is a foot- or boot-shaped coral island covering at high tide and about at low tide, running about north to south and east to west. It lies in the southeast corner of the Taiwan Strait, about SSW of Donggang at the mouth of the Gaoping River on the southwestern shore of Taiwan Island. Overall, the island inclines gently from the southwest to the northeast, but consists of two grabensone NE to SW, the other NW to SEthat meet in the middle, dividing the island into four terraces. Its highest point is Belly Hill, about above sea level. Liuqiu is the only island township in Pingtung County. It is one of Taiwan's largest coral islands, and the only one with significant population and human activities. It is also covered with limestone and land colored red by weathered iron oxide and silicon oxide. Its beaches, reefs, caves and eroded rock formations have become tourist attractions. Its principal beaches are Chungau Beach Zhōng'ào Shātān) on the north shore and Duozaiping Dǔzǎipíng Cháojiāndài) and Geban Bay on the west shore. The most important of the island's caves are Black Dwarf Cave, Beauty Cave, and Lobster Cave. The most famous rocks are Vase Rock at the north end of the island, the Sanfu Ecological Corridor Shānfù Shēngtài Lángdào) on the east coast, and the Houshi Fringing Reef Hòushí Qúnjiāo) in the southeast, which includes Mouse Rock Lǎoshǔ Shí), Guanyin Rock Guānyīn Shí), Indian Rock Hóngfān Shí), and Climbing Tiger Rock Páshānhǔ) in the southeast. Its forests include white popinac, acacia, wild pineapple (lintou), and bamboo. Wildlife Liuqiu has a diverse ecosystem. Chung Au Beach, a shell-sand beach, abuts waters that are home to approximately 176 species of fish and numerous coral species. It is also home to young and adult green sea turtles, with adult females coming ashore to nest during the summer months. Marine vertebrates such as sharks, flying fish, sea turtles, and cetaceans such as sperm whales may appear around the island. Climate Overall, Liuqiu has a dry and warm climate but is the most typhoon-prone of the Taiwanese islands. It has a tropical monsoon climate (Am), with warm temperatures year round with a rainy or monsoon season from April to October and a dry season with cooler temperatures from November to March. The rainiest recorded month was one June (); the driest, one December (). Administration The current township chief is Chen