Kenting National Park

{{Short description|National park on the Hengchun Peninsula, Taiwan}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Kenting National Park

| iucn_category = II

| photo = Maobitou Cape 01.jpg

| photo_caption = Cape Maobitou in Kenting National Park

| map_image = Kenting-Naional-Park-Map-Taiwan.png

| map_caption = Location of Kenting National Park in Taiwan

| map_width = 200

| location = Taiwan

| nearest_city = Hengchun

| coordinates = {{coord|21.98|120.797|region:TW-PIF|display=inline, title}}

| area_km2 = 333

| established = 1 January 1984

| visitation_num = 8,376,708

| visitation_year = 2014

| governing_body = National Park Service Kenting National Park Headquarters

| website = {{URL|https://www.ktnp.gov.tw/en/|www.ktnp.gov.tw}}

}}

{{Infobox Chinese

| title = Kenting National Park

| t = {{linktext|墾|丁|國家|公園}}

| s = {{linktext|垦|丁|国家|公园}}

| p = Kěndīng Guójiā Gōngyuán

| w = K'en³-ting¹ Kuo²-chia¹ Kung¹-yüan²

| poj = Khún-teng kok-ka kong-hn̂g

}}

Kenting National Park ({{lang-zh|c=墾丁國家公園|hp=Kěndīng Gúojiā Gōngyuán|}}), commonly known as Kenting ({{lang-zh|c=墾丁|hp=Kěndīng}}), is a national park located on the Hengchun Peninsula of Pingtung County, Taiwan, covering Hengchun, Checheng, and Manzhou Townships. Established on 1 January 1984,{{cite book |last1=Collins |first1=N. Mark |title=The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests: Asia and the Pacifics |date=1991 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9781349120307 |page=123 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UTeuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA123}} it is Taiwan's oldest and the southernmost national park on the main island, covering the southernmost area of the Taiwan island along Bashi Channel. Administered by the National Park Service of the Ministry of the Interior, this national park is well known for its tropical climate and sunshine, scenic mountain and beach, the Spring Scream rock-band festival held in every March,{{Cite web|url=https://springscream.com/|title=www.springscream.com|website=www.springscream.com}} and has long been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taiwan with 5.84 million visitors in 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3136341|title=Kenting is Taiwan’s most popular national park|author=Matthew Strong|publisher=Taiwan News|date=2017-04-08|access-date=2017-04-08}}

Etymology

Kenting (墾丁, Kun-ting in Taiwanese) means pathfinders or pioneers.

Geography

The park covers about {{Convert|181|km2|mi2}} of land, {{Convert|152|km2|mi2}} of sea, weighing in at {{Convert|333|km2|mi2}} combined. Nan Wan and Banana Bay (香蕉灣) is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Taiwan Strait, and the Luzon Strait. The park is {{Convert|90|km|mi}} away from Kaohsiung, {{Convert|140|km|mi}} away from Tainan.

The landscape boasted by Kenting National Park is divided into two parts by the long and narrow Hengchun Longitudinal Valley Plain that extends from north to south. With coral sea cliffs teemed with fringing reefs along the west coast, the park features a large number of mountains in the north, and coral tablelands and foothills in the south. The plain, which is formed by fault valleys, has a vast lake called Longluan Lake, together with rising coral tablelands and limestone caves to the east. The east side of the coral tablelands features unique sand rivers and sand waterfalls formed by the combined effects of winds and rivers, as well as coral cliffs, sunken caves and stalactites.

=Climate=

Kenting is known for its tropical climate with warm to hot weather year-round. Along with the rest of Pingtung, the climate is geographically classified as a tropical monsoon climate.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Kenting National Park (1991–2020 normals)

|Jan high C = 24.7

|Feb high C = 25.6

|Mar high C = 27.3

|Apr high C = 29.4

|May high C = 30.9

|Jun high C = 31.6

|Jul high C = 32.0

|Aug high C = 31.7

|Sep high C = 31.3

|Oct high C = 29.9

|Nov high C = 28.1

|Dec high C = 25.5

| year high C =

|Jan mean C = 21.1

|Feb mean C = 21.7

|Mar mean C = 23.3

|Apr mean C = 25.3

|May mean C = 27.2

|Jun mean C = 28.3

|Jul mean C = 28.6

|Aug mean C = 28.3

|Sep mean C = 27.7

|Oct mean C = 26.4

|Nov mean C = 24.7

|Dec mean C = 22.1

| year mean C =

|Jan low C = 18.5

|Feb low C = 18.9

|Mar low C = 20.3

|Apr low C = 22.2

|May low C = 24.2

|Jun low C = 25.4

|Jul low C = 25.7

|Aug low C = 25.3

|Sep low C = 24.9

|Oct low C = 23.9

|Nov low C = 22.3

|Dec low C = 19.8

| year low C =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 35.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 33.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 22.4

