第三篇（英译汉）Passage 3（E-C）

相关词语 Related Words and Expressions

falls 瀑布

wonder 奇迹

illuminate 照亮

churning (波浪)翻腾的

hydroelectric plant 水力发电厂

divert 转移；转向

treaty 条约

slide 山崩；土崩

tumble 滚下

ledge 岩架, 岩脊, 岩石突出部

erosion 腐蚀；侵蚀

Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of North America. It is on the Niagara River, about halfway between Lake Erie and Ontario. The river forms part of the United States-Canadian border.

Niagara Falls actually consists of two waterfalls, the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. The Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side of the border in the province of Ontario. The American Falls is on the United States side in the state of New York. At night, wide beams of colored lights illuminate the falls. About 10 million people visit Niagara Falls annually.

Niagara Falls attracts visitors throughout the year. However, most visitors come during the tourist season, from April 1 to October 31. Several steamers called the Maid of the Mist take sightseers close to the churning waters at the base of the falls. Parks line both sides of the river near Niagara Falls. Excellent views of the falls may be seen from such sites as Prospect Point, Table Rock, and Terrapin Point. Four observation towers, ranging from 86 to 150 meters high, also provide fine views of the falls.

United States and Canadian hydroelectric plants divert some of the water through tunnels from the Niagara River before it reaches Niagara Falls. For scenic reasons, however, the amount of water that may be diverted is regulated by a treaty between the United States and Canada. The treaty states that at least 2,800 cubic meters of water a second must pass over the falls during daylight hours of the tourist season. At other times, the flow may be decreased to 1,400 cubic meters a second.

Some people believed that the rapid development of tourism and industry ruined the scenic beauty of the Niagara Falls area. In 1885, the government of New York took control of the land bordering the American Falls. It then established the Niagara Falls Park, covering about 430 acres (174 hectares) on the land. In 1886, Canada established Queen Victoria Park on 196 acres (79 hectares) of land near the Horseshoe Falls. Since the 1880’s, much more land in the Niagara Falls area has been set aside for parks, especially on the Canadian side.

Rockslides have gradually changed the appearance of Niagara Falls through the years. In 1931, about 73,000 metric tons of rock fell from the Niagara Falls. Several years later, approximately 27,000 metric tons of rock broke off the upper edge of the Horseshoe Falls. In 1954, about 167,800 metric tons of rock tumbled from the American Falls and nearby Prospect Point.

In 1969, U.S. Army engineers built a dam to stop the flow of water temporarily over the American Falls. A board of experts from the United States and Canada then studied the rock ledge to determine how to prevent further erosion. However, the board decided that the cost of halting erosion would be too high. It recommended that nothing be done except small measures to improve public safety.