Let’s protect the historical sites of the Houlong Pass

Buried in the earth on the east side of the coastal rail line in Nangang, Houlong, there were originally many shellfish fossils formed about 1 to 6 million years ago. Today, the shell fossils on the exposed mountain faces are seriously scarred. Weathering is one of the factors, but man-made damage is more serious. In 1955, the Historical Research Commission of Miaoli County(苗栗縣文獻委員會) erected a stone tablet for Guogang Shell Fossils Monument(過港貝化石層石碑). It clearly states that to preserve the ancient fossil layer, fossils may only be taken for academic research and must not be unearthed indiscriminately.

In addition to retaining many shell fossil layers, the area of Guogang in Houlong also has military bunkers, ancient roads, and many unique natural landscapes home to rare flora. Moreover, many tourists are attracted by the home-grown produce of local farmers. Locals hope that tourists will join with locals to protect the area and refrain from taking shell fossils as souvenirs.

以下為中文對照

後龍過港風情古蹟由你我共同來守護

後龍鎮南港里的海線鐵路東側地層中，原本蘊藏許多約一百萬到六百萬年前形成的貝類化石。目前貝化石層裸露山壁貝殼化石被挖的傷痕累累，風化是其中一要素，但人為破壞更為嚴重。民國四十四年，苗栗縣文獻委員會在此設立了過港貝化石層石碑，特地公告民眾此地只能用於學術研究不得濫墾，以保存貝化石層古蹟。

後龍過港除了保留許多貝化石層，還有軍事碉堡、挑柴古道及許多特種植物自然景觀，在地農民自耕自賣在地特產也帶動許多遊客前往參觀，希望遊客一起來保護這塊土地，別再敲取貝殼化石當做紀念品。

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