[出差] 石垣・西表 D4：走進東洋亞馬遜，深入西表島ピナイサーラの滝與消失的台灣礦工史｜Pinaisara Falls and the Forgotten Taiwanese Miners

2024-7-12 石垣・西表出差第四天，今天安排的是這趟調查中最期待的一段路線──深入西表島最具代表性的瀑布「ピナイサーラの滝（Pinaisara Falls）」。多數旅客會選擇從紅樹林划獨木舟，再步行抵達瀑布，不過這次因為工作的安排，我們選擇直接由山徑徒步進入森林，希望能觀察更多西表島亞熱帶森林的環境，也完成今天預定的野外調查。 一路走進森林後，可以很明顯感受到西表島和沖繩本島截然不同的自然環境。這裡保存著大面積的亞熱帶常綠闊葉林，森林裡終年潮濕悶熱，溪流、板根植物、藤蔓植物與高大的喬木共同形成西表島最具代表性的景觀。影片中可以看到許多巨大的板根樹（仙島蘇木），這類植物利用向外延伸的板根支撐樹幹，也成為森林中相當具有特色的自然景觀。 西表島於2021年與奄美大島、德之島及沖繩島北部共同列入世界自然遺產。世界自然遺產的價值並不只是因為瀑布，而是完整保存的亞熱帶森林，以及極高比例的特有生物。像是西表山貓、八重山黑木耳蛇、許多昆蟲、兩棲類與溪流生物，都生活在這片森林之中，因此這裡也是日本最重要的自然保育區之一。 今天的目的地──ピナイサーラの滝，是沖繩縣落差最大的瀑布，高約55公尺。「ピナイサーラ」在當地語言中有「老人鬍鬚」的意思，形容瀑布自高處垂下時如同白色長鬍鬚一般。影片除了抵達瀑布頂端之外，也記錄了從展望點俯瞰紅樹林、河口以及遠方海岸線的景色。站在瀑布上方，可以清楚理解西表島河川、森林與海洋彼此連結的自然地貌。 除了自然景觀之外，西表島也有一段較少人知道的歷史。日治時期，西表島曾因瘧疾肆虐而被稱為「死之島」，直到戰前防疫措施逐漸建立後，才開始有較大規模的開墾與產業發展。1930年代，日本企業也曾在西表島開採煤礦，當時不少來自台灣瑞芳、基隆等地的礦工被招募甚至遭到欺騙來到西表工作。在惡劣的生活環境、瘧疾流行以及艱困的勞動條件下，許多人最終未能返回家鄉。如今煤礦早已停採，但這段與台灣有關的歷史，卻很少被人提起。 影片最後也分享了這次調查遇到的小插曲——在森林中遭到蜱（Tick）附著的經驗，以及進入亞熱帶森林進行調查時需要注意的裝備、防護與安全事項。西表島的魅力，除了壯觀的瀑布與森林之外，更來自於它完整保留下來的自然、生態與歷史；每一次走進森林，都像是在閱讀一座仍然持續演化中的自然博物館。 ENGLISH DESCRIPTION July 12, 2024. Day 4 of the Ishigaki / Iriomote business trip was dedicated to one of the island's most iconic destinations—Pinaisara Falls. While most visitors reach the waterfall by canoe through the mangrove rivers, this survey followed a different approach. Instead of paddling upstream, we entered the subtropical forest on foot to carry out fieldwork and observe the island's natural environment along the trail. Walking through the forest quickly reveals why Iriomote is often called the "Amazon of the East." Dense subtropical evergreen forests, massive buttress-root trees, countless streams, and humid mountain valleys create an ecosystem unlike anywhere else in Japan. The giant buttress trees seen in the video are a characteristic feature of tropical forests, providing stability for trees growing in shallow, waterlogged soils. Iriomote Island became part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2021, together with Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, and the northern part of Okinawa Island. The island's global importance lies not only in its beautiful scenery, but also in its remarkably intact subtropical forests and exceptional biodiversity. Many endemic species, including the critically endangered Iriomote cat, depend on these forests for survival. The destination of today's hike was Pinaisara Falls, the tallest waterfall in Okinawa Prefecture with a drop of approximately 55 meters. The name "Pinaisara" comes from the Yaeyama language, meaning "a beard hanging down," describing the appearance of the waterfall cascading over the cliff. Reaching the top offers sweeping views across the mangrove estuary, rivers, and surrounding forests, providing a completely different perspective from the more common canoe routes below. Beyond its extraordinary natural landscape, Iriomote also holds a lesser-known chapter of history. Before effective malaria control was introduced, the island was once known as the "Island of Death" because of frequent outbreaks that discouraged permanent settlement. During the 1930s, coal mines were developed on the island, and many miners from Keelung and Ruifang in Taiwan were recruited—or in some cases deceived—into working under harsh tropical conditions. Their stories have largely faded from public memory, yet they remain an important part of Iriomote's history. The video also documents one of the realities of fieldwork in subtropical forests: encountering ticks during the survey. Rather than simply presenting scenic landscapes, this episode records the practical challenges of working in one of Japan's last remaining wilderness areas. Looking back on the day, what impressed me most was not just reaching the waterfall itself, but experiencing how closely nature, history, and conservation are intertwined on Iriomote Island. Every step through the rainforest revealed another layer of this remarkable World Natural Heritage site. 【影片章節】 00:00 西表島出差第四天：行前準備與路線規劃 01:03 停車場、登山口 01:24 為什麼沒有划獨木舟？直接徒步深入森林 04:00 巨大的板根植物（仙島蘇木） 07:10 西表島森林與生物地理觀察 08:30 「死之島」：瘧疾與西表島的歷史 09:45 抵達 ピナイサーラの滝 頂端 11:50 消失的台灣礦工：西表煤礦歷史 15:30 野外調查的風險：遭遇蜱（Tick） 16:50 南風見晚餐與一天的總結 Hashtags #出差 #石垣 #西表島 #ピナイサーラの滝 #PinaisaraFalls #世界自然遺產 #熱帶雨林 #西表山貓 #台灣礦工史 #沖繩 #日本旅遊 #生態調查 #歷史 #4K #Vlog #BusinessTrip #Iriomote #IriomoteIsland #PinaisaraFalls #WorldNaturalHeritage #SubtropicalForest #JapanTravel #NatureDocumentary