By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
As temperatures gradually drop and the crisp, refreshing climate of autumn arrives, it’s the perfect time for maple leaves to start turning from green to red—making it an ideal season for a maple-viewing trip. Nantou’s Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area boasts the nation’s largest sweet gum forest and is also known as the “Hometown of Maple Leaves.”
Hometown of Maple Leaves – Aowanda (Image source: Aowanda National Forest Park)
Generally, the maple viewing season in Aowanda runs from mid-November to the end of December, but the exact peak depends entirely on the weather. However, October this year was the hottest October on record in Taiwan, and the arrival of the cold front from the north was slightly delayed, which also pushed back the maple-viewing season a bit.
When chlorophyll is depleted, yellow, orange, and red hues gradually emerge (Image source: Aowanda National Forest Park)
When plants sense that the cold winter is approaching and the dry season brings reduced rainfall, they form abscission layers at the base of leaf petioles to minimize water loss. As the chlorophyll in the leaves is gradually depleted, other pigments in the leaves—yellow, orange, or red—begin to show, creating the vibrant autumn and winter colors we look forward to.
The factors behind maple leaf color changes are greatly influenced by temperature (Image source: Aowanda National Forest Park)
【Info】
Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area
Address: No. 153, Da’an Road, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County
Phone: (04)9297-4511
Opening Hours: 08:00 - 17:00
Fall-inspired Literary & Artistic Journey: Five Unique Ways to Explore Taiwan
》http://www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=14141