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 Kangshan Tw-Afb, Taiwan
Chinmem / Shatou Air Force Base, Taiwan
Pingtung South Air Force Base, Taiwan
Mazu, Taiwan
Feng Nin Tw-Afb, Taiwan
Chia Tung, Taiwan
Taoyuan Ab = , Taiwan
Kaohsiung International Airport, Taiwan
Chiayi Tw-Afb, Taiwan
Hengchun, Taiwan
Taichung Tw-Afb, Taiwan
Dongsha, Taiwan
Lan Yu, Taiwan
Donggang, Taiwan
Wuchia Observatory, Taiwan
Ilan, Taiwan
Tainan Tw-Afb, Taiwan
Dongshi, Taiwan
Hsinchu Tw-Afb, Taiwan
Makung Ab, Taiwan
Chihhang Tw-Afb, Taiwan
Pingtung North Air Force Base, Taiwan
Sungshan / Taipei, Taiwan
Chiang Kai Shek, Taiwan
Pa Kuei / Bakuai, Taiwan
Hulien Ab, Taiwan
Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China
Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of
the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 35,980 sq km
land: 32,260 sq km
water: 3,720 sq km
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware
combined
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest
monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive
all year
Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat
to gently rolling plains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m
Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas,
limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 55%
other: 15%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons
Environment - current issues: air pollution; water pollution
from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking
water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive
waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography
Taiwan, situated in the Pacific Ocean is about midway between Korea
and Japan to the north and Hong Kong and Philippines to the south,
and is a natural gateway for travelers to and within Asia. Shaped
a little like a leaf, Taiwan is 160km off the coast of China.
The rest of the island is made up of steep mountains, terraced flatlands
and rocky coastline. Taiwan province includes the Penghu Archipelago,
a group of 64 islands, as well as 21 other islands.
Climate
Taiwan's climate is subtropical. The rainy season from May through
September usually signifies the start of summer.
However, it can get quite hot and humid in summer. Winters (December
through February) are short and mild although it rains almost all
the time. Snow falls only on the island's higher mountains.
Taiwan is a mountainous island in the South China Sea, about 140
kilometres off the Chinese coast.
The Chinese call the island
Taiwan, meaning terraced bay. The wild, forested beauty of the island
led Portuguese sailors in 1590 to name it Ilha Formosa, meaning
beautiful island.
Background: In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede
Taiwan to Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World
War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949,
2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government
that over five decades has gradually democratized and incorporated
native Taiwanese within its structure.
Throughout this period, the island has prospered as one of East
Asia's economic tigers. The dominant political issue continues to
be the relationship between Taiwan and Mainland China and the question
of eventual reunification.
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