Taiwan’s rugged, wild scenery is impressive in any weather. But the outer bands of a typhoon passing to the south of the island have significantly heightened the majesty of these landscapes, bringing two consecutive days of vivid sunsets that have left people gazing in wonder.
For the past two evenings, people across large swathes of central and southern Taiwan have been stopping and staring at the darkening sky. At Sun Moon Lake, a gorgeous spot at any time, the sunset views were particularly impressive, with the wild lavender hues of the sky reflected in the lake’s water.
Mountaineers hiking the trails of Taiwan’s central mountains captured photos showing electric tangerines and rosy pinks. And on the tropical shores of Taiwan’s southern tip, too, the skies lit up with unusual vividness at sundown.
The reason? A middle school earth science teacher from central Taiwan tells Taiwan’s media that it’s a combination of the region’s position on the leeward side of the northeast monsoon winds and beneath the outer bands of Typhoon Saudel, a typhoon far to the south of Taiwan in the South China Sea.
The resulting weak convection means the air may have filled up with moisture or fine particulate matter that create such rich colors at sundown. It’s a special feast for the eyes that even those used to the grandeur of Taiwan’s landscape can’t help but stop and admire.