世界上最狭长的国家―智利2019-09-18翻译：⽅嘉乐The World's Thinnest Country――Chileor anyone who has ever been fascinated by geography, the long, impossibly thin line of Chile has always produced a moment of 1)astonishment. Chile stretches over 4,300km along the southwestern coast of South America, a distance roughly the same as that from San Francisco to New York. At the same time, its width never exceeds 240 km, making the country more than 18 times longer than its widest point.The most obvious factor in Chile’s 2)remarkable 3)slenderness is the 4)massive and virtually 5)impassable wall of the6)Andes, a mountain range that contains more than 50 active 7)volcanic peaks. In the center of the country, however, is a long and 8)expansive river valley, a 500-mile 9)corridor occupied in the north by 10)vineyards and great farms and in the south by 11)primeval forests and enchanting lakes.Chile is a country of 12)startling contrasts and extreme beauty, with attractions ranging from the 13)towering volcanic peaks of the Andes to the ancient forests of the Lake District, which is the homeland of Chile’s 14)indigenous people, the Araucanians注1. Chile is famous as the location of Terres del Paine注2, considered to be the finest nature travel destination in all of South America.Known as the City of Eternal Spring,Arica is located at the northern tip of Chile on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is blessed with a mild, dry climate and waters are warm enough for swimming, making it a popular, year-round beach resort. Historically, Arica was an important trade center for products from the 15)interior, and the Quechua and Aymara Indians见注1 still come to the city to sell traditional handicrafts. Arica is also a major transportation center, with international air links to 16)Bolivia and 17)Peru. Among adventure travelers, the city is best known as the starting point for 18)excursions into the Atacama Desert.The coastal Atacama Desert is the driest in the world and almost totally 19)barren. The landscape of the moon offers an obvious comparison, except that the Atacama has its backdrop the towering Andes, which block tropical storms from the Amazon Basin to the east. During the time of El Nino注3, there can be 20)torrential rains in some areas of the desert, causing 21)flash floods and sudden, 22)ephemeral bursts of vegetation.Santiago, the capital of Chile, is the fifth largest city in South America. Today, it is one of the most modern cities on the continent, home to nearly 5 million 23)inhabitants over a third of all Chileans. The city is one of the largest in South America and Chile’s center of commerce. Santiago is also the central point of a region filled with attractive sites and activities. Only 60 km away are the main South American ski centers, and the beautiful beaches of the Pacific are only an hour’s drive to the northwest. Just south of Santiago lie the rich and beautiful vineyards of the Maipo Valley, one of the world’s most24)esteemed wine producing regions.The very heart of Santiago is the Plaza de Armas, which lies along the Alameda about five blocks south of the river. The city’s European 25)heritage is evident in the Parque Forestal, designed by a French landscaper on the model of Parisian parks. For stunning views of the city, visitors should head to the top of Cerro San Cristobal, 26)accessible by bus,27)funicular, or by a 28)vigorous hike.The rich and apparently limitless nature of Parque Nacional Torres del Paine provides an ideal environment for observation and exploration. The 180,000-hectare park has been designated as a UNESCO 29)Biosphere Reserve, protecting the30)guanaco that graze on the open 31)steppes and the shy Chilean deer. Birds are especially abundant.Also part of Chile are two notable Pacific 32)possessions the Juan Fernandez Islands and the famous Easter Island, both of which are 33)administered as national parks. The mystery of Easter Island and its indigenous inhabitants has 34)intrigued travelers and 35)archaeologists for many years. Located 3,700 km off the west coast of Chile, Easter Island is the world’s most 36)isolated inhabited island. The island’s native name, Rapa Nui, is Polynesian. Isolated for centuries from the outside world, the people of Rapa Nui developed their own 37)distinctive culture, a culture perhaps best known by the moai, huge figures carved of volcanic rock. Hundreds of these sculpted 38)monoliths dot the landscape, some in 39)imposing rows, others 40)toppled, broken, and scarred by violence.For those who enjoy traveling to remote unpopulated areas with snowcapped mountains, lakes, forests and 41)fjords, you should come to Chile. You will certainly fall in love with the country’s beautiful natural landscape right away.对于任何着迷于地理学的⼈来说，智利那狭长⽆⽐，如同细线般的地形总令⼈惊讶不已。
