自然的“水与火之歌”

On Earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it.

天堂的碎片星星点点地掉落在地球。

——Jules Renard

【法】朱勒·雷纳

This Italian island north of Sicily is known as the “lighthouse of the Mediterranean” due to its frequent volcanic activity—and the way its incandescent explosions illuminate the night sky. With a mild eruption at least every 20 minutes, the lava fountain is a sure bet for travelers. Join a three-hour guided hike to reach the summit by sunset, and from a safe platform, peer down at the glowing, bursting spectacle.

位于意大利西西里岛北部的斯特龙博利岛因其频繁的火山活动而被誉为"地中海灯塔"，火山喷发时释放的炽热光芒能够照亮整个夜空。斯特龙博利火山每过20分钟就会轻微喷发一次，这样的熔岩喷泉奇观对游客来说是不能错过的旅行必选之地——游客们可以徒步三小时，在日落前到达山顶，从安全平台俯视火山点亮辉夜的景象。

In the scorched Afar desert of northeastern Ethiopia, Erta Ale is the site of what is called the “only somewhat accessible lava lake.” The southernmost pit of this constantly active, low-profile structure—an example of a shield volcano—has been dubbed the “gateway to hell.” Intrepid travelers can hire an adventure guide who'll lead them to hot glimpses of the smoldering scene.

在埃塞俄比亚东北部炙热的阿法尔沙漠中，埃尔塔阿雷火山是“唯一可以靠近的熔岩湖”所在地。这个持续活跃、低矮的火山结构是盾形火山的典型例子，其最南端有一个坑洞，被称为"通往地狱之门"。勇敢的旅行者们可以聘请一个导游带领他们前往那里，一睹熔岩湖阴燃的场景。

*shield vocano: 盾形火山。是指由熔岩在地表堆积而成的、表面平坦且坡度小的盾状火山，其名称的由来是因为它们的形状类似于古代勇士使用的环状盾。

*阴燃：没有火焰的缓慢燃烧现象。

Few summits on Earth embody the soul of a place quite like Japan's Mount Fuji. Dormant since last erupting in 1707, Mount Fuji is a UNESCO World Heritage site—noted by UNESCO as a “sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.” Around 60 miles from Tokyo, this iconic stratovolcano rises 12,388 feet and offers a revered sunrise view.

世界上很少有山峰能像日本的富士山那样体现出一个地方的精神灵魂。自1707年最后一次喷发以来，富士山一直处于休眠状态，它被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产，被该组织称为“神圣的地方和艺术灵感的源泉”。这座典型的成层火山距离东京约60英里，海拔高达12388英尺的，山顶日出景观令人叹为观止。

* stratovolcano：成层火山，又称复式火山，是指由两种以上的简单类型的火山体组成的火山，外观多为优美、对称的锥形。

Located in the Indian Ocean some 420 miles east of Madagascar, this French island features a stunning range of volcanic landscapes. Visitors can explore the cinder cones, caldera, and lava flows on foot and by car or helicopter. Every nine months, on average, Réunion's shield volcano, Piton de la Fournaise, puts on an amazing show of pyrotechnics.

留尼汪岛位于马达加斯加以东约420英里的印度洋上。这座岛屿拥有多种令人惊叹的火山地貌，游客可以步行、乘车或乘直升机探索火山渣锥、破火山口和熔岩流。留尼汪岛上的盾形火山富尔奈斯火山平均每9个月就会喷发一次， 喷发时像是在上演一场精彩的烟火表演。

*cinder cones：火山渣堆。是火山爆发形成的小规模火山，以火山碎屑岩为主体、兼有部分熔岩。

*caldera：破火山口。火山爆发形成的火山口，由于后期自然或人工的破坏而成为不完整的火山口。

*lava：熔岩流：呈液态在地表流动的熔岩，熔岩流冷却后形成固体岩石堆积有时也称之为熔岩流。

a lonely tree has grown up to spread its wings just off shore at the south end of Lake Wānaka. Known as the “lone tree of Lake Wānaka,” it is said to be one of the most photographed trees in all New Zealand.

在新西兰瓦纳卡湖的南部，一棵孤独的树兀自向着离岸的方向“张开翅膀”。它被称为“瓦纳卡湖的孤树”，据说这是全新西兰出镜率最高的树之一。

This photograph captures a whale behaviour called “spy hopping”, where whales poke their head above the water to take a look around and see what’s happening above the surface. It's like these majestic mammals of the sea understand human are watching them and are trying to connect with huaman in some way. In this shot, the photographer wanted to capture this by showing the whale between two worlds, ours above the surface and its below, at the precise moment when it is about to make that connection.

这张照片捕捉到了一种被称为鲸鱼“浮窥”的行为：鲸鱼把头伸出水面，看看水面上正在发生什么。这些高贵的海洋哺乳动物好像知道人类正在观察它们，并试图以某种方式与人类互动。在这张照片中，鲸鱼处在两个世界的交界处：我们的世界在水面上，它的世界在水下——而摄影师正是捕捉了鲸鱼联系起两个世界的瞬间。

As the sun set in Jardines de la Reina, golden sun rays pierced through the surface of the water. It painted a spectacular backdrop for the pelagic silky sharks that came out to hunt. As the window of the golden light shrunk, the boatman hurried the photographer to exit the water.

女王花园群岛的日落时分，金色的夕阳穿透了水面——它为前来捕猎的远洋丝鲨绘制了出壮观的背景。随着透着金光的“水面之窗”逐渐隐去，船夫也催促摄影师离开水面。

The bridge is made of bamboo, build by the people living in the surrounding villages. The villagers use the bridge daily to cross the river to the vegetable field. The vegetables are brought home at the end of the days to prepare for sale on the next day at the village's market place. Their live are routinely like that everyday.

图中的这座桥是用竹子建成的，由周围村庄的居民建造。村民们每天都通过这座桥前往河对岸的菜地，他们在一天结束时把收获的蔬菜带回家，并准备于第二天在村里的市场上出售——周而复始。

Word List

· a sure bet 必选（的东西或事务）

The lava fountain is a sure bet for travelers.

熔岩喷泉对游客来说是不能错过的旅行必选之地。

· intreprid  adj. 无畏的；勇敢的；勇猛的

Intrepid reporters at the New York Post headed to a local movie theater for follow-up. 

勇敢的《纽约邮报》记者深入本地电影院追踪调查。

· smoldering  n. 闷烧，阴燃

We also check trash cans and other areas for smoldering cigarettes. 

我们还检查垃圾箱和其它有点烟的地区。

· put on a show上演

· majestic  adj. 庄严的；宏伟的

The sky was sullen, two parts copper to one of lead, but the scenery majestic. 

天空阴沉，一片铅灰色，但是景色壮观。