Haisun Paradise Jialeshui Introduction
After leaving Gangwei Village, continue along Taiwan Highway 26 to the end, where you can see many coral reef coasts and strange rocks. You have arrived at "Sea God Paradise - Jialeshui." Jialeshui was originally named "Jialuo Water," which is derived from its Taiwanese pronunciation meaning "water falling from a high place." At the end of the trails in the Jialeshui Scenic Area, there is a waterfall called "Mountain Sea Falls." Later, based on the meaning of "Anhe Le Li," it was renamed Jialeshui. Although the Jialeshui Scenic Area is not within Kenting National Park, it has diverse geological phenomena with rugged rock formations, earning it the reputation of "Sea God Paradise." The natural landscape of the Jialeshui Scenic Area is primarily formed from deep-sea sedimentary rock layers, clearly defined, making it a natural geographical classroom. In addition, there are many striking strange rocks formed by sea erosion, which are worth slowing down to observe carefully along the scenic trails. The geological landscape of Jialeshui can be classified into three major types: "deep-sea rock layers," "sandstone layers," and "rocky coasts." There are two pavilions along the scenic trails for resting and admiring the beautiful views. Most geological landscapes can be seen in the front section of the trail, and a visit typically takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Jialeshui is primarily composed of rock layers deposited in the deep sea millions of years ago, which later rose to the surface due to tectonic movement, and after being eroded by seawater, formed diverse geological landscapes: - Deep-sea rock layers: Jialeshui is the only place on the Hengchun Peninsula with a "rocky coast." These rock layers are formed from sedimentary layers on the continental slope of the deep sea. Therefore, in the Jialeshui Scenic Area, one can see "flame-shaped and collapse structures." - Sedimentary rock layers: About 10 million years ago, at the bottom of the deep sea, ocean currents brought a large number of sand particles, forming sand layers. As sand layers and mud layers continuously overlapped and piled horizontally, a "sandstone layer" appeared, while mud layers formed "shale layers." After hundreds of thousands of years, tectonic movements pushed and tilted these layers, producing sedimentary structures such as "flame-shaped and collapse structures," "ripples," and "trace fossils." - Erosion landforms: Once the rock layers were exposed to the sea, they gradually eroded into various landscapes due to the action of seawater and organisms, forming structures like "knot structures," "dyed patterns," "drilled shell homes," and "weathering windows." Dyed Patterns: As you walk over the rock surface, you will notice many beautiful red or reddish-brown stripes on the rocks. This is primarily due to many joints and cracks in the sandstone layers, allowing iron-containing groundwater to flow through. After being exposed to air, oxidation occurs, creating iron oxide, which is red and fills the cracks, forming dyed patterns. Weathering Windows: On the rocky coast, you will see many small windows covering an entire rock layer; these sea erosion landforms are called "weathering windows" because they resemble honeycomb structures and are also known as "honeycomb rocks." They originally started as small holes in the rocks and, after being eroded and weathered by seawater and sea winds, formed "weathering windows." Collapse Structures: Collapse structures are also geological landscapes caused by the twisting of rock layers, mainly due to submarine landslides. The sandstone layers, after being twisted, produce these geological structures. Mountain Sea Falls: At the end of the trail, you can see the final landscape, "Mountain Sea Falls." This is the only waterfall in the Kenting area, with water flowing down into the sea, creating a magnificent view. The waterfall's water comes from a small stream on the cliff, and when the water flows down from above, it truly becomes "Jialuo Water." During the rainy season, due to abundant water flow, it cascades powerfully into the sea. In the dry season, it resembles a gentle stream, making the grand scenery of Mountain Sea Falls a fleeting masterpiece.
Jia-Le Shui Scenic Area Trail
Coral reef and sandstone coastline
