Haishen Paradise Jialeshui Introduction
After leaving Port Village, continue along Taiwan Route 26 until the end, where you can see many coral reef coasts and strange rocks. You will arrive at "Jia Le Shui," also known as "Jia Luo Shui," which means "water that falls from a high place" in Taiwanese. At the end of the trail in the Jia Le Shui scenic area, there is a feature called "Mountain and Sea Waterfall." Later, it was renamed Jia Le Shui for its significance of "peace and happiness." Although Jia Le Shui scenic area is not part of Kenting National Park, the geological features here are diverse and intriguing, earning Jia Le Shui the nickname "Ocean God Paradise." The natural landscape of Jia Le Shui comes from deep-sea sedimentary rock layers, clearly layered, making it a natural geological classroom. Additionally, there are striking rock formations formed by erosion, which are worth pausing to observe as you follow the scenic trail. The geological landscapes of Jia Le Shui can be divided into three main types: "deep-sea strata," "sandstone layers," and "rocky coast." There are two pavilions along the scenic trail for resting and enjoying the views. Besides the Mountain and Sea Waterfall, most geological features can be seen at the beginning of the trail, with the entire tour taking about 2.5 to 3 hours. Jia Le Shui is primarily composed of rock layers formed by deep-sea deposits millions of years ago, which were later uplifted by tectonic movements and eroded by seawater, creating varied geological features: - Deep-sea strata: Jia Le Shui is the only "rocky coast" in the Hengchun Peninsula, with rock layers sourced from deep-sea continental slope deposits, showcasing "flame-shaped and collapse structures." - Sedimentary strata: Approximately 10 million years ago, sedimentary layers were formed on the deep-sea floor due to sand particles carried by ocean currents. These sand layers, overlapping with mud layers, resulted in "sandstone" and "shale." After hundreds of thousands of years, tectonic movements tilted the rock layers, leading to structures such as "flame-shaped and collapse structures," "ripple marks," and "trace fossils." - Erosional landforms: Once the rock layers were exposed to the ocean, they were gradually eroded by seawater and biological activity, forming various landscapes such as "node structures," "stained patterns," "borehole shells," and "weathering windows." Stained patterns: As you walk over the rocky surfaces, you will notice many beautiful red or reddish-brown stripes on the rocks. This is because the sandstone layers contain numerous joints and gaps, allowing iron-rich groundwater to flow and oxidize upon contact with air, resulting in red iron oxide that fills the gaps and creates stained patterns. Weathering windows: On the rocky coast, you can see many small windows covering a whole rock layer. These erosion features, known as "weathering windows," resemble honeycombs and are also called "honeycomb rocks." They originally formed as small holes in the rocks, which were then shaped into "weathering windows" through the erosion and weathering caused by seawater and wind. Collapse structures: This geological feature is another result of twisted rock layers, primarily caused by underwater landslides, which resulted in geological formations after the sandstone layers were distorted. Mountain and Sea Waterfall: At the end of the trail, you will find the last landscape, the "Mountain and Sea Waterfall," the only waterfall in the Kenting area. The water cascades directly into the sea, creating a grand scene. The waterfall originates from a stream on the cliff, and when it flows down from above, it truly lives up to its name "Jia Luo Shui." During the rainy season, the flow is abundant, creating a magnificent spectacle as the water pours into the sea, while in the dry season, it resembles a gentle trickle, making the grand sight of the Mountain and Sea Waterfall both desirable and elusive!
Jialeshui Scenic Area Trail
Coral reef and sandstone coastline
