Lotus Pond Introduction
Lotus Pond is the only natural alpine lake in Taroko National Park, located at the tail ridge of Chaodun Mountain across from the hairpin turn of the Central Cross-Island Highway. It is accessible by following the Taoshe Stream Valley northward, at an altitude of 1,180 meters and with an outer diameter of over 500 meters. During the Japanese colonial period, the Taroko people referred to it as "Tian Tan." At that time, the pond was filled with lotus flowers, which led to the renaming as Lotus Pond. Later, veterans released grass carp into the pond, which gradually caused the lotus flowers to wither. In addition, the pond suffered from severe leakage, often leaving only a puddle of water. As the old veterans who cultivated the land gradually moved away, Lotus Pond's agricultural land fell into disuse and slowly returned to its natural state, transforming into a rich ecological paradise where birds, butterflies, and fish of varying altitudes mingle, and wildlife frequently visits.
