The Everglades

The Everglades. Written by Susan Lennox. Focus question. Where is Everglades National Park? And what can you see there?

大沼泽地。 苏珊·伦诺克斯 著。 思考问题。 大沼泽地国家公园在哪里？ 在那里你能见到什么呢？

weird and wonderful. Have you ever heard of a gumbo limbo? How about a skink or a stink pot? These are not cartoon characters. They are the names of plants and animals that live in Everglades National Park in Florida. It is a weird and wonderful place unlike any other.

既奇特又美妙。 你听说过甘博裂榄吗？ 那你听说过石龙子或者麝龟吗？ 这些可不是卡通角色。 它们都是生活在佛罗里达大沼泽地国家公园的动植物名称。 这是一处奇特美妙的地方，独一无二。

more than a swamp. The area known as the Everglades makes up much of South Florida. Everglades National Park lies within this area. The region is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It has hot, wet summers and mild, dry winters. Some people may think the Everglades is just a big wet swamp. The Everglades does have lots of water, but its waters connect different ecosystems. Each of these ecosystems supports different life forms. There are mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish. Many are found only in the Everglades.

不止是一片沼泽。 这片名为大沼泽的区域占据了南佛罗里达的大部分。 大沼泽地国家公园就坐落在这里。 它是美国面积最大的亚热带荒野。 这里夏季炎热多雨，冬季温暖干燥。 有些人可能觉得大沼泽只是一大片湿漉漉的沼泽。 大沼泽的确水资源丰富，这里的水域连通了不同的生态系统。 每一种生态系统都滋养着不同的生命。 这里有哺乳动物、爬行动物、鸟类和鱼类。 许多物种只在大沼泽才能找到。

To the north are freshwater cypress swamps. They are named for the cypress trees that grow there. Cypress swamps cover an area bigger than the state of Rhode Island. Cypress swamps are home to a wide variety of animals. These include panthers, rabbits, turkey, and deer.

公园的北侧是柏树淡水沼泽。 这片沼泽因生长在这里的柏树得名。 柏树沼泽的面积比美国罗得岛州还要大。 柏树沼泽是许许多多动物的家园。 这里有美洲狮、兔子、火鸡和鹿。

mangrove swamps are saltwater swamps they are found at the everglades southern tip they get their name from trees that grow there mangrove trees have long roots the roots rise above the water they hold the trees steady as ocean tides rise and fall The roots are also home to other living things. Algae and tiny shellfish live there. Fish hide in the roots to keep safe from animals that might eat them.

红树林沼泽是咸水沼泽，它们分布在大沼泽的南端，因生长在这里的树木得名，红树长有长长的树根，树根露出水面，潮汐涨落时树根能稳住树身，这些树根也是其他生物的家园。 藻类和小型贝类就生活在这里。 鱼儿躲在树根里，躲避想要捕食它们的动物。

Between the different swamps are sawgrass marshes. Sawgrass is a tall plant that grows in water. Each blade of grass has sharp teeth, like a saw. Alligators that live in the marshes use sawgrass to build their nests.

不同沼泽之间分布着锯齿草沼泽。 锯齿草是一种生长在水中的高大植物。 每一片草叶都长着锯子一样锋利的边缘。 生活在这里的短吻鳄会用锯齿草搭建巢穴。