Ma On Shan (peak)

Ma On Shan (Chinese: 馬鞍山; literally: Saddle Peak) is a saddle-shaped peak in east of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories of Hong Kong. With a height of 702 metres (2,303 ft), it stands among the ten highest mountains in Hong Kong. The mountain borders Sha Tin and Tai Po districts.

For other uses, see Ma On Shan.
Ma On Shan
馬鞍山
View of Ma On Shan from Sha Tin Racecourse
Highest point
Elevation702 m (2,303 ft)
Hong Kong Principal Datum 
Coordinates22°24′32″N 114°15′6″E 
Geography
Ma On Shan
Location of Ma On Shan in Hong Kong
Location Hong Kong
Ma On Shan viewed from West Buffalo Hill

Beneath the west face of the mountain along Tolo Harbour, the Ma On Shan new town extension, administratively part of Sha Tin, is named after the hill. It ends north in Wu Kai Sha.

A group of villages located east of the peak is named Shap Sze Heung and the harbour of Three Fathoms Cove.

Ma On Shan
Ma On Shan across Tolo Harbour

Geography

Ma On Shan can be distinguished by the west face which looks like a saddle, and "Ma On Shan" can be translated as "horse saddle mountain". Nine streams flow down from Ma On Shan, with the biggest located on the southwest slope of Ma On Shan, near Ma On Shan Village.

Geology
Geological map of Hong Kong showing the distribution of faults and different rock types in Hong Kong. Ma On Shan is in the Green area (Volcanic Rock) in eastern New Territories

Ma On Shan is formed by Volcanic rocks, much like many of the tallest mountains in Hong Kong, such as Tai Mo Shan. Some shorter mountains in Hong Kong are formed by older Granitic rocks.

In the 20th century, the mountain was formerly mined for its high-purity (60%) iron ore, with annual output in the 1950s and 1960s exceeding 100,000 tonnes.[1] An extensive network of tunnels is buried under the hill. The iron mine was abandoned when it became uncompetitive, in the 1970s.

Vegetation

The north slope of Ma On Shan is mostly tree-covered, while the south slope is mainly shrubs and grasses. On these hostile volcanic hills, only hardy and highly adaptable plants survive. There are some rare flora species, including Rhododendron simsii, which blooms with red flowers in late March, and two other species of native Rhododendron. Rare and protected species of plants also grow on Ma On Shan including the Chinese Lily (Lilium brownii) which is found on the mountain's eastern slope.

A few types of wild orchid grow in the streams of Ma On Shan, including Hong Kong's most common orchid, the Bamboo Orchid, so called because its distinctive stem resembles bamboo.

Wildlife
Bamboo Orchid flower

The natural environment of Ma On Shan is relatively undisturbed, so this valuable sanctuary gives shelter to many wildlife species. Common mammals are Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Chinese porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and common muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac).

See also

References
  1. Take a glimpse of Hong Kong’s mining past, EJ Insight, 26 Sept 2015
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