Introducing Port Island

Port Island, also known as Chek Chau, is a captivating geological red coloured gem located at the mouth of Tolo Channel in Hong Kong.

Port Island is renowned for its striking reddish-hued rocks formed from sedimentary layers dating back approximately 142 million years to the Late Jurassic period.

The island features steep cliffs, picturesque rock formations, and recent dinosaur fossil discoveries, making it a unique destination for nature lovers and geology enthusiasts.

The Dinosaur Fossils of Port Island

Port Island, also known as Chek Chau, has made history in October 2024 as Hong Kong announced its first-ever discovery of dinosaur. The fossils finds were unearthed within Port Island's red sedimentary rocks, dating back to the Cretaceous period (145 million to 66 million years ago), are believed to belong to a large, aged dinosaur. Although the exact species remains unidentified, preliminary analysis suggests it might belong to either the Sauropod or Ornithischian groups, both herbivorous dinosaurs from that era.

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Sedimentary Rock Formations

Port Island is renowned for its vibrant reddish-brown sedimentary rock formations with 142 million years history, primarily composed of thickly bedded conglomerate and sandstone, with interbedded siltstone layers. These rocks are part of the Port Island Formation, interpreted as distal alluvial fan or proximal braidplain deposits from the Late Cretaceous period. The reddish hues are due to iron oxides, reflecting an arid environment during their formation.The sedimentary layers dip gently towards the east, contributing to the island's profile with steeper slopes on the west and gentler slopes on the east.

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Volcanic Rock in Port Island?

Port Island's western side features volcanic rock formations contrasting with its eastern sedimentary layers. According to geological studies, the western volcanic rocks belong to the Repulse Bay Volcanic Group, formed during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous period (~143–140 million years ago) from volcanic ash and pyroclastic deposits.These rocks are primarily tuff, characterised by fine-grained textures and evidence of explosive volcanic activity.

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Conservation: Official Coral Area

Port Island Tai Wan is one of Hong Kong's six designated coral conservation areas, where anchoring is prohibited to protect the coral ecosystem. Notably, it is the only one of these six areas not located in Sai Kung, highlighting its unique position in Hong Kong's underwater world. Port Island Tai Wan is renowned for its vibrant coral communities, hosting a variety of marine species. Among the coral formations, you can often spot the iconic yellowtail clownfish swimming alongside other coral dwellers.

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