The premature whitening of the Old Plum Stone Trough offers a breathtaking spectacle you’ll want to see ASAP

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Located in Shimen District on Taiwan’s northern coast, the Old Plum Green Stone Trough is the only landscape of its kind in the country. Every year from April to May, a vast expanse of green algae forms here, attracting numerous tourists and photography enthusiasts. However, this year, due to extreme climate conditions, around the beginning of the year the area turned largely green ahead of schedule. The stone trough, which typically remains green throughout spring, has recently started to whiten more rapidly under the intense sunlight — nearly a month earlier than in previous years.

In the near future, large tides and seasonal winds will be needed to wash away the dead sea lettuce before the greenery can potentially return. If high temperatures persist, however, this scenic wonder may not reappear until next year.