Some call it the "Moon's Mirror" because of its oval shape and still, clear waters. Others call it the "Angel's Tear" because of its deep blue color. Chiaming Lake isn't the largest lake in Taiwan, but to many, it is the most beautiful. People used to think the lake formed 3,000 years ago when a meteor fell from space and hit the mountain. But in fact, it is even older than that—around 7,000 years old. And it really formed when a large river of ice cut out a piece of the mountain. The lake is not easy to get to, however. At 3,310 m high, it is the second highest lake in Taiwan. Reaching it takes many hours of difficult hiking through the mountains near Taitung. But don't let that put you off. Many people make the long and difficult journey each year. And they all say it's worth it!
有人以其橢圓的輪廓和靜止清澈的湖水，賦予它「月亮的明鏡」的稱號；有人因其深邃湛藍的顏色，送給它「天使的眼淚」的美名─這就是嘉明湖，雖然不是台灣面積最大的湖泊，卻是很多人心中最壯麗的景色。 從前人們以為，嘉明湖是三千年前，太空的流星墜落撞擊山脈所形成。事實上，嘉明湖的歷史更悠久，可追溯至七千年前左右，且嘉明湖其實是由大片冰河切割山脈而成。 然而，要抵達嘉明湖並非易事。嘉明湖位於海拔 3,310 公尺的高山，堪稱台灣第二高的湖泊。要到嘉明湖，需穿越台東附近的山脈，費盡數小時路途艱困的登山步道才行。不過別因此卻步了。每年還是有許多人克服漫長困難的征程，異口同聲不虛此行呢！ | 
