盤點全世界最美的10大瀑布(上)

Everyone likes a list. Forbes Magazine annually lists the 50 richest people in the world. Every Christmas, children make wish lists to send to Santa Claus. A range of charts list top songs and albums every week. And at the end of every year, newspapers, magazines and Web sites compile various lists of reader's favorites, from cars to chocolates and fine wine.

人人都喜歡列清單:《福布斯》雜誌每年都會公佈全球富豪五十強;每年聖誕節，孩子們都會寫下願望清單寄給聖誕老人;各式各樣的音樂榜每週都會推出熱門單曲與熱賣專輯;每到年底，許多報刊、雜誌及網站都會發布各式各樣的“讀者最喜愛的XXX”榜單，內容從汽車到巧克力，再到紅酒，無所不包。

One subject primed for listing is waterfalls. Although a waterfall seems simple in nature -- it's usually a river that plunges over a rocky ledge into a pool of water, then continues flowing as a river -- the visual effect of a large waterfall in a beautiful setting can be breathtaking. But despite their beauty and comMon billing as local landmarks, compiling an accurate list of the highest waterfalls in the world is not an easy task. Waterfall enthusiasts and geologists debate points such as flow volume, whether the falls are composed of one drop or several and of course the methods for accurately determining the height of the falls. Many of the world's tallest waterfalls aren't very well known, and that's not because they aren't captivating -- it's mostly because they're in very remote, rugged locations. And because they're so far off the beaten path, a few of these giants were only recently discovered. So although this list is up-to-date, there may be other waterfalls out there even taller than these 10. Read on to learn about the current kings in the waterfall world, but don't be surprised if a new discovery or two changes the list in the future.

接下來要公佈的是瀑布排行榜。從本質上講，瀑布也只是一條從懸崖邊飛流直下、彙集入潭，繼而再次蜿蜒流淌的河流。這樣看來，它的確樸實無華，但若明媚如畫的景色再配上一道大瀑布，其帶給人的視覺衝擊卻震撼無比。儘管這些瀑布美麗壯觀，當地人引以爲傲，並將之視爲地標，但要編制出這樣一份精確的榜單卻絕非易事。瀑布發燒友與地質學家們就一系列問題展開了爭論，比如瀑布的流量大小、瀑布是單流還是分流等，當然，這其中自然少不了對精確測量瀑布落差方法的討論。許多世界上落差巨大的瀑布並非悉數爲人所知，但這並不是說它們缺乏魅力，而是因爲這些瀑布大都遠離城鎮，地處崎嶇偏僻之地。此外，有的大瀑布所處之地委實遠離尋常路徑，以至於它們直到近幾年才爲世人所知。因此，儘管該榜單已是最新的，但我們仍無法排除“一瀑更有一瀑高”的可能。讓我們閱讀下文，來一睹當前瀑布界十大王者的風采。不過，如果將來有那麼一兩個新發現使得這一榜單發生改變，屆時也別大驚小怪哦！

ne Falls, New Zealand

10.新西蘭布朗瀑布

Waterfall hunters might be forgiven for missing the smallest of the 10 waterfalls on our list. For one thing, Browne Falls sits near the southern tip of New Zealand, emptying into Doubtful Sound along the coast of Fjordland National Park. The sound (which is a large type of ocean inlet) sits miles from the nearest road and far from the island nation's major cities.

布朗瀑布是這份榜單上最小的一個瀑布，瀑布迷們早前未能發現它的蹤跡也是有情可原的。因爲布朗瀑布位於新西蘭南端，瀑水沿着峽灣國家公園沿岸傾瀉而出，注入神奇峽灣；而該峽灣（一個大型的入海口）則遠離這個島國的主要城市，距離最近的公路也有幾英里之遙。

The waterfall's path doesn't help its visibility, either. Starting at a height of 2,030 feet (619 meters), the falls course through a series of gradual, frothing drops before plunging into a deep, brushy ravine. The lower half of the falls winds through the dense vegetation, which hides its path from most casual onlookers. This has made Browne Falls a target of speculation: Some argue that Sutherland Falls, also located in Fjordland National Park, is actually New Zealand's highest waterfall. That cascade plunges vertically over three straight steps in a misty, highly visible display. But with a total height of 1,902 feet (580 meters), Sutherland falls slightly short of Browne.

