Sando Ecological Reserve Introduction
Sandy Island is located 1.5 kilometers north of Eluanbi, featuring a pristine white sandy beach, named for its accumulation of fine sand resembling an island. The beach stretches approximately 220 meters and is primarily composed of shells, coral fragments, and benthic foraminifera, formed through years of sedimentation. Due to the absence of streams carrying sand particles or impurities, the shell sand content exceeds 97%, making it the best beach in Kenting. To preserve this precious natural resource, it has been designated as an ecological protection zone. Sandy Island is a pocket bay with a 90-degree angle. The low wave energy in the bay allows fine sand, formed from the long-term impact of marine organisms, to accumulate within it, creating an attractive shell sand beach. The long-term erosion by seawater gives the shell sand a crystal-clear and transparent appearance, captivating many visitors. To enhance the ecological area, a shell sand exhibition hall has been built, showcasing the fine sand of Sandy Island for visitors to admire. The Sandy Island ecological protection zone is adjacent to the PING-E highway, which restricts plant communities to grow only in sandy areas, resulting in a variety of valuable plant formations. These can generally be divided into coastal shrub plant belts and sandy herbaceous plant belts, making it the smallest plant ecological protection area in Kenting National Park. The shrub plant belt features thick fleshy leaves and thorny stems, with common plants including Kandelia obovata, coastal hibiscus, Avicennia marina, Taiwan pine, white water wood, and sea purslane, with Kandelia obovata being the dominant species, often densely growing to form a windbreak forest. The sandy herbaceous plants have characteristics such as branching profusely, fleshy leaves, a waxy surface to prevent moisture evaporation, and the production of adventitious roots to enhance water absorption. Common plants in this category include climbing vine, barefoot vine, and beach cowpea, with climbing vine being the dominant species. When visiting the Sandy Island ecological protection area, don’t think of it as just a bright and pristine shell sand beach; there are also a group of sun-loving green plants, so don’t forget to greet them!
