Kaohsiung's Nature Walk / 高雄生態廊道
Kaohsiung's Nature Walk
Written by Emily Liou Photos by Jung-Hui Pao
Kaohsiung is known for being a friendly city towards its visitors but now, the city is showing friendliness towards the natural environment. After many years of endeavor to preserve the city's ecological environment, Kaohsiung has successfully formed a "Nature Walk", incorporating Lotus Lake, Jhouzih Wetland Park, the botanical garden to Banholi Retention Pond. Extending to Chai Mountain. This "Nature Walk" has indeed become a paradise for both animals and plants.
-◆- Lotus Lake
The 75-hectar area known as Lotus Lake with Banping Mountain to it north and Turtle Mountain in it south, was once home to the Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Kaohsiung City Government regards Lotus Lake as a tourist attraction. Thus the area has been equipped with a boardwalk around the lake, which in turn is surrounded by lush green trees. In addition, one can enjoy seeing the lotus blooming in water while strolling around the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, the Wuli Arbor, the North Pole Pavilion and Confucius Temple. Besides this, Lotus Lake has much more to offer, such as Banyan Plaza and the park where people can relax and play in the water, making Lotus Lake an ideal place for everyone to visit.
-◆- Jhouzih Wetland Park
Situated to the East of Lotus Lake, Jhouzih Wetland Park plays a crucial role in Kaohsiung's whole ecological system. The extensive wetland park covers 10 hectares, with an extensive number of different species, such as water insects, fish, reptiles and birds. The area also includes 3 hectares water caltrops, ponds and forest.
The organization, "Wetlands Taiwan", has been working on a project concerned with helping Pheasant-tailed Jacana migrate back to their homelands. Over the pass two years, the wetland park has gathered together more than 90 different species of wild bird, such as the Taiwan Blue Magpie, the Bamboo Partridge, the Ring-necked Pheasant. The Jhouzih Wetland Park is an ideal environment for all kinds of species to live, providing as it does a plentiful food supply for such birds.
-◆- Botanical Garden
Strolling along the wooden path at Botanical Garden, you may have a feeling that you are actually in a forest. This is the first botanical garden in Taiwan. Originally them were only 69 different plants, but gradually it has developed into a forest.
The newly-built wooden path, which is 500 meters in length, provides people with a chance to bathe in the fresh air of the forest.
-◆- Benhe Village Retention Pond
Benhe Village Retention is called the "Big Bowl Park" by locals due to its shape. It is also the first retention wetland park to be located in Taiwan.
"Big Bowl Park" is about 3.4 hectares, built principally to prevent flooding. There are stones around the spaces in between providing fertile ground for the growth of local plants form Jhouzih Wetland Park. Birds also are attracted to this lush region. The outer area of "Big Bowl Park"has been developed into park land, making it a good place for recreational activities.
-◆- Historical Site in Zuoying Sia Road
Apart from the "Nature Walk", there is a historic site along the banks of Lotus Lake. Located beside the Old Castle Elementary School, this first historic trail in Kaohsiung City stretches from Dian Zih Ding Road to Zuoying Sia Road. It is 15meters in width and 263 meters in length. The old houses located at the Northern part of the lane are full of traditional Taiwanese characteristics. It is a prime example of traditional style of building. Together with the antiques and the 100 years old banyan tree in Fongshan County, it is the best preserve historic site in the whole of the Kaohsiung and Pingtung area.
In order to preserve history, the city government has torn down part of the old houses by hand and has kept the inside wall, inserting an exhibition window of tempered glass to display the handicraft of the craftsman perfectly.
Walking down the stone pavement and appreciating the traditional buildings along the road, you will definitely be reminded of the past.
