The Amazon: Lifeblood of the Rainforest

课文

1. The Amazon River, over 6,400 kilometers long, is one of the world’s longest and most powerful rivers.

   亚马逊河全长逾6400公里，是全球最长、水量最丰沛的河流之一。

2. It carries more freshwater to the ocean than any other river—about 20% of Earth’s total river discharge.

   它注入海洋的淡水量超过其他任何河流，约占地球全部河流入海总量的20%。

3. Its vast basin supports the largest tropical rainforest on the planet, home to millions of species.

   其广袤流域孕育着地球上面积最大的热带雨林，栖息着数百万种生物。

4. Unlike many rivers, the Amazon has no natural delta because strong ocean currents scatter its sediment offshore.

   与多数河流不同，亚马逊河没有天然三角洲，因强劲的洋流将泥沙带离海岸。

5. Indigenous communities have lived along its tributaries for over 11,000 years, adapting to seasonal floods.

   原住民社群已在支流沿岸生活逾1.1万年，适应了季节性洪水。

6. Deforestation upstream reduces rainfall recycling, threatening both forest health and regional climate stability.

   上游森林砍伐削弱雨水循环，危及森林健康与区域气候稳定。

7. Hydroelectric dams on its southern tributaries now supply power to cities like São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.

   南部支流上的水电站如今为圣保罗和贝洛奥里藏特等城市供电。

8. Scientists monitor mercury levels in fish there, as gold mining releases toxic metals into the water.

   科学家正监测当地鱼类体内的汞含量，因金矿开采向水中释放有毒金属。