Beitou Stone Cutter Island Introduction
Penghu has two islands called Tiezhun Islets, named for their resemblance to anvils. The northern Tiezhun Islet, which belongs to Baisha Township, is located off the northwest coast of Penghu Main Island. It is an uninhabited island composed mainly of basaltic tabletop terrain, surrounded by steep sea cliffs. The basalt columns at the base are formed from volcanic breccia, which is relatively fragile. Due to the influence of the northeast monsoon, the northern coastline has been eroded by sea currents over time, creating a large sea cave that even small boats can enter. This cave is larger than the Blue Cave in Xiji Islet and is the largest sea cave in Penghu. Inside the cave, sunlight does not penetrate, making the temperature three to five degrees cooler than outside; hence, it is also known as the "Air Conditioning Cave." Once on the island, one can see not only the plateau-like basalt but also unique honeycomb rocks and basaltic joint grooves formed by water erosion, all of which are features of the northern Tiezhun Islet's topography. This location also served as a shooting range for the military, leaving behind many scraps of metal and rock debris. Since the intertidal zone of northern Tiezhun Islet is shallow and the surrounding platforms are few, there are hardly any visitors, making it a breeding ground for hundreds of birds. The most prevalent species is the Black-faced Spoonbill, which issues alarm calls and circles overhead whenever boats approach, as if reminding visitors that they are the true masters of this place!
