A 19th century English naturalist, exploring the clear waters and sharp cliffs, recorded the stunning impression these imposing precipices by the sea made on him: "The Portuguese must have first seen this island from the north or the south, for if they had seen it from the east, they would not have chosen a word as mundane as 'beautiful' to describe it."
十九世紀的英國生物地理學家古寧瑪在台灣東部清水斷崖探險時，便記錄下此處壯觀海岸帶給他的震懾：「葡萄牙人勢必從南方或北方觀測到這座島… …；若是他們從東邊經過，不會只給予一個簡短的美麗稱呼而已。」