed of coral polyps, foraminifera, shells, and coralline algae. Research indicates that this area was likely located underwater millions of years ago. The coral reef limestone has been shaped by weathering and seawater erosion, resulting in unique geological formations such as stalagmites, caves, stone columns, canyons, and stalactites. In particular, stalactites and stalagmites are formed by the accumulation of calcium carbonate droplets through underground water erosion, taking approximately 30 years to accumulate just 1 centimeter in height, making them rare and precious geological resources. Entering the park from the archway of Kenting National Forest Recreation Area, visitors can follow the forest trails, where rows of ancient trees line the path, and among them stands a giant tree of the noni species that is over 300 years old! Throughout the park, there are numerous attractions worth exploring, such as the aquatic plants area, stalagmite treasure cave, silver root board, fairy cave, maze forest, one-line sky, banyan valley, silver dragon cave, first gorge, umbrella pavilion, and monkey perch cliff, all of which are geographical landscapes not to be missed.
