Geography of Taiwan   Taiwan is located in Southeast Asia, to the southwest of to the west is the Taiwan Strait beyond which is China. Luzon Strait is to the south and the Philippines is further south, a natural conduit to the rest of Asia from the Pacific. It covers an area of approximately 36,000 square kilometers (14,400 square miles) and is longer than it is wide. Two-thirds of the total area is covered by forested mountains and the remaining area consists of hilly country, platforms and highlands, coastal plains and basins. The Central Mountain Range stretches along the entire island from north to south, thus forming a natural line of demarcation for rivers on the eastern and western sides of the island. On the west side lies the Yushan Mountain Range with its main peak reaching 3,952 meters, the highest mountain peak in Northeast Asia. It has excellent biodiversity and contains a frigid zone, temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. All shades of green can be found on the island.