island (38th largest in the world). Yushan is also notable in containing the highest point on the Tropic of Cancer and the only point on that circle of latitude where there is any evidence of Quaternary glaciation. As recently as seventeen thousand years ago, permanent ice caps existed throughout Taiwan's highest mountains and extended owing to the wet climate down to ; whereas currently, the nearest glaciers to the Tropic of Cancer are in Mexico on the Iztaccíhuatl volcano. The ocean waters off Taiwan's east coast are deep; in fact, submarine slopes plunge down to the Pacific Ocean at a grade of 1:10 and the ocean reaches a depth of more than about from the coast. Hiking With panoramic views, overlapping mountains, and deep, plunging valleys, Yushan National Park is well known for its scenery, sunrises, sunsets, geological features, and views of the clouds from above. Sea of clouds often fill the valleys. Indisputably, Yushan itself is the focal point of the park. Yushan is one of the favorites among Taiwanese mountain climbers. International peak baggers Yushan is ranked as the 4th World Island Highpoints and the 3rd Asian Island Highpoints. After Puncak Jaya () in Indonesia and Mount Kinabalu () in Malaysia to form an "Asian Trilogy" hiking experience. Yushan has five main peaks with the Main Peak being the most popular: Main Peak (玉山主峰), Eastern Peak (玉山東峰), – from Main Peak Northern Peak (玉山北峰), – from Wind Tunnel (風口) Southern Peak (玉山南峰), – from Paiyun Lodge (排雲山莊) Western Peak (玉山西峰), – from Paiyun Lodge (排雲山莊) The east, west, north, and south peaks surround the main summit. The east peak rises to a height of and is considered one of Taiwan's Ten Major Summits (十峻). The south peak is a sharp pinnacle of black shale. The relatively accessible west side of Yushan is covered with thick forests. The north peak is part of a long, gently-rising ridge; this peak consists of two high points that resemble a camel's humps. The North Peak is also home to Taiwan's highest permanently occupied building, the Yushan Weather Station, where the occasional visitors are warmly welcomed. Flora and fauna Taiwan, with the tropic of Cancer across the center of the island, has a climate between tropical and subtropical. The average temperature is . Here low elevation areas support evergreen broadleaved forests. As elevation increases, evergreen broadleaved forests are gradually replaced by deciduous forests