Fire Rock Special Scenic Area Introduction
The Hengchun Peninsula has a place where the ground is barren, covered only with muddy yellow sand, yet bursts of orange flames sprout from it. The flames dance with the wind, flickering brilliantly at times and extinguishing at others, swaying left and right like a performance of fire dancing. During the day, these tiny flames cannot compete with the bright sunlight, and thus do not reveal their uniqueness, but at night, it's their time to shine. This is known as “fire coming out,” a seemingly fascinating sight. The site of the fire is located about five kilometers outside of Hengchun City, and the geology consists of Kenting mudstone layers. The natural fissures in the mudstone allow underground natural gas to surface through these gaps, creating numerous flames when ignited. Interestingly, since the natural gas escapes wherever there are fissures, these flames seem to roam around as if they have legs. Furthermore, the original location of the fire was not at the current site, as it moved there due to the exploration for oil and gas by the CPC Corporation after drilling. Spring and winter are the dry seasons for the Hengchun Peninsula, with little rainfall, which means the fissures in the mudstone are less likely to be blocked, resulting in a more active fire phenomenon. Conversely, during the rainy summer and autumn seasons, the sand becomes muddy, blocking the fissures in the rock layers and reducing the visibility of the flames, leading to a more scattered fire phenomenon. Nonetheless, this is indeed a unique landscape in Pingtung, and it was specially designated as the “Fire Coming Out Special Scenic Area” in 1996. The area includes informational signs, walking pathways, and parking facilities. At night, many tourists come to admire the fire, and although they may be strangers, they gather around the flames, sitting or standing and chatting, creating a warm scene. Perhaps it is due to the surrounding darkness that the light turns out to be a comforting presence.
