Uplift of the land took place during the Tertiary period from about 50 million years ago, and the erosion that followed began to shape today's landscape.
The climate was warm and humid, as it is today and weathering penetrated deep into the rock, forming soft clay and soil. This creates a problem today with the constant threat of landslides on weak and weathered slopes.
About two million years ago, in the Quaternary period, the Ice Ages began. As vast ice sheets spread from the Poles, the world sea level dropped considerably.
At the peak of the last major glaciation about 18,000 years ago, the sea level was 130 meters below its present level and coastline was 120 kilometers south of Hong Kong. New valleys were carved into the Hong Kong landscape during this time.
As the world's climate warmed and the ice sheets finally retreated, the sea level rose , following the new valleys to create Hong Kong's intricate coastline with its numerous bays, inlets, and about 260 islands.
Credit : History Museum of HK.
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