Jishan Island Introduction
Departing from the port areas of Shagang Village or Beiliao Village in Huxi Township, about 4 kilometers off the northeast coast of Beiliao Village, there are two island plateaus known as Jishan Islets. Surrounded by marine cliffs exhibiting distinct basalt columnar joints, these islands can be connected at low tide. Originally part of a basalt plateau that formed approximately 12 million years ago, they were separated into the large and small islands due to intense coastal erosion. Both islands contain olivine clasts within their basalt, indicating that the lava originated from a deeper source underground. The eastern, southern, and western sides of the larger island, Jidishan Islet, feature coastal caves and marine erosion channels, while a shallow sandy beach is located to the southeast. The smaller island, Xiaojishan Islet, is a typical basalt plateau island, with irregularly shaped columnar basalt rising from the sea, resembling a gigantic pipe organ standing against the blue sky. Its hexagonal joints and sharp edges create a striking appearance, making it one of the top spots for rock and bird watching in Penghu. In summer, the number of Red-tailed Tropicbirds breeding on Jishan Islets is the highest in the North Sea, with one to two thousand birds choosing to nest there each year. In recent years, the Penghu County Wild Bird Association has conducted research on the island and discovered through leg flags that these tropicbirds originate from northeastern Australia. Similarly, during winter tagging efforts in Australia, Red-tailed Tropicbirds from Penghu have also been identified, with tropicbirds tagged over a decade ago returning to Penghu to breed. This shows that each spring and autumn, these tropicbirds make their long journey back and forth between Penghu and Australia. Protecting the island landscape is the best method for safeguarding wildlife, and in recent years, with the development of tourism, Jishan Islets has become a new destination in the East China Sea. The dialogue between basalt and tropicbirds creates a harmonious scene of nature.
