The Niagara Falls are located in the borderline between Canada and America in the east central North America, on the Niagara River that connects two of the five Great Lakes, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The Niagara consists of two parts: the tallest are the American and Bridal Veil Falls on the American side; the broad Horseshoe Falls which curve their way over to Canada are probably the most impressive.

The falls are colorfully lit up at night, and many say they're most beautiful in winter, when the grounds are covered in snow and the waters turn to ice. The become silent.

Niagara differs from the waterfalls you find in mountains, where a thin stream of water comes down a mountainside, half-flying. Some of them are much higher than Niagara, and perhaps more beautiful, but they lack mass and cutting power. Niagara belongs to the heavyweights - where a whole solid river plunges bodily over a cliff.

The real sight from above is the gigantic movement of the falls themselves, digging the gorge.

The falls are still moving today. However, our century has tamed it a bit. A lot of water that used to plunge down now goes through the electric power stations, both American and Canadian.

举世闻名的尼亚加拉瀑布位于北美洲中东部加拿大和美国交界的尼亚加拉河上。尼亚加拉河上。尼亚加拉河是连接五大湖中伊利湖和安大略湖的一条水道。尼亚加拉瀑布包括两个部分，最高的在美国境内的瀑布叫美国瀑布和新娘面纱瀑布，在加拿大国境内的叫马蹄瀑布。马蹄瀑布在加拿大境内蜿蜒盘旋的样子也许是最让人印象深刻的。

夜晚，在灯光映照下的大瀑布美轮美奂。也有人说冬季的瀑布是最美的。那时，地上覆盖着白雪，瀑布结成了冰，格外静谧。

尼亚加拉瀑布与人们在山上看到的瀑布有所不同。山上的瀑布是一条飞下山腰的细流，有的比尼亚加拉瀑布还要高，也许比它还要漂亮，然而它们没有尼亚加拉瀑布那种气势和爆发力。尼亚加拉瀑布属于重量级——一股巨流全部从悬崖上冲泻下来。

从上往下看到的景象是瀑布自身在做强烈的冲击峡谷的运动。这是一个很有意思的景观。

今天，瀑布依然一泻千里。 不过，本世纪人们开始利用它了。过去大量往下冲的水，现在都流过美国和加拿大的发电站。

borderline n. 边界，界线

plunge vi. 投入，跳进

gorge n. 峡谷

curve vt. 弯

gigantic adj. 巨大的

tame vt. 使......驯服

Lenna 刚刚听说Jane 从尼亚加拉瀑布度蜜月回来。Lenna 拜访了 Jane 家， Jane 向她说起了这次蜜月之旅。

L = Lenna 蕾 = 蕾娜 J = Jane 简 = 简

L: Congratulations! So, how is your honeymoon trip to the Niagara Falls?

J: It was actually worth memory! Regretfully, the time is so limited. We are in a hasty arrangement. You know, I need to go back for work.

L: But you look really happy and great. It is obviously the best destination for a honeymoon.

J: Yeah, I suggest you hold the wedding ceremony there, too. And remember to spare enough time for the plan. There are more than what you expect to experience.

L: Thank you. I will definitely take your advice. Some people say they get tired of visiting there. Can I try something new there?

J: Sure. You can look it over in an airplane. It becomes something completely new. You may realize that it is not tired; only your way of looking at it is tired. Most visitors go as close to the falls as possible, and watch the waters thundering down. It is fascinating, in a stupefying way. You stand there, hypnotized by the sheer force, the untiring action that goes on and on. But at altitude you see it all at once. You see Lake Ontario on one side and Lake Erice on the other, and linking them the 34-mile Niagara River. Then, coming down lower, you see the falls themselves, along a front almost a mile wide, plunges over a 182-foot cliff and flows off through a deep, narrow gorge.

L: In this case, I will hold the wedding on the plane above the Niagara Falls!

蕾：祝贺你了！你们的尼亚加拉瀑布蜜月之行怎么样？

简：很值得回忆！只是时间太短，，行程仓促。你知道，我得回来工作。

蕾：但你看起来很幸福啊。很明显，那儿是度蜜月的好地方。

简：是啊。建议你也在那儿举行婚礼吧。记住，多安排点儿时间。那儿会有很多超乎想象的体验。

蕾：谢谢，我一定会采纳你的建议的！ 可是有些人说他们已厌倦去那里了。在那儿我可以玩些新的东西吗？

简：当然。如果你从飞机上鸟瞰的话，可以看到全新的景观。你会意识到，老掉牙的并不是尼亚加拉，而是我们观赏它的方式。大部分游客总是尽可能地靠近瀑布， 看着水流轰鸣而下。这让人着魔，使人惊呆。游客站在那里，被奔流不息的激流及其强大的力量所征服。但在高空你会马上看个一清二楚。你看到瀑布的一边是安大略湖，另一边是伊利湖，把这两个湖连接起来的是34 英里长的尼亚加拉河。当飞机稍往下飞行时，你会看到瀑布本身，沿着湖滨约有1英里宽的人行道，水从182英尺高的悬崖上直冲下来，然后流入既深又窄的峡谷。

卢：这样的话，我一定会乘坐着飞机在尼亚加拉瀑布上举行婚礼！

hasty adj. 匆匆的，轻率的

thundering adj. 雷鸣般的

stupefying adj. 骇人的，令人震惊的

hypnotize vt. 使恍惚，使着迷

sheer adj. 绝对的，全然的

假设你刚为你的尼亚加拉瀑布之行写稿回来，有一位外国朋友读到了你的文章，想要你介绍一下尼亚加拉瀑布。试着完成下面的对话。

1. 外国朋友: What is the most impressive site of the Niagara Falls?

你: _______________________________________________

2. 外国朋友: What are the two parts of the Niagara Falls?

你: _______________________________________________

3. 外国朋友: Where do the Niagara Falls locate?

你: _______________________________________________

1. The site that broad Horseshoe Falls curving their way over to Canada.

2. The Niagara consists of two parts: the American and Bridal Veil Falls and the broad Horseshoe Falls.

3. It locates in the borderline between Canada and America.

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