Kenting National Forest Recreation Area Introduction
Kenting National Forest Recreation Area is the only tropical botanic garden in Taiwan and one of the top ten tropical botanic gardens in the world. The area currently hosts over a thousand species of tropical plants, along with rich resources of butterflies, birds, insects, and reptiles. Occasionally, groups of Formosan macaques can be seen frolicking, and during the autumn and winter, large numbers of migratory birds such as the Crested Serpent Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Cattle Egret, Eurasian Hobby, Red-tailed Shrike, Gray-faced Buzzard, and the Black-crowned Night Heron reside here, further enhancing the lively 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 has nurtured a rich and unique treasure of plant resources, which can generally be divided into three layers of forest scenery: the first layer is the tree layer, dominated by Moraceae and Lauraceae; the second layer is the shrub layer, primarily made up of small palm plants; and the third layer is the ground layer, consisting mainly of low grasses and climbing vine plants. The forest types that combine both ornamental and conservation values amount to as many as 1,200 species, making it a forest park rich in vegetative diversity. Kenting National Forest Recreation Area is dotted with raised high coral reef limestone, mainly formed from the deposits of corals, foraminifera, shells, and coral algae. Researchers suggest that this area was likely under the sea millions of years ago; the weathering and erosion by seawater have led to the formation of unique landscapes such as stalagmites, caves, rock pillars, gorges, and limestone formations. Particularly, stalactites and stalagmites are formed by the accumulation of calcium carbonate droplets from groundwater erosion, approximately growing 1 centimeter every 30 years, making them rare and precious geological resources. Entering the park through the archway of Kenting National Forest Recreation Area and walking along the forest trail, rows of old trees line both sides of the path, including a giant tree of the species Ficus macrophylla that is over 300 years old! Inside the park, there are many attractions worth exploring, such as the Aquatic Plant Area, Stalagmite Cave, Silver Root, Fairy Cave, Maze Forest, One Line Sky, Banyan Valley, Silver Dragon Cave, First Gorge, Umbrella Pavilion, and Macaque Cliff, all of which are must-see geographical landscapes.