不過即便走在通往瀑布的小徑上，人們也無法窺見布朗瀑布的全貌。水流從619米(2030英尺)的高處衝泄而出，層層疊疊，逐漸平緩，最終流向深邃雄偉、灌木叢生的峽谷。水流落地之時因衝擊力巨大，水面泛起白沫。瀑布的下半部分蜿蜒流淌過茂密的植被，這更使得通往瀑布的小徑“待字閨中無人識”。有人認爲同處峽灣國家公園的薩瑟蘭瀑布纔是貨真價實的新西蘭第一高瀑布，這使得布朗瀑布備受質疑。薩瑟蘭瀑布共分三級，層層相疊，瀑水從峯巒之上直瀉而下，水霧氤氳，蔚爲壯觀，令人歎爲觀止。但其落差僅爲1902英尺（580米），略遜布朗瀑布一籌。

s Bruce Falls, Canada

9.加拿大詹姆斯·布魯斯瀑布

People interested in seeing the world's ninth tallest waterfall will have to stay focused; visitors to James Bruce Falls near British Columbia's Princess Louisa Inlet could easily be distracted by the other, more visible waterfalls in the area.

詹姆斯·布魯斯瀑布位於英屬哥倫比亞省的路易莎公主灣，而遊客到了此地卻極容易被擡眼可見的其他瀑布吸引住目光。因此，要想目睹這一世界第九高瀑布的風采，人們可要專心一點哦！

James Bruce Falls is a comparative trickle when viewed alongside more mammoth waterfalls. Its glacial water source produces a fraction of the flow of a large river, so it's more a winding ribbon of whitewater than a thundering sheet of falling water. James Bruce Falls twists and turns through 2,755 feet (840 meters) of rocky, folded hills before emptying into the inlet. It is difficult to see in its entirety from its mouth, which must be reached by boat; a hike into the hills on local trails can produce a better view. Nearby, however, a number of other waterfalls can be found. Some of these, like the short but frothing Chatterbox Falls, produce their grandest display near the inlet shore. Vacationers and casual tourists may be tempted to stay near these easier-to-access falls, rather than making their way to what some regard as North America's highest waterfall.

詹姆斯·布魯斯瀑布與其附近水流量巨大的瀑布相比，簡直就是涓涓細流。它的水源來自於冰川，形成了一條大河的支流。因此，與其說它是一簾聲如雷鳴的瀑布，倒不如形容它爲一道迂迴纏繞的流水。瀑布在怪石嶙峋的羣山間蜿蜒盤旋了840米（2775英尺），方纔注入公主灣。人們必須乘船才能到達瀑布口，但即便如此，仍不能一覽瀑布全貌，欣賞如畫美景。相較之下，徒步穿梭于山間小道反而能欣賞到一幅更美的畫卷。然而，它附近還有其他瀑布，例如落差雖小卻泛起夢幻般泡沫的查特伯希瀑布，這些瀑布共同造就了公主灣岸邊巍然壯麗的景象。與其跋山涉水去瞻仰那素有“北美第一高瀑”美譽的詹姆斯·布魯斯瀑布，度假者及遊客們可能會更樂意駐足欣賞這些“唾手可得”的美景。

'uka'oku, United States

8.美國普烏卡歐庫瀑布

Pu'uka'oku is another record-setting waterfall -- this one found along the rugged coast of Moloka'i in the Hawaiian Islands. This thin ribbon of water is located on a cliff on the island's northeastern coastline, where it drops 2,755 feet (840 meters).

普烏卡歐庫瀑布還創了另一個記錄——位於夏威夷莫洛凱島崎嶇的海岸上。它就像一條薄綢，飄蕩在莫洛凱島東北部海岸線的陡峭懸崖上，落差達840米（2755英尺）。

Like other waterfalls along this dramatic shoreline, Pu'uka'oku has carved a deep fissure into the porous volcanic basalt of the cliff face. This makes it harder to see than younger cascades, which haven't carved away as much of their beds. Tourists may be able to make out the falls from boats or helicopters led by experienced guides who know exactly where to look. The coast of Moloka'i is a fearsome environment that sometimes produces a phenomenal sight. Powerful winds blowing up the cliff face loft the falls into the air, causing them to fan out into misty spray. The water literally takes flight on the howling wind, giving hardy viewers a glimpse of a truly rare natural phenomenon.

