50 Life Along the Colorado-Mid

Life Along the Colorado FOCUS Question How does the environment change along the Colorado River?

科罗拉多河沿岸的生活焦点问题科罗拉多河沿岸的环境是如何变化的?

The Mighty Colorado The southwestern United States is a dry and thirsty place. But a mighty river flows through it, bringing moisture and life to a parched land. This river is the Colorado. The Colorado River is over 2,200 kilometers (1,400 mi.) long The river begins high up in the Rocky Mountains at 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) and flows all the way to the Gulf of California. Along the way, the river passes through a wide range of environments. Many types of plants and animals call these places home.

美国西南部是一个干燥干渴的地方。 但有一条大河流经，给干旱的土地带来了水分和生命。 这条河就是科罗拉多河。 科罗拉多河长2200多公里(1400英里)。这条河起源于海拔3000米(10000英尺)的落基山脉，一直流入加利福尼亚湾。 这条河沿途经过了各种各样的环境。 许多种类的植物和动物把这些地方称为家。

The River's Many Regions The Colorado flows through four main regions on its way to the ocean. The regions have different air and water temperatures. Where the river begins, temperatures are cool all year. Winters are long, cold, and snowy. In the lowest regions, temperatures can reach over 38°C 100°F for several months each year. The river itself is also different in these regions. In the mountains, small, fast-flowing streams feed the Colorado. The river is large and swift in the canyons. In the lowlands, it is slower but still large. The last region has broad, shallow waters with very little flow.

科罗拉多河在流向海洋的过程中流经四个主要区域。 这些地区有不同的气温和水温。 在河流的起点，一年四季气温都很凉爽。 冬天漫长、寒冷、多雪。 在最低的地区，每年有几个月的温度可超过38°C 100°F。 这条河本身在这些地区也有所不同。 在山区，湍急的小溪为科罗拉多河提供水源。 这条河在峡谷里又大又急。 在低地，它的速度较慢，但仍然很大。 最后一个区域有宽阔的浅水，流量很少。

In the Zone Along the entire length of the Colorado River is a riparian zone. This term describes the land on both sides of a stream or river. These zones are important to the health of habitats along rivers. They are sometimes referred to as "ribbons of life." The flowing water carries sediments and nutrients. which make the soil rich Because of the water and rich soil. these areas often support more plants than the surrounding areas. The plants attract many types of animals. Many of these plants and animals can only survive in the riparian zone.

沿着科罗拉多河的整个长度是一个河岸带。 这个术语描述了溪流或河流两侧的土地。 这些区域对河流沿岸栖息地的健康非常重要。 它们有时被称为“生命之带”。 水流携带着沉积物和营养物质。 因为水和肥沃的土壤。 这些地区通常比周围地区种植更多的植物。 这些植物吸引了许多种类的动物。 许多这些植物和动物只能在河岸地带生存。

Mountains The Colorado River begins as several small streams high in the Rocky Mountains. Most of the water comes from snowmelt in late spring. The small streams join together as they flow down through forests. By the time the water reaches the next region, the Colorado is a large river. The highest areas of this region have an alpine habitat. Strong, freezing winds force many small trees to grow low to the ground. Some animals have heavy fur or feathers for protection from the cold. Some mammals hibernate in burrows. Many birds migrate to warmer places during winter.

科罗拉多河起源于落基山脉高处的几条小河。 大部分水来自晚春的融雪。 小溪流经森林时汇合在一起。 当河水到达下一个地区时，科罗拉多河已经是一条大河了。 这一地区的最高地区有高山栖息地。 凛冽的寒风迫使许多小树低低地生长。 有些动物有厚厚的皮毛或羽毛来御寒。 有些哺乳动物在洞穴中冬眠。 许多鸟在冬天迁徙到温暖的地方。

Canyons In the second region, the now-large Colorado River carves its way through deep, rocky canyons. Some areas are up to a mile deep as the river flows through the Grand Canyon. The river once carried large amounts of silt and sand as it rushed through the canyon. Yearly floods allowed sandbars to form and washed away plants on the banks. Shrubs and trees grew on higher slopes, above the flood level. Now, large dams control the water flow through the Grand Canyon. This keeps silt and sand from freely flowing along the river. Fewer sandbars and clearer, colder water make it hard for native fish to survive.

在第二个区域，现在已经很大的科罗拉多河在深深的岩石峡谷中凿出一条路。 当河流流经大峡谷时，一些地区深达一英里。 这条河曾经在流经峡谷时携带了大量的淤泥和沙子。 每年的洪水形成了沙洲，冲走了河岸上的植物。 灌木和树木生长在更高的山坡上，高于洪水水位。 现在，大型水坝控制着流经大峡谷的水流。 这使得淤泥和沙子不能沿着河流自由流动。 更少的沙洲和更清澈、更冷的海水使得本地鱼类难以生存。