Gueishan Island
The Gueishan Island (龜山島, literality Turtle Mountain Island), also translated as Kueishan Island, is an island currently administered by Taiwan. It is located 10 km east of Toucheng Town.
Gueishan is the site of the only active volcano in Taiwan. The local population, consisting mainly of fishermen, was relocated in 1977 due to the hardships associated with living on the island. Between 1977 and 2000 it became the site of a military base, and currently it is managed as a tourist destination and natural conservation area. It has an area of 2.85 square kilometers. The highest point of the island is at 398 meters above sea level.
There are restrictions for visitors due to environmental protection.
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Head Turning of the Turtle Mountain
It is interesting that from different views at different locations of Yilan County, the shape of Gueishan Island is quite different. Also the shape of the turtle's head is different; from Northeast Coastal Areas of Toucheng Town such as Shicheng and Dasi, the shape is close to the head of a turtle, while from Luodong Town and Wujie Country, the shape is triangular. The reason for this is the curvy shape of the seashore of Yilan, circling the very island. There is hence the term "Head Turning of the Turtle Mountain" (龜山轉頭).
Here are the pictorial examples:
 View from Shicheng Station |  View from Dasi Station |
Visiting the island
Before going to the island, the schedule about visitor numbers has to be reviewed to see which day is still left for registration. The online application (線上申請) for visiting this island is available here:here (in Chinese, though). Key points for traveling to Gueishan Island in English is also available [1].
The application must be completed with shipping agreement with local ferry owners at least one week prior to the visiting date, and there is another application form for going to the highest point of the island, where is often restricted.
External links
Categories
Islands of Taiwan | Volcanoes of Taiwan