Chuhuo Special Scenic Area Introduction
At a place on the Hengchun Peninsula, the surroundings are barren, covered only with yellowish sand, yet bursts of orange flames emerge, flickering with the wind—sometimes flaring up intensely and sometimes being extinguished, swaying left and right like a fire dance performance. During the day, these small flames cannot compete with the sunlight, so they do not stand out, but at night, it is their time to shine. This phenomenon is known as "Fire Spouting," which presents a very intriguing sight. Fire Spouting is located about five kilometers outside Hengchun Township. The geological layer here belongs to the Kenting mudstone, which has numerous natural cracks that allow natural gas to escape through them. When ignited, it forms many flames. Interestingly, because natural gas emerges wherever there are cracks, these flames seem to wander about as if they have legs. The original location of Fire Spouting was not where it is now; it was moved to its current location after the CPC Corporation Taiwan drilled for oil and gas. Spring and winter are the dry seasons on the Hengchun Peninsula, with fewer rains, which means the mudstone cracks are less likely to be blocked, resulting in more pronounced fire spouting phenomena. Conversely, summer and autumn are the rainy seasons, where the mud and sand can obstruct the rock cracks due to the rain, diminishing the opportunities for the flames to shine, resulting in a sparse appearance of fire spouting. Nonetheless, this is a unique landscape in Pingtung, and in 1996, it was designated as the "Fire Spouting Special Scenic Area," which includes interpretive signs, pedestrian walkways, and parking facilities. At night, the Fire Spouting Scenic Area often attracts many visitors. Although they may not know each other, they gather around the flames, sitting, standing, or chatting, creating a warm scene, perhaps enhanced by the pitch-black surroundings. At this moment, the light becomes a source of warmth for the heart.
