An atoll is a circular reef that grows continually upward due to rising seawater levels and eventually forms a circular island. Dongsha Island and its surrounding coral reef are a classic example of an atoll.

In Laomei Bay in the northern coast of Taiwan, the rocks are made of volcanic rock and provide an ideal environment for algae to thrive in. As ocean waters abrade over the rising reef, the softer materials are eroded away, leaving behind curvy stone troughs on the seashore.

Keelung Islet is the most significant landmark island in north-ern Taiwan. Composed mainly of quartz-andesite, this vol-canic island is surrounded by cliffs on all sides, and more than 90% of its terrain is inclined at a slope of more than 60 degrees.

The rock layers at Peikuan are mainly composed of sandy shale, and were created over 30 million years ago as a part of the Tatungshan Formation. After being forced to tilt upward by the crust stress, the shale was eroded away over time and resulted in the col-lapse of overhanging sandstone layers. This created the largest and steepest cuesta on the northeast coast.

Due to the influence of natural weathering, the iron ores in the mountain of Jinguashi gradually dissolve into large amounts of ferrous ions(Fe ) that flow with rain and underground water into Shuinantung Bay. The ferrous ions undergo oxidation and become iron hydroxide colloidal suspended particles appearing yellowish-brown during this process. With limited dispersion in the seawater, this process has resulted in the seawater forming a blue-and-yellow phenomenon called the Yin-Yang Sea.

Of the world's 28 different species of anemonefish, five can be found right in the waters of Taiwan. The Clark's anemonefish in particular are a gregarious fish, and each school usually contains only one female. If the female dies, the largest male will morph into a female to take its place. Taiwan already has the capability to breed these fish artificially.

The Suao-Hualien Coast lies where the north end of the Central Mountain Range meets the Pacific Ocean. The land stretching from the coastline up to nearby divides is inclined more than 45 degrees on average, and the coastal rocky cliffs drop almost vertically due to severe wave erosion. Along this coastline, the Cingshuei Cliff offers the most spectacular scene with a relief of over 1,000 meters, making the cliff a popular sightseeing spot.

The goby is a small fish that originated in the ocean and now lives in freshwater streams. Each spring as the Kuroshio Current flows northerly up eastern Taiwan, it disperses some of these gob-ies along the rivers and islands off eastern Taiwan. As many as 19 different goby species are found in this area.

Sansiantai Island is made of volcanic agglomerate and covers an area of only 22 hectares. This spot was originally a cape, but continuous wave erosion eventually cut through the neck of the cape and created an offshore island. The entire island is marked by erosion features, such as sea grooves, potholes, stacks, and notched walls. Off the shoreline, coral reef rocks encircle the whole island.

The small island of Lanyu was formed during volcanic erup-tions some 4 to 6 million years ago. Surrounded by coral reef, this island lies far away from the continent and has been isolated geographically for a long time. As a result, the life forms and cul-ture in Lanyu have specialized to adapt to their environmental set-ting and are unique among the earth's ecologies.

The mino nylon shrimp(Heterocarpus sibogae) is a marine benthic dweller that lives at depths of 200 to 500 meters and can produce luminous clouds. When threatened, it will emit two streams of blue luminous secretion from its mouth to confuse the predator's vision. Locally it is also called the “mother shrimp” because it broods a large number of eggs that are bright blue in color. This species of shrimp is found in the deep waters off eastern and southern Taiwan.

Suao Harbor