Hai Shen Leisure Park Jiale Water Introduction
After leaving Port Village, continue along Provincial Highway 26 until the end. Along the way, you can see many coral reef coastlines and strange rocks, arriving at "God of the Sea Paradise - Jialeshui." Jialeshui was originally named "Jialoshui," which is derived from the Taiwanese pronunciation meaning "water falling from a high place." At the end of the trail in the Jialeshui Scenic Area, there is a "Mountain and Sea Waterfall." Later, for its significance of "peace and happiness," it was renamed Jialeshui. Although the Jialeshui Scenic Area is not within Kenting National Park, the geological and meteorological features within the area are diverse and striking, earning it the reputation as the "God of the Sea Paradise." The natural landscape of Jialeshui comes from deep-sea sedimentary rock layers, clearly defined in layers, making it a natural geographical classroom. In addition, there are remarkable strange rocks formed by sea erosion that are worth taking the time to observe closely along the scenic pathways. The geological landscapes of Jialeshui can be classified into three main types: "deep-sea rock layers," "sandstone layers," and "rocky coast." Two pavilions are set up along the scenic path for resting and enjoying the views. Most geological features can be seen in the early part of the trail, and a trip takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Jialeshui mainly consists of rock layers accumulated in deep water millions of years ago, which later emerged due to plate movements and were shaped into various geological landscapes by sea erosion: - Deep-sea rock layers: Jialeshui is the only location on the Hengchun Peninsula with a "rocky coast." These layers come from sedimentary rock formations on the deep-sea continental slope, allowing visitors to see "flame-shaped and slump structures" in the Jialeshui Scenic Area. - Sedimentary rock layers: About 10 million years ago, on the deep-sea floor, ocean currents brought a large amount of sand, forming sand layers. As these sand layers constantly overlapped with mud layers and settled horizontally, sandstone layers and shale layers emerged. After several hundred thousand years, tectonic movements pushed and tilted these layers, resulting in "flame-shaped and slump structures," "ripple marks," and "trace fossils." - Erosion terrain: When the rock layers emerged above the sea surface, they were gradually eroded by seawater and biological activities, forming various landscapes such as "nodes," "staining patterns," "drilled shell homes," and "weathering windows." Staining patterns: As you walk across the rocky surface, you will discover many charming red or reddish-brown stripes on the rocks. This is mainly due to multiple joints and cracks within the sandstone layer, allowing iron-rich groundwater to flow through. After exposure to air, oxidation occurs, resulting in iron oxide, which is red and fills the gaps, creating the staining patterns. Weathering windows: On the rocky coast, you will see many small windows covering a whole rock layer. These coastal erosion features are called "weathering windows" because their shape resembles honeycombs and are also known as "honeycomb rocks." They were originally small holes in the rocks, which, after being eroded by seawater and winds, formed the "weathering windows." Slump structures: Slump structures are another type of geological landscape caused by the distortion of rock layers, primarily due to underwater landslides, where sandstone layers are twisted, creating distinct geological features. Mountain and Sea Waterfall: At the endpoint of the trail, you can see the final landscape, "Mountain and Sea Waterfall," which is the only waterfall in the Kenting area. The water flows down directly into the sea, creating a magnificent view. The waterfall's water comes from a small stream on the cliff; when the water flows down from above, it becomes the aptly named "Jialoshui." During the rainy season, the water volume is abundant, cascading into the sea with great momentum, while in the dry season, it flows gently like a trickle, making the grand scenery of Mountain and Sea Waterfall a rare sight to behold!
Jia Le Shui Scenic Area Trail
Coral reef and sandstone coast