|Apr precipitation mm = 42.3

|May precipitation mm = 135.5

|Jun precipitation mm = 309.5

|Jul precipitation mm = 343.8

|Aug precipitation mm = 445.7

|Sep precipitation mm = 315.9

|Oct precipitation mm = 149.6

|Nov precipitation mm = 74.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 38.7

|year precipitation mm =

| Jan precipitation days = 7.0

| Feb precipitation days = 5.6

| Mar precipitation days = 3.4

| Apr precipitation days = 4.5

| May precipitation days = 8.6

| Jun precipitation days = 12.7

| Jul precipitation days = 13.8

| Aug precipitation days = 14.8

| Sep precipitation days = 12.5

| Oct precipitation days = 8.3

| Nov precipitation days = 5.6

| Dec precipitation days = 5.7

| year precipitation days =

| Jan humidity = 73.6

| Feb humidity = 74.5

| Mar humidity = 74.3

| Apr humidity = 75.8

| May humidity = 78.4

| Jun humidity = 83.3

| Jul humidity = 83.2

| Aug humidity = 83.0

| Sep humidity = 80.4

| Oct humidity = 74.1

| Nov humidity = 72.9

| Dec humidity = 72.2

| year humidity =

|Jan sun = 172.1

|Feb sun = 167.5

|Mar sun = 196.4

|Apr sun = 197.1

|May sun = 183.2

|Jun sun = 171.4

|Jul sun = 187.7

|Aug sun = 171.9

|Sep sun = 186.3

|Oct sun = 203.4

|Nov sun = 186.2

|Dec sun = 164.5

|year sun =

|source 1 = Central Weather Administration (precipitation days 1995–2020){{cite web

|url = https://agr.cwa.gov.tw/NAGR/history/station_day

| title = 農業氣象觀測網監測系統 : 畜試南區分所(B2Q810)

| publisher= Central Weather Administration

|access-date = 27 September 2024 }}

}}

Biodiversity

File:埔頂草原臺灣梅花鹿 20190515.jpg]]

Image:Kenting National Park WANG,YU-LI王毓勵 92862.jpg]]

The park hosts rich terrestrial biodiversity of fauna and flora including 15 species of mammals, 310 species of birds, 59 species of reptiles and amphibians, 21 species of freshwater fish, 216 species of butterflies, and various insects.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/eng/Wildlife.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625132451/http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/eng/Wildlife.aspx|url-status=dead|title=3.3 Wildlife-Ecology-Kenting National Park|archive-date=June 25, 2016}}

Eluanbi Park or Oluanpi Park (鹅鑾鼻公園) is located at Cape Eluanbi.{{Cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/201512250024|title=Entrance fee to Eluanbi Park to be increased in 2016 - Focus Taiwan|website=focustaiwan.tw}} Nature reserves such as the Longkeng Ecological Protection Area (龍坑生態保護區){{Cite web|url=https://usl.uukt.com.tw/|title=悠遊墾丁旅遊網 Kenting Vacation, Travel Guide .|first1=悠遊墾丁|last1=Kenting|website=悠遊墾丁 Kenting}} protecting coral reefs and virgin forest of Banana Bay and Hengchun Peninsula.{{Cite web|url=https://uukt.com.tw/inn-list/|title=墾丁民宿 - 包棟、Villa泳池、面海、寵物友好、可烤肉民宿一覽|first1=悠遊墾丁|last1=Kenting|website=悠遊墾丁 Kenting}} 26 species of land crabs inhabit in the area and which is the highest diversity of terrestrial crabs in single areas in the world.{{Cite web|url=https://ourisland.pts.org.tw/content/%E6%A4%B0%E5%AD%90%E8%9F%B9%E7%9A%84party|title=椰子蟹的Party|date=February 25, 2013|website=我們的島}} 34 species of terrestrial mammals including 5 locally extinct such as Formosan clouded leopard, and 4 introduced such as water buffalo, have been recorded.[https://www.ktnp.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=5900082022C17E11&sms=C3C8C7E3C8A38EF2&s=727EA06A70F7FE78 墾丁國家公園陸域野生哺乳類動物調查研究（第三年）] Formosan sika deer which became extinct in wild in 1969, was first reintroduced into Kenting National Park in 1994.[http://e-info.org.tw/node/57024 墾丁社頂生態遊梅花鹿見客 | 台灣環境資訊協會-環境資訊中心]. E-info.org.tw (2010-06-30). Retrieved on 2020-12-09. Aside from sika deer, 6 species of terrestrial mammals were once thought to be extinct in the area, while critically endangered Chinese pangolin were rediscovered a decade after.[https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/1920635 10年來首見！野生穿山甲於墾丁現蹤跡]

