The Force of Water

The Force of Water. Written by Lacey Finn Borgo.

《水的力量》，作者：莱西·芬恩·博尔戈

Introduction Water, Earth's most important resource, is a mighty force. It covers most of Earth and is always at work changing Earth's surface. Plants, animals, and humans need water to survive. So, we have to take care of the water for the good of the Earth.

引言 水是地球上最重要的资源，也是一股强大的力量。 它覆盖了地球的大部分区域，始终在不断改变着地球的地表形态。 植物、动物和人类的生存都离不开水。 所以我们必须爱护水资源，为了地球的共同利益。

Water is found above ground in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and oceans. It is also found below ground, between rocks and sand. This water is called ground water. The air also holds water as clouds and an invisible gas called water vapor.

我们可以在地表找到水，比如湖泊、池塘、河流、溪流和海洋里都有水。 地下的岩石和沙子缝隙里也有水，这种水叫做地下水。 空气中也有水，存在形式是云和一种叫做水蒸气的看不见的气体。

Water on the Move Much of Earth's water is on the move. Water falls from clouds as rain and snow, and drains into streams and rivers. The land surrounding streams and rivers is called a watershed. Streams flow into small rivers, and small rivers flow into bigger rivers. The smaller streams and rivers that flow into bigger rivers are called tributaries. Over time, much of the water that flows into streams and rivers reaches the oceans.

流动的水，地球上大部分的水都在不断流动。 水以雨和雪的形式从云层落下，然后汇入溪流和河流中。 溪流和河流周边的区域叫做流域。 溪流汇入小河，小河再汇入更大的河流。 那些汇入大河流的小溪流和小河流叫做支流。 随着时间推移，大部分汇入溪流和河流的水最终会流入海洋。

Water as a Force As water flows in rivers and streams, it picks up dirt, sand, and rocks. The dirt and sand carried by water are called sediment. Sediment helps water carve away the land. The Grand Canyon is one of Earth's largest canyons. Over millions of years, it was carved by the fast -moving Colorado River. It shows how powerful water can be.

水的力量 当水在河流和溪流中流动时，会带走泥土、沙子和岩石。 这些被水带走的泥土和沙子叫做沉积物。 沉积物会辅助水侵蚀陆地。 科罗拉多大峡谷是地球上最大的峡谷之一。 数百万年来，它是由流速极快的科罗拉多河冲刷而成的。 这足以证明水的力量有多强大。

When water slows down, the sediment settles to the bottom of the stream or river. Deposits of sediment form new land called sandbars and deltas. Large deltas form where big rivers meet oceans.

当水流速度减慢时，沉积物就会沉降到溪流或河流的底部。 沉积物堆积会形成新的陆地，叫做沙洲和三角洲。 大型三角洲形成于大河流入海洋的交汇处。