Iron Anvil Islet Introduction
About 2 kilometers north of Dabaisha Islet, there is a typical square mountain terrain island, mostly covered in large flat slate, resembling an anvil used for forging, hence it is named Anvil Islet. The island stands about 5 meters high, surrounded by sheer sea cliffs. Besides the flat basalt that looks like an anvil, there are many uniquely shaped honeycomb rocks. This area was once a military shooting range in the 1950s, leaving behind many iron scraps and rock fragments. Anvil Islet is located in the northwest offshore of Penghu Island and is entirely composed of basalt, resembling an anvil, which is how it got its name. Due to the northeast monsoon in winter, the waves have long eroded the northern coast of Anvil Islet, forming the largest sea cave in all of Penghu, measuring over 10 meters. This cave is uniquely positioned, without direct sunlight for many years, resulting in a temperature that is about three to five degrees cooler than the outside even in summer, attracting many visitors seeking refuge from the heat, thus it is named Air Conditioning Cave. From the northern sea, Anvil Islet’s cliffs can be clearly seen, where the upper part is basalt and the lower part is volcanic gravel. The volcanic gravel is more fragile, eroded by winter waves, creating a massive sea cave below the northern sea cliff, accessible to small yachts and fishing boats. The island's intertidal zone is relatively shallow and short, with almost no sea erosion platforms near the sea cave. There is only a platform about 5 meters wide beneath the eastern cliff and small areas of pebble beaches to the south and west, resulting in fewer fishermen visiting the island to collect snails and shellfish. Every year, over a thousand White-browed Crakes breed on the island. Whenever a boat approaches the shore, flocks of White-browed Crakes take flight from the island, emitting a low, dog-like warning sound, and eventually gathering above the boat, creating a remarkable spectacle.