Ocean current which flows off the park provides rich diversities of marine ecosystems including sea birds, sea turtles including critically endangered hawksbill turtles,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/eng/news01.aspx?newsID=538|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625113810/http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/eng/news01.aspx?newsID=538|url-status=dead|title=Kenting National Park HQ releases a green turtle into the wild|archive-date=June 25, 2016}} sharks such as bull sharks{{Cite web|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/409848|title=戲水要當心！兇猛公牛鯊出沒恆春海域 - 焦點 - 自由時報電子報|date=July 9, 2010|website=自由電子報}}manta-rays, and whale sharks,{{Cite web|url=https://tw.appledaily.comundefined/|title=｜蘋果新聞網｜蘋果日報|website=蘋果新聞網}}{{Cite web|url=https://tw.appledaily.com/headline/20130711/35YIUF66LXZ6EZYQ3C7YXREUUE/|title=2度擱淺粗魯野放海生館「害死鯨鯊」|website=蘋果新聞網}} and smaller to medium-sized cetaceans.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/upload/report/20110210_085901.85313.pdf|title=墾丁國家公園海域哺乳類動物相調查|access-date=2016-03-23|archive-date=2016-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405031257/http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/upload/report/20110210_085901.85313.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/upload/report/20100524_183625.49837.pdf|title=墾丁國家公園鄰近海域鯨豚類生物調查研究|access-date=2016-03-23|archive-date=2016-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405011910/http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/upload/report/20100524_183625.49837.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.nqu.edu.tw/upload/upl/attachment/447917f372c75f1b769ce99ec560a246.pptx.|title=海域哺乳類動物相調查 - 墾丁國家公園|access-date=2016-03-23|archive-date=2020-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624042439/https://www.nqu.edu.tw/upload/upl/attachment/447917f372c75f1b769ce99ec560a246.pptx.|url-status=dead}}2017, [http://m.match.net.tw/mi/news/life/20170605/4100620 墾丁後壁湖海豚跳躍引尖叫聲]{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The area was once a major wintering ground for sperm and baleen whales{{Cite web|url=http://bio.ktnp.gov.tw/BIOS100_21.asp?SORTB_ID=A1&SORTB_NAME=%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD&SORTA_ID=|title=墾丁國家公園－生物資料庫查詢|website=bio.ktnp.gov.tw}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} especially humpback whales that migrated into Nan Wan and Banana Bay.Acebes V.M.J., 2009, [http://www.murdoch.edu.au/Research-capabilities/Asia-Research-Centre/_document/working-papers/wp161.pdf A history of Whaling in Philippines], Historical Perspectives of Fisheries Exploitation in the Indo-Pacific, Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University Japanese whaling during Japanese colonial days,{{Cite web|url=https://e-info.org.tw/node/109767|title=【鯨彩一生】鯨生鯨逝：台灣的捕鯨歷史|website=台灣環境資訊協會-環境資訊中心}}{{Cite web|url=http://whaleanddolphin.lym.gov.tw/know02.html|title=海中鯨靈|website=whaleanddolphin.lym.gov.tw}} led to severe depletions or disappearances of whales in consequence. Today, no or very few whales may constantly migrate along Hengchun Peninsula and into the park's waters.{{Cite web|url=https://news.cts.com.tw/cts/life/201501/201501091571158.html|title=鯨魚噴水奇景墾丁民眾驚嘆|website=華視新聞網}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/local/paper/846049|title=恆春鯨魚噴水！萬里桐居民驚喜 - 地方 - 自由時報電子報|date=January 9, 2015|website=自由電子報}}2017, [http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20170522/1123680/ 稀客大翅鯨現身墾丁外海　遺憾是鯨屍] Dugongs, thought to be either fully or functionally extinct in Taiwan, were reported in the 1950s and 60s, and these were some of the last report of the species in Taiwanese waters.[https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/2002-001.pdf Dugong - Status Report and Action Plans for Countries and Territories]

