Situated at the northern tip of Taiwan, Taipei is the political, economical, and cultural centre of its country. The city is located on the Taipei Basin. an ancient lakebed bounded by the two narrow valleys of the Keelung and Xindian rivers, which join to form the Tamsui River along the city’s western border. Recent estimates suggest that the city is home to a population of 2.7 million, hence making Taiwan the 40th most-populous city in the world.

Rapid rates of deformation and erosion make Taiwan an exceptional area to investigate orogenic processes. Moreover, Taiwan’s unique plate tectonic setting allows geologists to investigate how earthquakes and slower aseismic processes jointly contribute to geological deformation over the long term (Taiwan Tectonics and Seismicity = Regional Tectonics, n.d.).

Throughout this blog, I would like to outline the following geological aspects with respect to Taipei (Western Foothills).

• Tectonic Setting
• Geological Map
• Stratigraphic Section/Timeline
• Issues regarding Interior Processes
• Water sources and challenges
• Energy sources and challenges