高雄生態廊道 文／劉萬枝 攝影／鮑忠暉 高雄不僅是對人友善的城市，也是對自然生態友善的城市。經多年的擘畫經營，高雄從左營的蓮池潭、洲仔濕地公園、原生植物園到三民區的本和里滯洪池，甚至延伸到柴山，都是適合鳥類、昆蟲自由游移的「生態廊道」已然成形，這條「生態廊道」已成為自然界動、植物的快樂天堂。 -◆- 蓮池潭
曾經是淩波仙子─水雉最大聚集地的左營蓮池潭，屬都會型的水域，北倚半屏山，南近龜山，潭面廣達75公頃，經市府經營、美化，環潭步道垂柳蒼翠，綠樹成蔭，點綴其中的蓮花復育池，可品賞蓮池潭的特色蓮花，潭邊還有龍虎塔、春秋閣、五里亭、北極亭，和古色古香的孔子廟，漫步在北極亭岸邊的蓮畔光廊，還可欣賞蓮潭夕照與潭中美景。 「榕園廣場區」、「親水廣場區」及「光之門區」也是蓮池潭的特色，潭畔木棧道、砌石堤岸、親水台階、適合親子戲水的親水設施、水幕高牆及流瀑，還配置水生植物；蓮池潭底泥完成清疏後，將再進行的蓮花復育，會使「泮池荷香」的美景重現。 -◆- 洲仔濕地公園
位在蓮池潭東側的高雄洲仔濕地公園，是高雄大生態綠帶中不可或缺的一環。洲仔濕地公園面積約10公頃，園區內有3公頃的菱角田和荷花園，還有水塘、低草原和樹林，營造人與野生動物共同生存的空間，也發展出多樣化的生物如水生昆蟲、螺貝類、魚類、兩棲爬蟲類，並讓鳥類重返這一大片原屬於牠們的濕地。 中華民國濕地保護聯盟在洲仔濕地推動水雉返鄉行動，二年多來，充滿各種水生植物的濕地成就良好的自然棲息環境，棲息的水鳥從40多種增加為90多種，其中有許多罕見的鳥類，像台灣藍鵲、竹雞、環頸雉、蒼鷺、鸕鶿、及和水雉有相同習性的紅冠水雞等等，還有兩棲類等蟲魚鳥獸到濕地公園覓食，是高雄友善的自然生態樂園。 -◆- 原生植物園
走入凹仔底原生植物園，漫步在原木棧道上，彷彿置身於叢林之中。這座全台第一座以原生植物為主題的公園，原始規劃有45科69種植物，並逐年成形為複層林。園區中原有的土丘上栽植南部低海拔植物的樹種，如越橘葉蔓榕、山黃梔、白樹仔、野桐、重屎、構樹、羅膚鹽氏木，強調花葉、果實、樹形的季節變換之美；以海洋作為繁衍傳播的海岸林植物，有老鼠荔、馬鞍藤、蔓荊等；而模擬高雄柴山的珊瑚礁地形珍貴的「季風雨林」生態，則有林投、黃槿等植物。 新設五百公尺的原木棧道，迤邐在原生植物園內的不同林相中，沿著原木棧道前行，除能享受林間經微風吹拂的芬多精，如倘佯在都市森林浴場中，聆聽蟲吟鳥啼，讓人忘卻都市塵囂。 -◆- 本和里滯洪池
這個被本和里當地的孩童戲稱為「大碗公園」的本和里滯洪池濕地公園，形狀就像個大碗，這是全台灣第一座位於市區並且賦有防洪儲水功能的濕地公園。 「大碗公園」佔地3.4公頃，有調節洪水，避免淹水的功能。滯洪池四周卵石護坡，卵石縫隙填塞沃土，吸引水草繁殖，由左營洲仔濕地移植的本土性水生植物包括香水蓮花、四季觀音蓮及印度杏菜等，展現「生態廊道」延續的意象；池內設置適合鳥類棲息的設施，吸引鳥類駐足；大碗公園內的「碗邊」綠草如茵，也是生態休閒活動的好地方。 -◆- 左營下路歷史景觀步道
除了「生態廊道」之外，在蓮池潭畔的「左營下路歷史景觀步道」是高雄市第一條與歷史對話的景觀步道，位於舊城國小旁，北起店仔頂路，南至左營下路，寬15公尺，長263公尺，北側舊部落內巷道及傳統民宅，極具台灣鄉土文化特色，是左營區傳統聚落的精華，加上鳳山縣舊學宮三級古蹟崇聖祠及百年老榕樹，將成為高屏地區保留最完整的歷史聚落。 為還原歷史，市府以手工拆除一棟牴觸道路的部分古厝，保留石灰內牆牆面的剖面，並在牆中設置歷史文物展示櫥窗，還在兩側牆壁剖面上採用強化玻璃框架將斷面保存，完整呈現老師傅傳統施工手藝。 在青斗石鋪面的歷史景觀步道上漫步，欣賞路旁傳統建築物的紅瓦厝，讓人有思懷古趣的情愫，景觀步道也散發出歷史的光輝。 |