I-LAN

shih (municipality) and seat of I-lan hsien (county), northeastern Taiwan, the centre of the only sizable alluvial basin on the island's mountainous eastern coast. The basin itself was largely formed as the delta of the Cho-Shui River and is about 30 miles (50 km) from north to south. I-lan city lies in the centre of this plain on the Lan River. The plain is a fertile rice-producing region, and I-lan is a major rice market. A railway connects the city with Chi-lung (Keelung) and Taipei to the north and also runs southward to Su-ao, Hua-lien, and T'ai-tung. The I-lan area was largely settled by Chinese. There is some minor industry, mainly papermaking (using wood from the forests in the surrounding mountains) and the manufacture of fertilizers. Pop. (1989 est.) 86,580. hsien (county), northeastern Taiwan, occupying an area of 825 square miles (2,137 square km) and bordered by the hsien of T'ai-pei (north), T'ao-yan and Hsin-chu (west), and T'ai-chung and Hua-lien (south) and by the Philippine Sea (east). The Chung-yang Mountains extend over the southern part, and the Hseh-shan Mountains border the northwestern part of I-lan hsien. In the northeast, the I-lan River has formed a fertile triangular basin, where paddy rice, sugarcane, peanuts (groundnuts), and sweet potatoes are grown. Sulfur, manganese, mica, copper, talc, marble, and iron ore are worked or mined. The major industries include rice, sugar, and sawmilling; fish processing; and fertilizer, cement, chemical, and paper manufacturing. T'ai-p'ing Mountain, in the south-central part of the county, is one of the biggest logging stations in Taiwan; it is also a major tourist resort. The hsien produces much of the pan-ya (smoked and salted ducks) in Taiwan. Su-ao, an important harbour on Taiwan's eastern coast, is connected by railway with the cities of Hua-lien to the south and Chi-lung (Keelung) to the north; the harbour is also connected by the Lang-yang Tunnel to the Lung-te Industrial District, site of export-import industries. I-lan city is the administrative seat. Pop. (1992 est.) 454,010.