2007-10-25, Salt Mine Cathedral - 盐矿大教堂

Where once only salt miners traveled, today, tourists track through tunnels hundreds of feet deep into the caverns¹ of Zipaquirá mountain in Colombia. Their destination, a Catholic cathedral carved from the mineral deposits of the old mine.

More than 100 sculptors² and miners laboured for 4 years, blasting chambers³ chiseling⁴ rock and smoothing the crystallized salt in to a smooth and majestic⁵ place of worship.

This tourist was impressed by the architecture and craftsmanship⁶. He says it is a very beautiful place. In this cathedral all the Biblical figures are pillars of salt. And the crucifix is cut directly into the chamber's wall. Completed in 1995, the project cost 8 million dollars US. For local Columbians, it is a source of enormous pride.

One time miner David Rincon now maintains the church. He says it is the 8th wonder of the world and he calls it a miracle. But for the local government the cathedral is more than just inspirational. It represents income approximately 1 million dollars a year from paying visitors. So in a country that's seen a drastic drop in tourism because of civil war and rampant⁷ crime the dark caves of Zipaquirá Mountain now offer a beacon⁸ of light.

1 caverns   

大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Within were dark caverns; what was inside them, no one could see. 里面是一个黑洞，这里面有什么东西，谁也望不见。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• UNDERGROUND Under water grottos, caverns Filled with apes That eat figs. 在水帘洞里，挤满了猿争吃无花果。

2 sculptors   

雕刻家，雕塑家( sculptor的名词复数 )； [天]玉夫座

参考例句：

• He is one of Britain's best-known sculptors. 他是英国最有名的雕塑家之一。
• Painters and sculptors are indexed separately. 画家和雕刻家被分开，分别做了索引。

3 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

4 chiseling   

v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The sculptor was at work chiseling a statue. 雕塑家正在雕琢一尊雕像。 来自辞典例句
• Tommy:Four of them are sawing, three are chiseling and one is reaming. 四个在锯，三个在磨，二个在凿，还有一个在铰。 来自互联网

5 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。

6 craftsmanship   

n.手艺

参考例句：

• The whole house is a monument to her craftsmanship. 那整座房子是她技艺的一座丰碑。
• We admired the superb craftsmanship of the furniture. 我们很欣赏这个家具的一流工艺。

7 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

8 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。