The national park is an important stopover on the migration path of the gray-faced buzzard.{{cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Flor |last2=Chih-hsuan |first2=Kuo |title=Record-high gray-faced buzzards seen in Kenting in annual migration |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202110210016 |website=focustaiwan.tw |publisher=Focus Taiwan |access-date=21 October 2021}}

Lighthouse

File:Eluanbi lighthouse 2.jpg

Eluanbi Lighthouse was completed in 1883, following requests from the American and Japanese governments to the Chinese government after several shipwrecks occurred in the 1860s (including the Rover incident). Chinese troops had to be sent to protect the lighthouse during construction from attacks by local tribesmen, and the lighthouse was surrounded by a fort with cannons and a ditch for protection.{{cite book|author=Chanson, H.|author-link=Hubert Chanson|title= Coastal Observations: Erluanbi, Southern Taiwan |url= http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view.php?pid=UQ:23913 |publisher=Shore & Beach, Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 36-39 (ISSN 0037-4237) |year=2007 }} It is one of the rare examples in the world of a fortified lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is {{Convert|21.4|m|ft}} high and its light is {{Convert|56.4|m|ft}} above the tidal high water. The light flashes every 10 seconds and its range is {{convert|27.2|nmi|km}}.

Transportation

Bus: Frequent buses link this park with Kaohsiung International Airport, Taiwan Railway Administration's Kaohsiung Station and the Taiwan High Speed Rail Zuoying Station, a journey of 2.5 hours.
Air: This park is served by the domestic Hengchun Airport although flights are rare and are subject to cancellation due to the strong Katabatic wind which is frequent in the Hengchun Peninsula.

In popular culture

Spring Scream: A well-known international rock-band festival held inside this park since 1995.
Most parts of the 2008 film Cape No. 7 were filmed inside this park, and nearby Hengchun.
Part of the 2012 film Life of Pi was filmed inside the park, which is not far from its director Ang Lee's birthplace.{{cite web|url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/entertainment/20121120/34652623/|title=李安30億打造《奇幻漂流》掐預算導演兼伙夫|website=appledaily.com.tw|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=December 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129122422/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/entertainment/20121120/34652623/|archive-date=November 29, 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Ang Lee begins shooting in Pondy, Life of Pi' comes alive|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ang-Lee-begins-shooting-in-Pondy-Life-of-Pi-comes-alive/articleshow/7315483.cms|access-date=November 20, 2012|date=January 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531082016/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-19/india/28357265_1_ang-lee-pi-yann-martel|archive-date=May 31, 2013|work=The Times of India|url-status=live}}

Gallery

Image:Kenting National Park Beach 2.JPG|Beach view from Kenting beach

Image:Baishawan.jpg|Another beach in Kenting, Baishawan, White Sand beach

Image:Jialeshui-surf.jpg|Jialeshui beach in Kenting, the surfer beach

Image:Estv2.gif|East Coast in Kenting National Park

Image:Eluanbi.jpg|Cape Eluanbi

Image:鵝鑾鼻燈塔屏東縣歷史建築燈塔 Venation 2.JPG|Eluanbi Lighthouse

Image:Pacific Dabbling Plaza, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium 20110607.jpg|National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium

Kenting National Park WAN,CHIA-LIANG萬家良 92865.jpg|Water Buffaloes

References

External links

[http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/en/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916174737/http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/en/ |date=2018-09-16 }} {{in lang|en}}
[http://uukt.idv.tw/ UU Kenting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226113719/http://uukt.idv.tw/ |date=2014-02-26 }} {{in lang|zh}}
[http://www.taiwanmag.net/2009/09/parc-national-de-kenting/ Kenting National Park on Taiwan Mag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026071322/http://www.taiwanmag.net/2009/09/parc-national-de-kenting/ |date=2010-10-26 }} {{in lang|fr}}
[http://www.cntraveller.in/content/kenting-weekend Kenting Weekend CondeNast Traveler Mag] {{in lang|en}}
[http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view.php?pid=UQ:23913 Coastal Observations: Erluanbi, Southern Taiwan] in Shore & Beach, Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 36–39 (ISSN 0037-4237)
[http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:177881 Mount Dejian, Kenting, Pintung County, South Coast of Taiwan], Coastal Photograph by Hubert Chanson in Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 25, No. 3, May, p. 672 (ISSN 0749-0208)
[http://www.vr-kenting.com/map Free Kenting Virtual Tours] {{in lang|en}}