Dafengfeng Volcano Neck Introduction
The volcanic area in eastern Taiwan and its outlying islands is a northern extension of the Luzon Volcanic Arc. The volcanic activities along the eastern coast have resulted in a diverse range of landscapes, including various igneous rock formations on Green Island and Orchid Island, as well as the andesitic columnar joints at Wu-Shi-Po, all of which are valuable geological educational resources. The volcanic neck of Dafen Peak is a significant geological feature on the eastern coast that warrants research. It is located on the eastern coast of Zhangyuan Village, between Hualien County and Taitung County, and is currently managed by Taitung County. The part closer to the land has two prominent rock formations: one is a volcanic breccia, and the other is basalt with fan-shaped columnar joints, locally known as "Dajian Stone," which exemplifies the typical columnar joint structure of a volcanic neck. Near the coastline, there is a small wave-cut platform formed by the long-term erosion of the igneous rock by seawater. The Dafen Peak volcanic neck structure is remarkably intact, and its unique pleated skirt-shaped columnar joints are similar to those found on Yuanbei Island in Penghu, representing a distinctive landscape created by volcanic activity.
