Mianhua Islet


Mianhua Islet, also known as Kangjiao Islet, Jhongdao, Mien-hua Hsü, Menka-sho, and Mienhua Yu, is a high island in Zhongzheng District, Keelung, Taiwan, located in the East China Sea. Pingfong Rock, just east of the islet, is the easternmost point under the actual control of the Republic of China.

History

In 1994, plans for a scenic area including Mianhua Islet were proposed. These plans met with opposition from conservation groups who argued that the natural environment of the islet would be damaged by the creation of a scenic area. From May to September, seven scientific expeditions documenting the birds, geology, plants, insects, amphibians and reptiles of the islet were carried out, and an application to the Environmental Protection Administration to preserve Mianhua Islet and Huaping Islet as a Level One Ecologically Sensitive Area and Pengjia Islet as a Level Two Ecologically Sensitive Area was made.
On March 18, 1996, the Mianhua Islet and Huaping Islet Wildlife Preservation Area was established.
In August 1996, the existing population of sheep on the islet was relocated to Taiwan to help restore the natural environment of the islet.

Geography

The islet is about long from north to south and wide from east to west, with an elevation of. The tall rock reef to the east of the islet is called Pingfong Rock. Along with the nearby Pengjia Islet and Huaping Islet, Mianhua Islet is considered of strategic importance to Taiwan.