Lesson 7 The Delights of South Island
The Delights of South Island
One of the odder coincidences of physical geography is the fact that there are two double islands, roughly the same size, positioned at each other’s antipodes, or farthest-distant point. The islands of England and Ireland in the Northern Hemisphere and the islands of North Island and South Island in the southern Hemisphere are just such a coincidence. The first two islands comprise the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (or Eire), and the second two islands comprise New Zealand. Among these four islands, there can be no doubt that South Island is the least polluted and most spectacularly scenic of them all.
There is much competition to make such a claim. The island of England, politically constituting England, Scotland, and Wales of the United Kingdom, is dotted with country villages set alongside rivers and lakes. There are not very tall but nonetheless rugged mountains in the north, and endless miles of rocky coastline that seem mystical. Ireland, too, is a paradise of greenery, with far fewer people than populous England and even more quaint villages scattered among its low-lying hills and forever green fields. North Island in New Zealand sports a balmy climate and the beaches to make use of it; one beach alone is more than 150 kilometers long and with relatively few people on its shores, one can pretend one is at the very end of the earth. Volcanoes, large lakes, and quickly flowing rivers traverse the land. Given the beauty of these three islands, what makes South Island so special?
Plenty. For those who like mountains, South Island is sure to please. Mt. Cook at 3764 meters is its highest peak, with 16 others above 3000 meters. Naturally, many local and foreign mountain climbers come here for the challenge of these Southern Alps. In addition, there is an extensive glacier system, endless forests, and innumerable lakes throughout this highland area. Some of the world’s best mountain scenery is available within the 500-kilometer long chain of the Southern Alps.
Perhaps you prefer the sea? South Island is not only an island, but many tiny islets can be found off its coastline. Great deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling can be had, though the waters here are cooler than those of North Island. (Remember, in the Southern Hemisphere, as we go north, it gets warmer.)As fewer people live on South Island than on North Island, those who crave solitude and pristine beaches will be amazed at their luck here. With almost no heavy industry on South Island, the air, water, and land are all free of pollution. The Local seafood is therefore clean, plentiful, and never-ending.
Do healthful climates interest you? South Island is the place to be. Its temperate climate sees little snow except in the highlands and mountainous areas. Like Ireland and England, there are no extremes of temperature, either. Summers are warm, not hot, and winters are brisk rather than freezing. The fresh air is sometimes humid from the abundant rainfall of this area. Every season invites the nature lover to get out and be active in the countryside.
Of course, South Island is not for everyone. For those who need busy, crowded, noisy, and polluted cities, this Southern outpost will surely disappoint. For those who enjoy pressure and stress, South Island will leave them empty-handed. And for those who would rather stay at home or in an office in front of a computer screen or in the thumping, smoke-filled dance floors of discos, some of the world’s best natural scenery will never entice them away. For the rest of us, though, South Island is the world’s best kept secret. If Nature’s paradise sounds alluring, make a point of visiting South Island.
One of the odder coincidences of physical geography is the fact that there are two double islands, roughly the same size, positioned at each other’s antipodes, or farthest-distant point. The islands of England and Ireland in the Northern Hemisphere and the islands of North Island and South Island in the southern Hemisphere are just such a coincidence. The first two islands comprise the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (or Eire), and the second two islands comprise New Zealand. Among these four islands, there can be no doubt that South Island is the least polluted and most spectacularly scenic of them all.
自然地理中一个较为奇特的巧合是，世界上存在着两组大小相近的双岛，它们分别位于彼此的对映点，也就是地球的两极。北半球的英格兰和爱尔兰群岛以及南半球的新西兰南北二岛就是这样的巧合。前两者构成了联合王国和爱尔兰共和国，后两者则组成了新西兰。在这四个岛屿中，南岛无疑是污染最少且风景最为秀丽的。
对于谁才是风景最秀丽的岛屿，各方竞争激烈。政治上构成英国的英格兰岛，遍布着点缀在河流和湖泊之畔的乡村。北部有虽不高耸却崎岖的山脉，以及绵延无尽、神秘莫测的岩石海岸线。爱尔兰也是一片绿意盎然的乐土，人口远少于人口密集的英格兰，其低洼的丘陵和终年翠绿的田野间散布着更多古雅的村落。新西兰的北岛气候宜人，还有诸多可供享受的海滩；仅一个海滩就长达150多公里，而且海岸线上人相对较少，让人仿佛置身于世界尽头。岛上有火山、大湖泊和湍急的河流。鉴于这三个岛屿的美丽，那么南岛究竟有何特别之处呢？
特别之处可多了。对于喜爱山脉的人来说，南岛绝对会让他们心满意足。库克山海拔3764米，是其最高峰，还有另外16座山峰海拔超过3000米。自然而然地，许多国内外的登山者都来到这里挑战南阿尔卑斯山脉。此外，这片高地地区还有广阔的冰川系统、无垠的森林和无数的湖泊。在长达500公里的南阿尔卑斯山脉中，能领略到一些世界上最棒的山地风光。
或许你更喜欢大海？南岛不仅是一个岛屿，其海岸线外还有许多小岛屿。这里有绝佳的深海捕鱼、水肺潜水和浮潜条件，尽管这里的海水比北岛的海水更凉爽。（记住，在南半球，越往北走，气候越温暖。）由于南岛的人口比北岛少，那些渴望独处和纯净海滩的人会在这里惊喜地发现自己运气真好。南岛几乎没有重工业，空气、水和土地都没有污染。因此，当地的海鲜干净、丰富且源源不断。
有益健康的气候吸引你吗？南岛就是这样的地方。除了高地和山区，这里气候温和，降雪很少。和爱尔兰、英格兰一样，这里也没有极端的气温。夏天温暖但不炎热，冬天凉爽但不寒冷。这片地区充沛的降雨有时会让新鲜空气变得湿润。每个季节都吸引着热爱大自然的人到户外去，在乡村尽情活动。
当然，南岛并非适合所有人。对于那些需要繁忙、拥挤、嘈杂和污染城市的人来说，这个南方前哨肯定会让他们失望。对于那些喜欢压力和紧张的人来说，南岛也不会给他们带来满足感。而对于那些宁愿待在家里或办公室对着电脑屏幕，或者在迪斯科舞厅震耳欲聋、烟雾弥漫的舞池里的人来说，世界上一些最棒的自然风光永远无法吸引他们离开。然而，对于我们其余的人来说，南岛是世界上最隐秘的瑰宝。如果大自然的天堂听起来很诱人，一定要去游览一下南岛。
自然地理中一个较为奇特的巧合是，世界上存在着两组大小相近的双岛，它们分别位于彼此的对映点，也就是地球的两极。北半球的英格兰和爱尔兰群岛以及南半球的新西兰南北二岛就是这样的巧合。前两者构成了联合王国和爱尔兰共和国，后两者则组成了新西兰。在这四个岛屿中，南岛无疑是污染最少且风景最为秀丽的。
Vocabulary & Idioms
- odder——奇怪的
- physical geography——自然地理学
- there are two double islands——有两对岛屿
- antipodes——对跖地
- hemisphere——半球
- be dotted with——点缀着
- rugged——崎岖的
- mystical——神秘的
- quaint——古雅的
- low-lying——低洼的
- balmy——温和的
- traverse——穿过
- Alps——阿尔卑斯山
- islet——小岛
- scuba——水肺
- snorkeling——潜水
- never-ending——永无止境的
- brisk——轻快的
- outpost——边远地区
- empty-handed空手
- thumping——砰砰响的
- entice——引诱
- make a point of + V-ing——必定，总是要做
- On the first day of each month I make a point of paying my rent in person.