Green today, gone tomorrow

As the tide drops and the fog rises, these ruffled ridges of hardened lava take on an unearthly look. But the effect is as ephemeral as the mists that slither through the stones: The algae that grows here each spring, putting the green in Laomei Green Reef, dies off in early summer. So if you want to catch this unique spectacle on Taiwan's northern tip, plan your visit between March and May, and keep an eye on the tidal charts.