2012 Antarctic Dream(小学四年级·南极梦)-儿歌荟萃-万维博客-万维读者网（电脑版）

网络日志正文

		2012 Antarctic Dream(小学四年级·南极梦)	2013-06-11 07:59:22

2012-12-27

Punta Arenas0001.JPG

【Aiden in English】

Antarctica is the Earth's southernmost continent, encompassing the South Pole as described in the geographic textbook. It's the fifth-largest continent after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages at least 1 mile/1,600 meters in thickness. Its mountains cover such a significant area that Antarctica is the highest of the seven continents on average. In addition, it is also the windiest, coldest, and least populated region on the planet.

Two years ago, we tried to set foot on the South Pole while traveling across Tasmania, Australia. However, it took at least five hours to fly over from Hobart, Oceania, which made it impossible for us to take a daily shore excursion. Since then, Punta Arenas (Sandy Point) has become our dream place to reach Antarctica.

Punta Arenas in southern Chile lies atop rolling hills, looking out over the Strait of Magellan. In the days before the Panama Canal, this was a major port as ships plied the waters of Cape Horn between the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. It remains a prosperous town today, thanks to its rich natural resources. To us, the city was the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, a maze of fjords, rivers, steppes, and Andes Mountains to the north. To the south reclined the tremendous frozen mass of Antarctica. Adventure awaited in any direction at this port near the world's end.

Mom booked the tour to Antarctica months ahead of our departure. Upon arriving at King George Island of the Antarctic Peninsula, we would visit the research center, one of the continent's oldest and most critical meteorological stations. Meanwhile, we were planning to embark on a zodiac to Ardley Island. In this marine protected area, Papua Penguin colonies lived, and to catch sight of the Chinstrap Penguin extending the narrow band of black feathers from ear to ear, the Gentoo Penguin sporting a broad white stripe like a bonnet across the top of its head, the Adelie Penguin waddling its signature white "tuxedo shirt" front, a killer (orca) whale or baleen whale with its pair of blowholes, etc.

This morning, tiredness found me on the bus just when we arrived at Punta Arenas International Airport (PUQ). Here, we boarded the chartered plane for the approximately 2.5-hour flight to Villa Las Estrellas, a Chilean Antarctic settlement. We were supposed to have a four-hour field trip on King George Island in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Mom and I were covered from head to toe with some cloth. I felt like I weighed over 200 pounds/91 kilograms in my attire. Before I knew it, I was taking off layers of clothing. Soon enough, a disaster struck! Our plane to the Antarctic Peninsula was canceled due to the heavy fog and poor visibility. The wind must be 112 miles/hour or 180 kilometers/hour to blow away the fog. Otherwise, the fog was going to stay for today. According to the pre-travel arrangement, we had to change our plan to Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate, Argentina, where an astonishing 230-foot/70-meter wall of ice sparkled with a thousand shades of blue among the 13 glaciers in Los Glaciares National Park.

The day couldn't get any worse. But oh, how naive I was, confirmed! At mid-flight, people from Argentina ordered us to go back to Chile. At first, I thought Argentina was at war against Great Britain over the Falkland or Malvinas Islands. Later, Mom overheard that the airport workers might have been on strike in El Calafate. No matter what, we floated in the air and landed where we took off an hour ago. Because it was not our fault, we got fully refunded.

Mom could not let it go quickly. She asked me if I wanted to tour Torres del Paine National Park, a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978. But just as she finished offering, I exploded with a NO! After experiencing such a fantastic exploration, I almost melted and was barely conscious. Of course, I couldn't blame anybody for waking up at dawn to catch an airplane and returning with little savory memories. I would instead dive into a swimming pool and soak myself in a hot spa. I did it with steam, taking off my pants!

【红霞译】

正如地理教材所述，南极洲是地球最南端的大陆，白雪盖顶；继亚洲、非洲、北美洲、南美洲之后，其地表面积名列世界第五名。大约98%的土地被平均至少1英里／1,600米厚的冰川覆盖，高山巍峨，使得南极洲成为七大洲平均高度最高的一个。此外，它风力最强、温度最低、人口最少，可以说举世无双。

两年前，当穿越澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚海峡时，我们曾试图纵跨南极。从大洋洲霍巴特“闪耀的智慧”出发，单程至少要花上5小时飞行，根本不可能当天往返，因此打那以后，我们立志要来智利“土地的尽头”阿雷纳斯“沙滩”角实现梦想。

阿雷纳斯角是智利南部的名城，背面有连绵不断的安第斯“铜色”山脉，前沿有涛浪翻滚的麦哲伦“巨大”海峡。早在巴拿马“多鱼之地”运河通航之前，这里曾为货轮过往太平洋─大西洋交汇处合恩角“海岬”的主要港口，至今因为富含自然资源而依然欣欣向荣。对我们来说，阿雷纳斯角不仅是通往智利北部旅游胜地──南美丘陵、太平洋峡湾、沼泽河流、草原牧区的重要门户，而且还是连接智利南部与南极洲的交通要塞，我们的探险之路应始于天涯海角、世界最南城市的阿雷纳斯角。

