DNA tests are expected to show that the giant trees on Lalashan (拉拉山) might not be as old as originally thought.
Lalashan’s “giant tree area,” which is overseen by the Forestry Bureau’s Hsinchu Forest District Office, is to be transformed into a National Forest Recreation Area by the end of the year.
The giant trees, mostly Taiwan cypress and Taiwan red cypress, grow at an altitude of 1,500m to 2,130m.
The Taiwan red cypress is prone to infection by a canker-causing fungi, office Deputy Director Liu Chung-hsien (劉忠憲) said, adding that infected trees fall once the pitted trunks can no longer hold up
2021/01/09 17:35 Snow on Lalashan. (photo courtesy of Gaoyuan Farm) Snow on Lalashan. (photo courtesy of Gaoyuan Farm) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Lalashan Forest Reserve was covered with layers of snow on Saturday morning (Jan. 9), attracting crowds of Taiwanese to take in the rare spectacle and pose for photos. On Friday (Jan. 8), several mountains across Taiwan welcomed their first snowfall of the winter amid a cold wave that sent temperatures plummeting to 6 to 8 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country . Meteorologist Daniel Wu (吳德榮) had predicted the cold spell would result in snowfall at altitudes of over 2,000 meters in northern Taiwan, including on Yangmingshan, Taipingshan, Hehuanshan, Lalashan, Jianshishan, and Xueshan. He was right.
First winter snow falls on mountains across Taiwan
01/08/2021 02:27 PM
Taipingshan in Yilan County. CNA photo Jan. 8, 2021
Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) Several mountains in northern and central Taiwan saw their first snow of the winter Friday amid a cold wave that has impacted the country since the previous day, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).
Lalashan in northern Taoyuan City, which ranges from 1,500-2,130 meters in altitude, had its first snowfall of the season at around 6 a.m., the city s tourism office said.
The Lalashan Forest Reserve, home to over 120 Formosan cypresses trees estimated to be more than 500 years old, was also covered with snow.
First snow of season blankets nation’s peaks
WINTER ARRIVES: People lined up early yesterday to be the first to see snow on Taipingshan, as crowds gathered to take in the scenery and build snowmen
Staff writer, with CNA
Several mountains in northern and central Taiwan yesterday had their first snow of the winter amid a cold wave, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said.
Lalashan (拉拉山) in Taoyuan, which ranges from 1,500m to 2,130m in altitude, had its first snowfall of the season at about 6am, the city’s tourism office said.
The Lalashan Forest Reserve (拉拉山自然保護區), home to more than 120 Formosan cypresses estimated to be more than 500 years old, was also covered with snow.