Shai-Hai Paradise Jialeshuei Introduction
After leaving the fishing village, continue along Taiwan Provincial Highway 26 until it ends. Along the way, you can see many coral reef coasts and strange rock formations, arriving at “Jialeshui (佳樂水) – Sea God Paradise.” Jialeshui was originally called “Jialuoshu (佳落水),” derived from its Taiwanese pronunciation meaning "water that falls from a high place." At the end of the trail in Jialeshui Scenic Area, there is a "Mountain-Sea Waterfall," and its name was later changed to Jialeshui, signifying "Anhe Le Li." Although Jialeshui Scenic Area is not within Kenting National Park, its geological scenes are diverse and spectacular; hence, it has the reputation of being the "Sea God Paradise." The natural landscape of Jialeshui Scenic Area 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 ocean erosion, which are enough to slow down and observe along the scenic trail. The geological landscape of Jialeshui Scenic Area can be divided into three main types: “Deep Sea Rock Layers,” “Sandstone Layers,” and “Rocky Coast.” Along the scenic trail, there are two pavilions for resting and enjoying the view. Most geological features can be seen in the early part of the trail, and the entire journey takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Jialeshui is primarily composed of rock layers formed from deep-sea deposits that took place millions of years ago, later emerging above sea level due to tectonic movements, which have since been eroded by seawater, resulting in diverse geological features: Deep Sea Rock Layers: Jialeshui is the only area with “rocky coast” on the Hengchun Peninsula, where these layers are from sediments on the deep-sea continental slope, thus you can see "flame-shaped and collapse structures" in the Jialeshui Scenic Area. Sedimentary Rock Layers: About 10 million years ago, at the bottom of the deep sea, ocean currents brought large amounts of sand particles, forming sand layers. As these sand layers and mud layers continuously overlapped and accumulated horizontally, sandstone layers and shale layers formed. After hundreds of thousands of years, tectonic movements pushed and tilted the rock layers, producing sedimentary structures, such as "flame-shaped and collapse structures," "wave marks," and "trace fossils." Erosional Topography: After the rock layers emerged above sea level, they were gradually eroded into various sceneries by seawater and biological action, such as "suture joints," "staining patterns," "bored shells," and "weathering windows." Staining Patterns: As you walk across the rock surface, you will notice many red or reddish-brown stripes on the rocks, creating a beautiful sight. This is mainly due to the many joints and cracks in the sandstone layers, allowing iron-rich groundwater to flow through, subsequently oxidizing after exposure to air and forming the red iron oxide that fills the gaps and creates staining patterns. Weathering Windows: Along the rocky coast, you can see many small windows covering a whole layer of rock; these erosional topographies are known as "weathering windows" because they resemble honeycomb and are also called "honeycomb rocks." Originally small holes in the rock, they have been shaped into "weathering windows" due to erosion by seawater and wind. Collapse Structures: Collapse structures are also a type of geological landscape caused by the twisting of rock layers, primarily resulting from underwater landslides that have distorted the sandstone layers, resulting in a distinct geological structure. Mountain-Sea Waterfall: At the end of the trail, you can see the last scenery, the "Mountain-Sea Waterfall," which is the only waterfall in the Kenting area that cascades directly into the sea, creating a magnificent view. The water for the waterfall comes from a small stream on the cliff, and when it flows down from above, it truly lives up to its name "Jialuoshu." During the rainy season, the water volume is abundant, and when it flows into the sea, it is impressive, while in the dry season, it appears as a gentle stream, making the majestic view of the Mountain-Sea Waterfall quite desirable!
Jialeshuei Scenic Area Trail
Coral reef and sandstone coast
