Taiwan covers an area of 36,191 km2. The main island, Taiwan, accounts for all but a tiny part of the country’s land area.

Some 394 km long and 144 km wide, Taiwan’s shape has been compared to both a tobacco leaf and a sweet potato. The western half of Taiwan is well- watered and mostly flat, and thus suitable for farming, although agriculture is no longer an important part of the economy.

Mountain ranges run almost the entire length of the island, with 258 peaks higher than 3,000 m (9,842 feet). These mountains mean that journeys from west to east are slow but offer breathtaking scenery. Much of the highlands are forested, and national parks, notably Taroko and Yushan, showcase Taiwan’s alpine beauty.