They’re the great wonders of the world that every intrepid traveller must have on their wish list. From Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, to India’s Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, to not see them, really is missing out.
A new book by Lonely Planet reveals the top 50 must-see world wonders. World’s Great Wonders brings together the most amazing manmade structures and natural creations from across the globe.
這些全世界偉大的自然人文景觀，是任何一個勇敢的旅行者一定會列到自己的夢想清單上的。《孤獨星球》出版的一本新書列出全球50個必看的自然人文景點！
- Wonder (n.) 奇跡；奇觀
- Intrepid (adj.) 勇敢的；無畏的 = fearless, dauntless, brave, courageous
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia 維多利亞瀑布，辛巴威/尚比亞
英國探險家 David Livingstone 以維多利亞女王的名字命名尚比亞河的瀑布，不過當地人稱呼它為莫西奧圖尼亞瀑布，意為「雷鳴之煙」。該瀑布位於辛巴威與尚比亞的交界處，高度108公尺，與地面碰撞後產生的水霧20公里外就可見。
- Plummet (v.) 筆直落下
The plane plummeted towards the earth. 那架飛機直向地面墜落。
Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia 東非大裂谷，衣索比亞
Dallol volcano in the Great Rift Valley - the world's largest rift system which stretches 6,000km from the Red Sea down to Lake Malawi. Up to 74km in places, it's cradled by a series of cliffs, rising from the valley floor to the top of the highest escarpments, up to 1.6km above.
東非大裂谷的達洛爾火山是世界上最大的斷裂帶，從紅海到馬拉維湖一路延伸長度達6000公里。裂谷的一些地方高達74公里，兩側的陡峭斷崖頂部與谷底的高差可達1.6公里以上。
- Rift system 斷裂帶 ﹡Rift (n.) 斷裂；裂縫
- Cliff (n.) 懸崖；峭壁
- Escarpment (n.) 陡坡；懸崖；峭壁
Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland 巨人之路，北愛爾蘭
Legend claims this rocky peninsula is the handiwork of an angry giant, but the real story behind the striking basalt columns is even more extraordinary.
傳說這個岩石半島是憤怒的巨人所創造的，但其實這驚人的玄武岩柱背後的故事更是非凡。
- Handiwork (n.) 手工藝；手作
- Basalt (n.)【地】玄武岩
- Column (n.) 圓柱
The dome was supported by nine columns. 這圓頂由九根柱子支撐。
Taj Mahal, India 泰姬瑪哈陵，印度
This marble-clad mausoleum, considered the most beautiful building in the world, and said by its creator to have made the sun and moon shed tears, is the jewel in India's crown.
這座用白色大理石建造的陵墓是世界上最美麗的建築，也是印度的明珠。其建造者曾這樣形容它：「泰姬瑪哈陵是利用太陽和月亮的眼淚所建成的」。
- Marble-clad (adj.) 大理石鋪就的
- Mausoleum (n.) 陵墓
Terracotta Army, China 秦始皇兵馬俑，中國
More than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 670 horses from this vast, life-size clay army, protecting China's first emperor in the afterlife.
真人大小的兵馬俑中包括8000多名軍士、130架戰車和670匹馬匹，守衛著中國第一位皇帝秦始皇。
- Chariot (n.) 古代的雙輪戰車
- Clay (n.) 黏土；泥土 ﹡feet of clay 致命的弱點
Ex: The president had feet of clay: he drank a lot. 總裁有個致命的弱點：他好喝酒。
Great Wall of China, China 長城，中國
The stone dragon weaves 6,500km across mountaintops and plunges deep into canyons. But its magnificence hides its tumultuous history.
這條『石龍』穿越高山峽谷，綿延了近6500公里，宏偉的背後深藏著中國幾千年動盪、紛亂的歷史。
- Plunge (v.) 急降；驟降
She plunged deep into thought. 她陷入沉思。
- Canyon (n.) 峽谷
- Magnificence (n.) 壯麗；輝煌
- Tumultuous (adj.) 騷動的；混亂的
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania 恩戈羅恩戈羅火山口，坦尚尼亞
At 610m deep and 260sq-km, this is the largest unflooded caldera in the world. A blue-green vision from above, it's a haven for endangered wildlife.
恩戈羅恩戈羅火山口深610米，面積達260平方公里，是世界上最大的未被水淹沒的火山口。從上俯瞰是一片藍綠色的美景，且這裡也是瀕危野生動物的天堂。
- Caldera (n.) 火山口
- Endangered (adj.) 快要絕種的；瀕臨絕種的
Kilauea, Hawaii 基拉韋厄火山，夏威夷
The world's most active volcano has been constantly erupting for over three decades on Hawaii, creating the fastest-growing land on the planet.
基拉韋厄火山是世界上最活躍的火山之一，在過去的30多年持續噴發著，也創造了地球上增長速度最快的土地。
- Erupt (v.) 火山爆發；噴發
Hagia Sophia, Turkey 聖索菲亞大教堂，土耳其
Cathedral. Mosque. Museum. The Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) has withstood the ravages of war and earthquakes, a testament to Istanbul's tumultuous past.
聖索菲亞大教堂曾是天主教堂、清真寺和博物館。歷經了戰爭和地震的洗禮，是伊斯坦堡動盪歷史的見證。
- Cathedral (n.) 大教堂
- Mosque (n.) 清真寺
- Withstand (v.) 歷經；禁得起 = endure ﹡動詞三態：Withstand - Withstood - Withstood
Explorers have to withstand hardships. 探險者得忍受艱苦。
- Ravage (n.) 嚴重破壞﹐摧毀 = devastation
- Testament (n.) 證明，證據
The building is a testament to their success. 這一建築是他們成功的證明。
Potala Palace, Tibet 布達拉宮，西藏
An architectural wonder and the spiritual home of the Dalai Lama, the world's highest palace - at 3,700m above sea level - rises 13 storeys, and contains more than 100 rooms.
建築奇蹟布達拉宮是西藏達賴喇嘛的精神家園，也是世界上海拔最高的宮殿，高約3700米，外觀13層，有超過100個房間。
- Storey (n.) 樓層 = floor ﹡the top storey 人的頭腦 (有調侃意味)
Ex: He's a bit weak in the top storey. 他的腦袋有點使不上力。
