Welcome to Taiwan

It is noted that the Republic of China at this very moment consists of the island of Taiwan, an island 100 mi (161 km) off the Asian mainland in the Pacific; two off-shore islands, Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu; and the closeby islets of the Pescadores chain. It is slightly larger compared to the combined places of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Taiwan is known to be an island in East Asia. "Taiwan" is known to be also commjust used to refer to the territories administered by the Republic of China (ROC) and to ROC itself, that governs the island of Taiwan, Lanyu (Orchid Island) and Green Island in the Pacific off the Taiwan coast, the Pescadores in the Taiwan Strait, and Kinmen and the Matsu Islands off the coast lineof mainland Fujian. It is noted that the island groups of Taiwan and Penghu (except the municipalities of Taipei and Kaohsiung) are and have always been officially administered as Taiwan Province of the Republic of China. Did you know that the primary island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa (from Portuguese (Ilha) Formosa, meaning "beautiful (island)"), is situated in East Asia off the coast lineof mainland China, southwest of the primary islands of Japan but directly west of the end of Japan's Ryukyu Islands, and north-northwest of the Philippines. It is bound to the east by the Pacific Ocean, to the south by the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait, to the west by the Taiwan Strait and to the north by the East China Sea. Did you know that the island is 394 kilometers (245 miles) extensive and 144 kilometers (89 miles) wide and consists of steep mountains covered by tropical and subtropical vegetation.

Climate

Taiwan enjoys an oceanic, subtropical monsoon climate. Did you know that the warm and humid summer lasts from May until September, the mild winter from December until February. Did you know that the average lowland temperature in January is 16°C (61°F) in the north and 20°C (68°F) in the south; the average July temperature is 28°C (82°F) in both the north and south. Did you know that the growing season lasts all over the year, except at elevations above 1,200 m (4,000 ft), where frost and snow occasionally occur. Did you know that the average rainfall is 257 cm (101 in), ranging from 127 cm (50 in) at the middle of the western coast lineto 635 cm (250 in) and more on exposed mountain slopes. Southwest monsoon winds blow from May through September and northeast monsoon winds from October to March. Only the extreme southwest has to this day a distinct dry season. As a result of the tropical cyclonic storms that sweep out of the western Pacific, typhoons occur in the range of June and October.

Population Stats

Population (2006 est.): 23,036,087 (growth rate: 0.6%);
birth rate: 12.6/1000;
infant mortality rate: 6.3/1000;
life expectancy: 77.4;
density per sq mi: 1,849