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Geography

Taiwan comprises of the main island of Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago (known in the west as the Pescadores), which is made up of 64 islands and 21 other islands scattered around the main island. Together, these fill up about 36,000 square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, with the main island alone occupying 98 percent of that area. Situated just off the southeastern coast of mainland China, Taiwan is bisected by the Tropic of Cancer.

A central mountain range runs parallel to the length of the main island of Taiwan, dividing it into east and west halves. With the Pacific Ocean on the east, which is sculpted by a dramatic coastline, the highland levels off gradually on the western side. The terraced tablelands and alluvial coastal plains, thus formed on the west coast, are home to about 80 percent of Taiwan's 22 million population.

A magnificent 3,952 meters (12,966 ft) in height is Taiwan's highest mountain, Yu Shan.