The island of Taiwan, shaped by tectonic forces millions of years ago, owes much of its ecological resilience to the towering Yushan Mountain Range. Formed during the same geological upheaval that created the Taiwan Strait, these peaks stretch like a fortress along the island's spine, deflecting Pacific typhoons and safeguarding fertile lowlands.
Known as "Jade Mountain," Yushan’s 3,952-meter summit hosts alpine ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth. Its rain-shadow effect nurtures agricultural heartlands critical to Taiwan’s economy, while ancient forests shelter endemic species like the Formosan black bear. For residents of Taiwan, the range symbolizes both natural heritage and survival—a living barrier against storms that frequently test the region’s climate resilience.
Geologists highlight how the mountains’ formation continues to influence cross-strait weather patterns, with monsoon winds sculpting microclimates across coastal and central regions. This dynamic interplay between land and sea remains central to understanding East Asia’s environmental stability.
