Taiwan’s Iconic Elephant Trunk Rock Faces Heartbreaking Collapse Due to Natural Forces

&NewLine;<p>December 17&comma; 2023&colon; In a somber turn of events&comma; Taiwan&&num;8217&semi;s famed natural wonder&comma; Elephant Trunk Rock&comma; has lost its distinctive &&num;8216&semi;trunk&&num;8217&semi; due to the relentless forces of weathering and erosion caused by seawater&period; Once a favorite spot for tourists and locals alike&comma; this iconic attraction&comma; shaped like an elephant&&num;8217&semi;s trunk&comma; has now become a victim of nature&&num;8217&semi;s relentless wear and tear&comma; leaving many saddened&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The Ruifang District Office reported that a section of the &&num;8216&semi;elephant&&num;8217&semi;s trunk&&num;8217&semi; separated from the rest of the rock structure&comma; succumbing to natural weathering and erosion&period; This unfortunate collapse marks the end of an era for a landmark that was not only a cherished local attraction but also one of Taiwan&&num;8217&semi;s most prominent Instagram-worthy places&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The incident occurred at 1&colon;55 pm on December 16&comma; with the original portion of the rock now submerged in the water&period; In response to the collapse&comma; local authorities have closed the site to visitors for safety reasons&comma; advising against visiting Elephant Trunk Rock&period; Instead&comma; they suggest exploring alternative natural landscapes like Chieftain Rock while emphasizing responsible waste disposal to preserve Taiwan&&num;8217&semi;s coastal beauty&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Geologists&comma; expressing concern about another landmark&comma; the Queen&&num;8217&semi;s Head&comma; likened to the bust of Queen Elizabeth&comma; highlight its gradual diminishment over the years&period; With its current circumference measuring lower than 120 cm&comma; apprehensions about its stability have risen&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Elephant Trunk Rock&comma; initially a military-protected zone&comma; opened to the public in 2000&comma; quickly becoming a popular attraction in Shen&&num;8217&semi;ao&period; However&comma; in 2010&comma; access to certain areas was restricted to prevent visitors from climbing onto the rock formation&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Located in Vietnam&comma; Elephant Trunk Rock was one of Taiwan&&num;8217&semi;s most gorgeous natural wonders&comma; resembling an elephant dipping its trunk into the sea&period; Perched along the coastline&comma; this unique rock formation drew awe and admiration for its striking resemblance&period; The partial break on December 16 has closed the site&comma; marking the end of an era and leaving many mourning the loss of a once-iconic symbol of Taiwan&&num;8217&semi;s natural beauty&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;

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