How was the Taroko Gorge formed geologically?/就地質學上來說，太魯閣峽谷是如何組成的呢？
Around 4 million years ago, the Philippine Oceanic Plate and Eurasian Continental Plate collided, rising thick layers of limestone rock from the ocean high up into the sky to heights over 3,000 metres. This phenomenon, combined with high pressures from the reactions, caused the original limestone rock to turn into marble through the process of metamorphism, with the erosive power of the Liwu River forming the gorge valley. To this day, the walls of gorge are still rising at the rate of about 0.5CM per year, while the river basin has become deeper and deeper.
大約400萬年前，菲律賓海洋板塊和歐亞大陸板塊相撞，厚厚的石灰岩岩層從海洋裡被上升到空中約3000多公尺的高度。這種現象，加上作用反應時所產生的高壓，使得原本的石灰岩經過變質作用而成為大理岩，而立霧溪的侵蝕力使之形成了峽谷。直到今天，峽谷的壁面仍以每年約0.5公分的速度上升，而河流流域也變得越來越深。
Swallow Grotto / 燕子口
Standing here, as well as being able to appreciate the magnificent marble gorge, you will surely notice that there are many holes on the cliff face on the other side of the river. Water is pouring from some of these caves. These are potholes, also called leach holes; their appearance has an indissoluble connection to water. The volume of water flowing from the holes changes with the weather; after heavy rain a large volume of water flows out; in extended dry periods the volume shrinks substantially. The position of some of these holes is close to the river bed, while others are high on the cliff face. These holes high up on the cliff face show us the Liwu River flowed there long ago.
站在這裡，除了欣賞壯麗的大理岩峽谷之外，您一定可以發現對岸峭壁上有許多洞穴，有的洞穴還有山泉湧出。這是壺穴，或可以稱它為溶穴，它的出現都和水脫離不了關係。 從洞穴中流出的水量常隨著天氣的不同而有所變化，大雨後水量大，久旱不雨時，水量則隨之變小。有的洞穴位置接近溪床，有的則高懸在山壁上，從高掛在山壁上的洞穴不難理解，曾幾何時，那裡也曾是立霧溪流過的地方。
[How to log]
- There are two possible reasons for the formation of these potholes. You can get the answers at the coordinates. What are those?
- Look at the highest pothole at the coordinates! The water flowed at that level a long time ago. How high is that?
- Upload the photo of you or your GPS with the Taroko Gorge in the background!
- Please send the answers to me by message on my profile!
- Now you may log as 'Found'. If the answer is not correct, I will contact you.
[如何登錄這個寶藏？]
- 這些壺穴的形成有兩種可能的原因，您可以在座標處獲得答案，請問這兩種可能的原因為何？
- 根據在座標處最高壺穴的位置來判斷，請問在這個壺穴形成時這條河的位置有多高？
- 請上傳一張您或您的GPS以太魯閣峽谷為背景的照片。
- 請將答案透過我個人資料頁面上的訊息欄發送給我。
- 現在您可以登錄這個寶藏。如果您的答案不正確，我將會與您聯繫。
REF: Guide to Taipei.com), Taroko National Park
Special thanks to JoyChang for translation into Chinese!
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