Liwu River

The Liwu River (Chinese: 立霧溪; pinyin: Lìwùxī) is a river entirely located in Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan. The deep gorges of Taroko National Park are formed by this river.

Liwu River
The Liwu River flowing past Tianxiang
Native name立霧溪  (Chinese)
Location
CountryTaiwan
CountyHualien County
Physical characteristics
SourceHehuanshan and Qilai Mountain
 • locationXiulin, Hualien
MouthPacific Ocean
 • location
Xiulin, Hualien
 • coordinates
24.1400°N 121.6608°E / 24.1400; 121.6608
Length55 km (34 mi)[1]
Basin size616.3 km2 (238.0 sq mi)[1]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftShatudang River

Etymology

The origin of "Liwu" comes from the Taroko word "Tkijig", which referred to the river and the current settlement of Chongde. During Japan's rule over the island, the word was transliterated into "Takkiri" (立霧). Then, the kanji was adopted into Chinese, hence the name. Notably, "Tkijig" is also transliterated into Chinese for the names of two tributaries of the Liwu River: the Tacijili River (塔次基里溪) and the Dazili River (達梓里溪).[2]

Course

The source of the Liwu River is located between Hehuanshan and Qilai Mountain in the Central Mountain Range. From an elevation of 3,000 m, the river flows west until Tianxiang, where it enters Taroko Gorge. After collecting the Shatudang River near Changchun Shrine, the Liwu River ends in the Pacific Ocean near Chongde, a settlement occupied by the Taroko people. The length of the river is around 55 km and is entirely located within Taroko National Park. Much of the eastern section of the Central Cross-Island Highway follows the river.[3]

The Liwu River has changed course three times: the first was due to stream capture over time, and the next two were due to landslide dams. These changes formed many of the fluvial terraces where human settlements are located today.[4]

History

The first human settlers along the Liwu River likely originated from the Shisanhang Culture in Northern Taiwan around 1,300 years ago, evidenced by fourteen ruins found near the mouth of the river. Like their northern counterparts, these people mastered smelting and used iron tools, but also mined gold.[5] This was discovered by Spanish and Dutch forces in the 16th and 17th century, who noted that the river was named "Tackili" and named the area "Turoboan". Domingo Aguilar, a Spaniard, described that a tribe named Parrougearon (also known as Mek-qaolin) lived upstream, and three different tribes near the delta: the Pabanangh, Dadangh, and Torrobouan.[6][7] The Dutch led several expeditions to this region in search of gold, but did not find a substantial amount.[8]

Around 300 years ago, a group of Taroko people traveled from present-day Nantou County across the Central Mountain Range into the Liwu River valley due to overcrowding. Heading east to west, the Taroko's influence spread all the way to the Pacific, until the Truku War with the Japanese forced many of its population into the plains. The Japanese also established a path for easy access in accordance to the five years plan to governing aborigines.[9]

  • The Taroko Gate Bridge, located near the river's mouth.
  • Xipan Dam, which generates hydroelectricity
  • Liwu River with the Central Cross-Island Highway

References
  1. "立霧溪". Water Resources Agency (in Chinese). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. "〈塔次基里本部〉，臺灣日日新報寫真班攝影". Hualien Cultural Memory Bank (in Chinese). 花蓮縣文化局. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  3. 呂慧穎. "回首立霧溪流域". National Parks of Taiwan. Construction and Planning Agency. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  4. "立霧溪之美". Taroko National Park (in Chinese). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  5. 羅亦晽 (23 July 2020). "崇德考古遺址 太魯閣族人解說重現1300年前世界" (in Chinese). China Times. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  6. 劉益昌. 立霧溪流域人文發展之研究 (in Chinese). 太魯閣國家公園管理處. pp. 4–6. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  7. José Eugenio Borao Mateo (October 2009). The Spanish Experience in Taiwan 1626-1642: The Baroque Ending of a Renaissance Endeavour. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 68–73. ISBN 978-9622090835. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. 翁佳音. "荷蘭人東部探金". Encyclopedia of Taiwan (in Chinese). Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  9. "太魯閣族". Taiwan's Indigenous Peoples Portal (in Chinese). Council of Indigenous Peoples. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
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