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特别广播英语
第 313 课:Welcome to the Bottom of the World
南极大陆─世界最后的净土-3

Though no human population is native to Antarctica, about 1,000 people work there in the summer months, and another 12,000 tourists visit every year. 虽然南极洲没有土著居民,但每年夏季的几个月里,约有1000人在那儿工作,另外还有约12,000名游客来此参观。

They come to enjoy the unspoiled environment, the bright blue skies, and the fresh white snow fields. 他们到南极来享受没有污染的环境,碧蓝的天空和皓洁的雪原。

If a tourist is lucky enough, he or she can join an expedition to see some of the continent's other residents. 如果游客够幸运的话,他(她)还可以加入探险队一睹南极大陆上的其它生物。

Animals along the coast of the Southern Ocean don't mind the cold weather, and thrive in Antarctica's seas. 南太平洋沿岸的动物不介意严寒的气候,它们在南极海域中繁衍生息。

Penguins and seals breed on the icy shores and fish for krill in the cool water. 企鹅和海豹则在结冰的海岸上繁衍后代,并在冰冷的海水中捕食磷虾。

Yet, Antarctica's fragile and complicated eco-system is threatened by its human visitors. 不过,南极洲脆弱而复杂的生态系统正受到由人类组成的游客的威胁。

Damage to the environment occurs as people come looking for resources beneath the ice, or carelessly leave their garbage behind. 人们来这儿寻找冰层下的自然资源,或不经意的留下垃圾,都会对环境造成污染。

Currently, countries are working to ensure that the damage to Antarctica's environment is minimized, and that the last wilderness on Earth will remain an unspoiled place. 目前,各国正努力使对南极洲环境的破坏降到最低,以确保地球上的最后一片荒野能永远是一块未受破坏的地方。