Fireball Special Scenic Area Introduction
On the Hengchun Peninsula, there is a place where nothing grows; it's covered in yellowish sand. However, bursts of orange flames emerge from the ground, flickering in the wind—sometimes flaring up and sometimes dying down, swaying left and right like a fire dance performance. During the day, these small flames are overshadowed by the sunlight, making them seem ordinary, but at night, they come to life. This phenomenon is called "Chuhuo," which presents a very interesting landscape. Chuhuo is located about five kilometers outside Hengchun Town and belongs to the Kenting mudstone layer. The numerous natural cracks in the mudstone allow natural gas from beneath the surface to escape, creating many flames once ignited. Interestingly, since the natural gas escapes wherever it finds a crack, these flames seem to wander around as if they have legs. The original location of Chuhuo was not at the current site; it moved to the present location after CPC Corporation, Taiwan, conducted drilling to explore oil and gas. Spring and winter are the dry seasons in Hengchun Peninsula, with little rain, making it less likely for the cracks in the mudstone to become blocked, thus the Chuhuo phenomenon is more vigorous. Conversely, during the summer and autumn rainy seasons, the sand becomes muddy, blocking the cracks and limiting the visibility of the flames, resulting in fewer occurrences of Chuhuo. Nevertheless, this is a unique landscape in Pingtung, and in 1996, it was specially designated as the "Chuhuo Special Scenic Area," equipped with informative signs, walking paths, and parking facilities. At night, the Chuhuo Scenic Area often attracts many visitors. Although they may not know each other, they gather around the flames, sitting or standing and chatting, creating a warm scene. Perhaps it's the surrounding darkness that enhances this moment, with the light serving as a source of warmth and comfort to the heart.
