Water Resources Eco-Education Center Introduction
The Shimen Reservoir is the first large concrete arch dam designed and constructed by Taiwanese engineers, featuring a dual-curved, varying thickness structure. The dam stands 122.5 meters tall and its water storage capacity is second only to the Zengwen Reservoir. Construction began in 1979 and was completed in 1987. It primarily supplies tap water to the Taipei area and also serves hydropower purposes. To protect the quality of the water source, the reservoir is not open for tourism and recreational activities; fishing and water sports are prohibited within its waters. The Water Resource Education Center within the Shimen Reservoir was established in 2003 to promote environmental education, continuously optimizing the hardware and software facilities of the Shimen Reservoir Environmental Learning Center. In terms of hardware, the exhibition hall's environmental education facilities were redesigned in 2016, with the addition of displays for the Shimen Dam and hydrological watershed models, as well as a green energy generation experience area. In 2020, a "smart guiding system" was established at the Shimen Reservoir, creating a virtual reality (VR) experience of the reservoir's waters and an interactive touchscreen wall for the Xindian River watershed, employing immersive projection and interactive teaching methods (videos, animations, explanatory texts, etc.) to provide the public with comprehensive information about the entire Xindian River watershed. Additionally, a creative photography gallery was set up, allowing visitors to take memorable photos against the distinctive backdrop of the Shimen Reservoir. On the software side, three sets of environmental education courses have been designed focusing on the five major features of the Shimen Reservoir: ecology, green energy, history, safety, and operational management, catering to different age groups. The aim is to cultivate a concept of water appreciation, conservation, and protection among the public, which can be implemented in daily life, thereby enhancing the quality of water resource education and environmental education, with the goal of becoming a model site for environmental education. Visitors must first register for a tour through the Taipei Shimen Reservoir Water Resource Education Activity Registration System (click here to proceed).
