国家地理:Secret Yosemite 约塞米蒂国家公园

Yosemite is a crown jewel of America's wild spaces. This stunning¹ valley, a mere² seven miles long, contains some of the most awe-inspiring and recognizable wonders of the world -- El Capitan, and its majestic³ partner, Half Dome⁴.

Yosemite falls, 13 times higher than Niagara. The giant sequoia⁵, a species as tall as a thirty-storey building, its trunk wider than many city streets. No living thing in the known history of the planet has ever matched it for size.

Yosemite lies in the granite⁶ heart of California's mighty⁷ Sierra Nevada mountain range. This land of giants was forged by four titanic⁸ forces of nature.

Fire. Out of the flames, life comes to this wilderness⁹.
I believe and feel that they are breathing a sigh of relief from this fire and this burn.

Air. Where heaven and earth meet, humans venture at their peril¹⁰.
A tremendous bright flash with huge explosion.

Earth. An awesome¹¹ ancient pressure breathes out of solid stone.
Please don't move.

And water. It changes Yosemite every day, every minute, every second.
This is the way Yosemite Valley changes shape.

We'll come face to face with the power of fire, air, earth and water. To reveal Yosemite's wild side, we will follow paths few ever take, from its most remote corners to its death-defying heights.


awe-inspiring: (n.) 使人惊叹的， 令人敬畏的
sequoia: (n.) [植] 美洲杉

1 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

2 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

3 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

4 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

5 sequoia   

n.红杉

参考例句：

• The sequoia national forest is at the southern end of the sierra nevada range.红杉国家公园位于内华达山脉南端尽头处。
• The photo shows the enormous general Sherman tree in California's sequoia national park.照片显示的是加利福尼亚州红杉国家公园内巨大的谢尔曼将军树。

6 granite   

adj.花岗岩，花岗石

参考例句：

• They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
• The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。

7 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

8 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

9 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

10 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

11 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.