托福听力背景知识：尼亚加拉瀑布

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托福听力背景知识:尼亚加拉瀑布
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尼亚加拉瀑布(NiagaraFalls)位于加拿大和美国交界的尼亚加拉河中段地区,有着世界七大奇景之一的美誉。尼亚加拉瀑布其实不是一个瀑布。有人说它由两个瀑布组成,“加拿大瀑布”和“美国瀑布”加拿大人多半这么说;如照美国人的说法,则是3个瀑布:“马蹄瀑布”(HorshoeFalls,就是“加拿大瀑布”,它状如马蹄)、“美国瀑布”(AmericanFalls)和“新娘面纱瀑布”(BridalVeilFalls)。“新娘面纱”在宽阔的“美国瀑布”旁边,尽管只细细一缕,却自成一支,所以美国人“宣告”了它的“独立”。尼亚加拉的三条瀑布流面宽达1160米(如果加上两个岛屿,宽可达1240米),虽然分成三股,却是同一水源,同一归宿尼亚加拉河。NiagaraFallscompristhreedistinctcataracts.ThetallestaretheAmericanandBridalVeilfallsontheAmericanside,paratedbytinyLunaIslandandplungingoverjaggedrocksina180ftdrop;thebroadHorshoeFallswhichcurvetheirwayovertoCanadaareprobablythemostimpressive.Theydatebackameretwelvethousandyears,whentheretreatofmeltingglaciersallowedwatertrappedinLakeErietogushnorthtoLakeOntario.Backthenthefallswerevenmilesdownriver,butconstanterosionhascutthembacktotheirprentsite.Thefallsarecolorfullylitupatnight,andmanysaythey'remostbeautifulinwinter,whenthegroundsarecoveredinsnowandthewatersturntoice.ThebestviewsontheAmericansidearefromtheProspectPointObrvationTower(daily;50￠),andfromtheareaatitsbawherethewaterrushespast;TerrapinPointonGoatIslandinthemiddleoftheriverhassimilarviewsofHorshoeFalls.ThenineteenthcenturytightropewalkerBlondincrosdtheNiagararepeatedlynearhere,andevencarriedpasngersacrossonhisback;othersuicidalfoolsovertheyearshavetakentheplungeinbarrels.OnesurvivoramongthemanyfatalitieswastheEnglishmanBobbyLeach,whowentoverinasteelbarrelinJuly1911andhadtospendtherestoftheyearinhospital.Thatpracticehassincebeenbanned(thoughacoupleofmaniacsdiditinsummer1995andcameawaywithminorbruis),forreasonswhichbecomelfevidentwhenyouapproachthetoweringcascadeonthenottobemisdMaidoftheMistboattripfromthefootoftheobrvationtower(summerMonFri10am5pm,Sat$8.50;716/2844233).FromGoatIsland,theCaveoftheWindstourleadsdowntothebaofthefallsbyelevatortowithinalmosttouchingdistanceofthewater(midMaytolateOct;$5.50).Acombinationpassfortheandotherattractionscosts$16.Rainbowhelicoptertours(716/2842800)areamoreexpensivepropositionat$40perpersonforatenminuteride.TochecktheviewoutfromNiagaraFalls,Ontario,it'satwentyminutewalkacrosstheRainbowBridgetotheCanadianside(25￠eachway;bringID,andcheckwithUSImmigrationofficialsbeforeheadingacross),whereyougetanarguablybetterview,biggercrowdsandevenmoretawdrycommercialism.Drivingacrossisinadvisable:thetollforacarisjust75￠,butparkingontheothersideisupwardsof$15.Asyoulookoninawe,reflectthatyou'reeingonlyabouthalfthevolumeofwatertherestisdivertedtohydroelectricpowerstations.ThefullstoryofthingineeringfeatisrelatedatthefreeNiagaraPowerProjectVisitorsCenterinnearbyLewiston(JulySeptJunedaily10am5pm;716/2853211).Withyourowntransportationit'salsopossibletotracetheinhospitableNiagaraGorgetwomilesalongthedramaticRobertMosParkwaytotheWhirlpoolRapids,aviolentmaelstromswollenbybrokentreesandotherflotsam.TenmileastofNiagaraFalls,thetownofLOCKPORTtakesitsnamefromtheriesoflocksthatraiandlowerboatssome65ftatthewesternendoftheErieCanal.YoucanetheimpressiveflightoflocksfromthePineStreetBridge,orupclooncanalboattours通过以上的托福听力背景介绍,大家对尼亚加拉瀑布应该有所了解了吧,希望大家在托福听力中遇到的话,有背景知识的支撑,可以应对轻松些。