The Yehliu Geopark in Taiwan has become a popular tourist destination due to its variety of otherworldly rock formations; however, human contact and natural elements have put some of the structures at risk.
Northern Taiwan’s Yehliu Geopark features an almost otherworldly landscape of rocks and other natural formations.
The narrow, approximately one-mile-long stretch contains rock formations resembling mushroom, ginger, candlesticks and honeycombs. According to the BBC, the stunning landscape is a result of "wave attacks, rock weathering and earth movement."
The park’s website lists several well-known structures including the Dragon’s Head Rock, Marine Bird Rock, and 24-filial piety hill.
As Atlas Obscura reports, the area had largely been an inaccessible military installation until a Taiwanese photographer released images of the stunning area around 1962.
It has since become an extremely popular destination, with about three million tourists visiting each year.
According to Smithsonian.com, "While more tourists visiting Yehliu means more money that will go toward protecting the landscape, it also hastens its wear and tear. Despite warnings by staff to keep off the rocks, the formations are tempting for people to touch and climb on ..."
One of the most vulnerable pieces is the renowned Queen’s Head Rock whose top-heavy structure is at risk of breaking off despite efforts to reinforce it.
