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Taiwan is a subtropical island about 160 km from Fujian Province on
the mainland. The Tropic of Cancer cuts through the island near
Tainan. Often said to be shaped like a tobacco leaf, Taiwan is 394 km
north-to-south and 144 km west-to-east. About two thirds of Taiwan is
mountainous, and the rest is coastal plains and flatlands. The territory currently under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China, called the "Taiwan Area" or the "Free Area", consists of Taiwan Island, Matsu, Kinmen, and the Pescadores. It is divided into two provinces: Taiwan and Fukien (Fujian in Pinyin); and two special municipalities: Taipei and Kaohsiung. Taiwan and Fukien are divided into counties and cities. Taiwan Province consists of 16 counties and 5 municipalities: Keelung, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, and Tainan. However, because all of mainland Fukien Province is under Communist control, the ROC only controls the two island counties of Kinmen (Quemoy) and Lienchiang. Major cities of Taiwan are located on the coast, mostly in the west. Taipei, the capital, is in the north, and Kaohsiung, a port city, is in the south. Other cities include Taichung, Tainan, Hsinchu, and Taidong. |