1. Introduction of Taiwan
Taiwan (historically called Formosa) is an island in East Asia; it is located some 180
kilometres (112 miles) off the southeastern coast of China across the Taiwan Strait. It
has an area of 35,883 km2 and spans the Tropic of Cancer. The East China Sea lies to
the north, the Philippine Sea to the east, the Luzon Strait directly to the south and the
South China Sea to the southwest.
Taiwan makes up 99% of the territory of the Republic of China (ROC), after the ROC lost
its mainland China territory in the Chinese Civil War and fled to the island in 1949. For
this reason, the country itself has commonly become referred to by the name of its main
island, namely Taiwan.
Taiwan is a tilted fault block, characterized by the contrast between the eastern two-
thirds, consisting mostly of five rugged mountain ranges parallel to the east coast, and
the flat to gently rolling plains of the western third, where most of Taiwan's population
reside. There are six peaks over 3500 meters, the highest being Yu Shan at 3,952
metres, making Taiwan the world's fourth-highest island. The tectonic boundary that
formed these ranges is still active, and the island experiences many earthquakes, a few
of them highly destructive.
The island is struck by an average of four typhoons in each year. The eastern mountains
are heavily forested and home to a diverse range of wildlife, while land use in the
western and northern lowlands is intensive.