Cat Nose Head Park Introduction
Cape Catnose is located at the southwest tip of Taiwan, precisely at the junction of the Taiwan Strait and the Bashi Channel. Named for its resemblance to a cat lying down and facing the sea, the area features a rock that has fallen from the cliff. The entire Cape Catnose Park exhibits typical coral reef coastal erosion topography and faces the windward side, resulting in significant wave erosion. The landscape offers rich features including cliffs, sea-eroded pillars, sea-eroded grooves, sea caves, and sea pots, making it an excellent geological classroom. The pedestrian walkway next to the Cape Catnose Visitor Center leads to a natural viewing platform. Standing on this elevated cliff platform, visitors are greeted with a vast expanse of blue sky and endless waters. Although the sea appears uniform in color, the left side is the Bashi Channel while the right side is the Taiwan Strait, creating a unique sensation of being at a boundary between seas. From this vantage, one can also gaze out at many renowned picturesque views of the Hengchun Peninsula, starting from the land on the left front of the platform, which includes Santai Mountain, South Bay, Dasha Mother Mountain, Xiaojian Mountain, Menmalo Mountain, Dajian Mountain, Kenting National Forest Recreation Area, Dawan, Dayuan Mountain, Xiaowan, Chuanfan Rock, Banana Bay Coastal Forest, Sand Island, and Eluanbi. Standing at the Cape Catnose observation platform allows for all these beautiful landscapes to be captured in view, demonstrating that Cape Catnose is an exceptional spot for sightseeing. The nearby waters are influenced by the Kuroshio Current, which maintains the water temperature between 21°C to 30°C, ideal for a plethora of marine life to thrive. Beneath the surface, various types of stone corals, soft corals, tropical fish, eels, and shellfish can be seen; in winter, the algae breeding season coincides with warm waters, leading to a variety of green and brown algae such as stoneweed, red algae, and eelgrass flourishing along the clear waters' edge, creating a coastal landscape that is rich in marine life and coral reefs.