正因如此，妈妈早在出发前几个月就把南极洲行程定好。我们计划首先参观南极半岛乔治“农夫”王岛上的智利气象研究中心，然后前往极地动物聚集地恋家阿德利“热情草地”岛，除了访问巴布亚“卷曲”企鹅家族栖息地之外，还要努力捕捉脸缠黑色羽丝的帽带企鹅、头戴白色羽帽的绅士企鹅、身着“燕尾服衬衫”的阿德利企鹅、实为海豚的逆戟鲸、长有一对喷气孔的须鲸、等等。

早起在通向阿雷纳斯角国际机场的大巴上，我一直昏昏欲睡，包机要带我们飞往南极洲智利“星城”考察站，来回总共10小时，光路上就得耗掉5个钟头。

为了御寒，我和妈妈从头到脚里三层外三层，把自己裹得严严实实，感觉足有200磅／91公斤以上。没过多久，坏消息传来！因为南极半岛持续大雾，能见度很低，暴风时速如果低于112英里或者180公里的话，老天休想赶走大雾，可据气象预报，今天一整天都不会出现大风天气，这么一来南极机场关闭，我们无法就地着陆。按照事先部署的方案，我们必须改变计划，经阿根廷“银色之地”卡拉法特“填缝剂”城取道飞往佩里托·莫雷诺“专家·黑发”冰川，其内230英尺／70米高的“冰墙”号称冰川国家公园13座冰山中最雄伟的。

去不了南极，本来够让人晦气的；可祸不单行，没想到坏事接踵而至。我们从智利飞往阿根廷途中，卡拉法特机场拒绝让我们着陆。我以为阿根廷人正为福克兰“猎鹰”/马尔维纳斯“光明誓言使徒”群岛争端忙着跟英国佬打仗，但妈妈听来的小道消息却说当地工人闹罢工，机场顾不上接待这些不速之客。我们像无头苍蝇，在空中漫无目标闲逛了个把钟头，最终灰溜溜地打道回府，因为我们不是过错方，所以全部预付的费用将会如数退还回来。

妈妈心不平，气不顺，瘾不过，事不完，见机跟我商量：“革命尚未成功，同志仍需努力”！她还想去智利潘恩“蓝色”塔国家公园，1978年被联合国教科文组织列为世界生物保护区。“不去！”我斩钉截铁，先前两次“奇异经历”把我折腾得够呛，我对外出观光早已失去兴趣。当然我并不怪罪什么，谁叫我天不亮就昏头昏脑爬上飞机，在空中兜了一圈反倒哪都没去成？此时此刻，我情愿一头扎进游泳池或者泡在热浴温泉里，让不快烟消雾散。对啦，就这么做！

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2009: 新西兰峡湾国家公园(Fiordland NP, NZ)

12-27-12_ Punta Arenas，the City of the Red Roofs 沙尖·红色屋顶之城-30001.JPG Punta Arenas, the City of the Red Roofs

(阿雷纳斯角·红色屋顶之城)

12-27-12_ Punta Arenas w Croats in Some 50% of the Population 大约50％是克罗地亚人-40001.JPG Punta Arenas w/ Croats in Some 50% of the Population

(阿雷纳斯角·克罗地亚人占大约50％)

12-27-12_ Punta Arenas-120001.JPG Waterfront of Punta Arenas (阿雷纳斯角海滨)

12-27-12_ Old Punta Arenas Pier0001.JPG Star Princess Docked over the Archipelago de Tierra del Fuego off the Southernmost Tip of the South American Mainland, across the Strait of Magellan

(“公主·星辰”号游轮停泊在南美洲大陆最南端火地岛的麦哲伦海峡)

12-27-12_ Strait of Magellan 麦哲伦海峡-70001.JPG Strait of Magellan, a European Sea Route to the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean

(麦哲伦海峡·从大西洋到太平洋的欧洲人海上航线)

12-27-12_ Punta Arenas_Magallanes Tierra de Pioneros 麦哲伦先驱之地-80001.JPG Magallanes Tierra de Pioneros (麦哲伦先驱之地)

12-27-12_ Clock Tower 钟塔0001.JPG

German Clock Tower of Punta Arenas (阿雷纳斯角·德式钟塔)

12-27-12_ Cathedral 大教堂0001.JPG

Sacred Heart Cathedral w/ a Renaissance Tower, Built in 1892

(圣心大教堂·拥有文艺复兴风格塔楼，建于1892年)

12-27-12_ Nao Victoria, Magellan's Ship Replica in Museo Nao Victoria 沙角博物馆·维多利亚大帆船即麦哲伦船复制品0001.JPG Nao Victoria, Magellan's Ship Replica in Museo Nao Victoria