Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake
日月潭
Zintun

Sun Moon Lake
Location Yuchi, Nantou County
Coordinates 23°52′N 120°55′E / 23.867°N 120.917°E / 23.867; 120.917Coordinates: 23°52′N 120°55′E / 23.867°N 120.917°E / 23.867; 120.917
Primary outflows Shuili River
Basin countries Taiwan
Surface area 7.93 km2 (3.06 sq mi)
Max. depth 27 m (89 ft)
Surface elevation 748 m (2,454 ft)
Sun Moon Lake

"Sun Moon Lake" in Chinese characters
Chinese 日月潭
Literal meaning "Sun Moon Pool"

Sun Moon Lake (Chinese: 日月潭; pinyin: Rìyuè tán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ji̍t-goa̍t-thâm; Thao: Zintun) is the largest body of water in Taiwan as well as a tourist attraction. Located in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, the area around the Sun Moon Lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes of Taiwan.[1] Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu.[2] The east side of the lake resembles a sun while the west side resembles a moon, hence the name.[3]

Overview

Sun Moon Lake is located 748 m (2,454 ft) above sea level. It is 27 m (89 ft) deep and has a surface area of approximately 7.93 km2 (3.06 sq mi). The area surrounding the lake has many trails for hiking.[1]

While swimming in Sun Moon Lake is usually not permitted, there is an annual 3-km race called the Swimming Carnival of Sun Moon Lake held around the Mid-Autumn Festival each year.[4][5] In recent years the participants have numbered in the tens of thousands. Other festivities held at the same time include fireworks, laser shows, and concerts.

The lake and its surrounding countryside have been designated one of thirteen national scenic areas in Taiwan. Wen Wu Temple was built after rising water levels from building a dam forced several smaller temples to be removed.[6] Ci En Pagoda (慈恩塔; Cí'ēn Tǎ) was built by late President Chiang Kai-shek in 1971 in memory of his mother.[7] Other temples of note include Jianjing Temple,[3] Syuentzang Temple[8] (玄奘寺; Xuánzàng Sì) and Syuanguang Temple[9] (玄光寺; Xuánguāng Sì).

History

Taiwanese aborigines at Sun Moon Lake, photo from a 1926 brochure of the Government of Formosa

In older English literature it was commonly referred to as Lake Candidius, after the 17th century Dutch missionary Georgius Candidius. In the middle of the lake is the Lalu Island, which is the holy ground for the Thao tribe.[2] In legend, Thao hunters discovered Sun Moon Lake while chasing a white deer through the surrounding mountains. The deer eventually led them to the lake, which they found to be not only beautiful, but abundant with fish.[10] Today, the white deer of legends is immortalized as a marble statue on Lalu Island.

Under Japanese rule, the island was renamed "Jade Island" (Japanese: 玉島). After Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Government moved to Taiwan, the island was renamed Kuang-hua Island (Chinese: 光華島; literally: "glorious China island") and in 1978 the local government built a pavilion where annual weddings took place. In 1999, the 921 earthquake destroyed the pavilion and sunk most of the island. In recent years, due to increasing social and political awareness, more deference and recognition are being given to Taiwanese aborigines. As a result, after the 921 earthquake, the island was renamed in the Thao language as "Lalu".[11]

Several hydroelectric power plants have been built in the Sun Moon Lake since 1919, including Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant and Minhu Pumped Storage Hydro Power Station. When the first hydroelectric plant was finished in 1934, it was considered to be one of the most important infrastructure constructions of the time. Wujie Dam, also completed in 1934, diverts water from the Zhuoshui River to increase hydroelectric generation at the lake. The Jiji Line railroad was built to facilitate the construction.

PRC passport

The depiction of Sun Moon Lake is featured in the newly issued People's Republic of China passport in 2012, a move that has triggered protest from Taipei to Beijing.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Sun Moon Lake has it all for tourists". The China Post. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  2. 1 2 "Lalu Island". Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  3. 1 2 "Jioulongkou". Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Cross-Sun Moon Lake swim draws record number of participants". Central News Agency. 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  5. ↑ "Race at Sun Moon Lake attracts 20,000 applicants". Taipei Times. 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  6. ↑ "Wenwu Temple". Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  7. ↑ "Ci En Pagoda". Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Syuentzang Temple". Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "Syuanguang Temple". Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  10. ↑ http://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw/EN/03000809.aspx
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "Taipei protests China's new passports". Taipei Times. 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
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