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Redwoods are the tallest living trees on the planet.
紅杉是地球上現存最高的樹。
And one of the best places to see them is northern California's Redwood National Forest.
觀賞紅杉的最佳地是加利福尼亞北部的紅杉樹國家公園。
They can reach 300 feet high or higher, and their massive trunks can grow to more than 20 feet wide.
它們很可長到300尺，甚至更高，它們巨大的樹干可以長到20多尺寬。
Recently, a couple of naturalists were searching these woods for tall trees when they spotted something extraordinary.
最近，兩名自然主義者正在尋找這些最高的書，他們有了一些驚奇的發現。
I said, "Michael, get back here, we've got a real tall one." We get our preliminary measurement.
我說，“邁克爾，回來，我們找到真正最高的那個了。”我們進行了初步測量。
And it was so, so amazing, I, I couldn't believe it, you know, it was 4 feet taller than the tallest tree.
這真的非常非常驚奇，我簡直不敢相信，這棵樹比最高的那一棵還要高4尺。
They christened the tree "Hyperion" and called in Humboldt State University biologist Steve Sillett to investigate their find.
他們將這棵樹命名為“亥伯龍神”，并叫來了洪堡州立大學的生物學家史蒂夫·希萊對他們的發現進行調查。
Steve is a top redwood researcher with a passion for tall trees.
史蒂夫是一名對高樹滿懷激情的頂級紅杉研究人員。
"I think the redwoods are one of the most fascinating species on the Earth. They are at least as fascinating as humans to me."
“我認為紅杉是地球上最迷人的物種之一。至少和人類一樣吸引著我。”
With the help of the Save-the-Redwoods League and the National Park Service, Steve is studying how a tree can grow this tall and still survive.
在搶救紅木聯盟和國家公園管理局的幫助下，史蒂夫正在研究這棵樹如何長到這么高且仍能生存下來。
"I think the big thing that we are really interested in is understanding the biophysical limits to tree height: how tall can they grow?"
“我認為讓我們真正感興趣的是弄清楚樹木高度的生物物理學限制：它們能長到多高？”
Steve wants to know the exact height of this tree and measuring from the ground just won't cut it.
史蒂夫希望知道這棵樹的確切高度，并在不破壞的情況下，從地面開始測量。
"The best way to measure tree height is to climb to the top and lower a tape with a weight straight to the ground."
“量樹高最好的方法是爬到樹的頂端，放下卷尺，測量其到地面距離?！?/div>
But the best way as usual is also the hardest. Hyperion's lowest branches are 25 stories up.
但是最好的方法通常也是最困難的。亥伯龍神最低矮的樹枝也有25層那么高。
To get to them, Steve uses a powerful crossbow to launch fishing line up and over the tree's branches.
為爬上去，史蒂夫使用了力度最強的弓弩將魚線纏繞樹枝。
Then with the help of wife and climbing partner Marie Antoine, he uses the line to hoist his climbing rope into the tree.
然后在妻子和攀登同伴瑪麗·安托萬的幫助下，他利用魚線將他的登山繩拉倒樹上。
"Really, it is a big one."
“這棵樹，真的很大?！?/div>
With the rope in place, Steve and Marie walk their way up into the canopy.
登山繩歸位后，史蒂夫和瑪麗走進冠層中。
The climbers move through a high-rise habitat, high above the forest floor.
攀登者穿過高高的棲息地，這里比森林地被物還高。
A variety of mosses, lichens and insects make themselves at home in Hyperion's boughs.
各種苔蘚、地衣和昆蟲在亥伯龍神的大樹枝里安家。
"So here we are about 300 feet in what may be the world's tallest living tree.
“所以現在我們站在這棵世界最高樹上距離地面約300尺。
And it goes a long way above us, so we are, we still probably are about half hour to an hour from the top.
還有很長的路呢，所以我們可能還要半小時到一小時才能到頂。
Let's come up to there. Kinda want to put you through here."
我們爬到那去，有點想讓你穿過去?！?/p>
| 重點單詞 | 查看全部解釋 | |||
| planet | ['plænit] |
想一想再看 n. 行星 |
||
| habitat | ['hæbitæt] |
想一想再看 n. (動植物的)產地，棲息地 |
聯想記憶 | |
| fraud | [frɔ:d] |
想一想再看 n. 騙子，欺騙，詐欺 |
聯想記憶 | |
| investigate | [in'vestigeit] |
想一想再看 v. 調查，研究 |
聯想記憶 | |
| massive | ['mæsiv] |
想一想再看 adj. 巨大的，大規模的，大量的，大范圍的 |
||
| passion | ['pæʃən] |
想一想再看 n. 激情，酷愛 |
聯想記憶 | |
| measure | ['meʒə] |
想一想再看 n. 措施，辦法，量度，尺寸 |
聯想記憶 | |
| partner | ['pɑ:tnə] |
想一想再看 n. 搭檔，伙伴，合伙人 |
聯想記憶 | |
| canopy | ['kænəpi] |
想一想再看 n. 天篷，遮篷，蒼穹 |
聯想記憶 | |
| extraordinary | [iks'trɔ:dnri] |
想一想再看 adj. 非凡的，特別的，特派的 |
聯想記憶 |
