Beautiful Jiaming Lake
Jiaming Lake, called "Cidanuman Buan" in Bunun language, is the second highest alpine lake in Taiwan, with an altitude of 3,310 meters, second only to Xueshan Cuichi. This lake is located in Lidao Village, Haiduan Township, Taitung County, on the southeast side of Sancha Mountain. Because it is located in the Sancha Mountain area, it is also called "Sancha Pond". The lake is perfectly shaped like an oval egg pool with azure blue water. The lake is about 120 meters long and 80 meters wide, with a total area of about 1.9 hectares. The lake is 6 meters deep. Although there is no stream flowing into it, the lake water remains dry all year round, which is amazing.
Jiaming Lake is the traditional territory of the Bunun people. The Bunun people call it the "Mirror of the Moon" because they believe that the moon will come back every night to look at their arrow wounds, and Jiaming Lake is the mirror that reflects the moon. The mountaineering community calls this lake "God's lost sapphire" or "Angel's Tears". These names come from the deep blue color of the lake, which shines like a gem.
The origin of Jiaming Lake is still controversial. In 1998, Chen Zhaoxia, director of the Central Geological Survey of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, proposed the theory that Jiaming Lake was formed by a meteorite impact. However, other scholars have been unable to find sufficient evidence to support this claim. In 2003, Professor Qi Shizheng, director of the Department of Geography at Kaohsiung Normal University, believed that Jiaming Lake was a cirque lake left over from glaciers, and in 2010 he obtained relevant dating data, further supporting the cirque lake claim.
I have been to Jiaming Lake many times and each time the experience is different. This is a high mountain route that you will never get tired of walking, especially now that mountaineering is popular, you can always meet many like-minded people. I remember the last time I went to Jiaming Lake, I took a few friends who were hiking for the first time, and we experienced many different feelings along the way. During the four-day trip, we not only met other climbing teams, but even on weekdays, the mountain huts along the way were always crowded with people.
This mountain climbing craze makes me feel mixed emotions. The good news is that more and more people are willing to participate in mountaineering activities and enjoy the beauty of nature; the bad news is that some people may harm themselves and the environment due to lack of experience and preparation. There is almost no complete mountaineering education in Taiwan. If many people do not do their own homework, they can only rely on the guidance of veterans or team leaders before the trip, which is very important. However, there are always people who disagree and think that mountaineering is an easy thing. Such an attitude is likely to cause them to face difficulties on the Jiaming Lake route.
The route to Jiaming Lake is not the most difficult, but it is not easy either. Although the trail is clear and there is no dangerous terrain, the terrain along the way is undulating and the climate is changeable. For inexperienced novices, the use of equipment and itinerary arrangements still require the guidance of experienced people for safety. Every time I visit Jiaming Lake, I slowly savor the natural scenery along the way, from plants to rocks to specific wild animals, which give me new insights every time.
However, mountain climbing is not just about enjoying the beautiful scenery, it also requires adequate preparation and proper arrangements. It is very important to carry enough equipment, especially warm clothing and emergency overnight gear, on your trip to Jiaming Lake. The alpine environment is ever-changing, and sudden weather changes may occur at any time. The risk of hypothermia cannot be ignored. Before every trip, I would do my homework, plan the itinerary, and ensure that every teammate could complete the adventure safely and smoothly.
The beauty of Jiaming Lake lies not only in its deep blue, gem-like water, but also in the experience and gains from every climb. Mountain climbing not only gives me awe for nature, but also a sense of responsibility for myself and my teammates. Every journey is an opportunity to learn and grow. Whether it is the use of equipment or the understanding of the environment, these experiences are priceless. I believe that every trip to Jiaming Lake in the future will bring me new inspiration and enlightenment.