正如這條引人注目的海岸線上的其他瀑布一樣，普烏卡歐庫瀑布不斷沖刷這多孔的玄武岩懸崖表面，刻下一道道深深的裂痕。這使得它比剛形成不久的瀑布更加隱蔽，因爲這些瀑布對巖壁的沖刷尚且時日不久，不足以形成深邃的溝壑以隱匿其蹤跡。如有經驗豐富的導遊指引，找準最佳觀景點，遊客便可在船上或飛機上看到普烏卡歐庫瀑布清晰的輪廓。莫洛凱島海岸環境險惡，有時會出現非凡的景象——狂風掃過懸崖表面，將瀑布吹到空中，並使其呈扇形散開，吞吐水霧。瀑布之水駕着狂風翻飛，讓勇敢的遊客得以一飽罕見的自然奇觀。

ifossen, Norway

7.挪威巴拉弗森瀑布

To catch the action at the next waterfall on our list, you'll have to watch the seasons. Balaifossen is a winding, 2,510-foot (765-meter) waterfall located near the Osafjord in Ulvik, Norway. During warmer months, the narrow cascade slows to an imperceptible trickle; visit this waterfall in July, and you may spend your trip staring at a dry rock channel.

巴拉弗森瀑布榜上有名，但若想觀賞它的美景，就要找準時機。巴拉弗森瀑布位於挪威於爾維克的Osafjord，水流蜿蜒盤曲，落差765米（2510英尺）。在溫暖時節，這狹窄的瀑布會逐漸變成涓涓細流，幾難察覺。倘若遊客再等到七月纔去看巴拉弗森瀑布，能觀賞的可能就只剩乾枯的岩石水道了。

Balaifossen's temporal nature comes from its source. The waterfall feeds on melting snow from higher up in the region's mountains. Consequently, its appearance, flow rate and overall drama can vary greatly from season to season and year to year. A warmer-than-normal year could see the falls shrink from their normal course width of about 20 feet (6.1 meters) to a mere dribble. And while the waterfall currently stands as one of the tallest in Europe, its very existence could be uncertain if climate change reduces the region's average snow pack below the level needed to feed the falls.

巴拉弗森瀑布時有流水，時而枯竭的特徵是由其起源決定的。瀑布水源來自於周圍區域高山羣上的積雪，因而瀑布的景色，如水流和總水量，會因季節和年份變化而變化。倘若某年氣溫稍高，瀑布就會受嚴重影響，本來6.1米（20英尺）寬的瀑布，會“縮水”成極細的水流。雖然巴拉弗森瀑布目前仍位列歐洲最高瀑布之林，但若氣候變化導致本地區平均年降雪量減少，達不到瀑布所需水量，那它就可能消失無蹤。

ufossen, Norway

6.挪威韋奴弗森瀑布

At slightly less than 2,840 feet (865 meters) in total height, Vinnufossen is regarded as Europe's highest --and one of its most dramatic -- waterfalls. This glacially fed waterfall is the centerpiece of a series of falls that line a cliff near Sunndalen, Norway. All of the falls pitch out from a high bluff of rock, each carving a notch in its sheer face. But it's Vinnufossen's further path that earns it recognition, and no small amount of awe, from onlookers.

韋奴弗森瀑布以其略微不足2840英尺（865米）的高度成爲了歐洲落差最大、最富盛名的瀑布。而在挪威孫達爾鎮附近懸崖上的瀑布羣中，這條由冰川水孕育而成的瀑布無疑成爲了核心景觀。瀑布自氣勢磅礴的岩石懸崖傾瀉而下，在幾近垂直的巖壁上切割出一道道豁口。也正因如此，韋奴弗森瀑布賺足了名聲，令旅遊者歎爲觀止。

Vinnufossen begins with a plunge that leaps out from the cliff face and fans into a misty tail of rushing water. This horsetail stretches some 590 feet (179 meters) in flight, making it one of the longest measured drops of its type in the world. After its initial plunge, the waterfall veils: It splits into a series of intertwining falls that lace the face of the steep cliff. These various subfalls divide around jagged rocks and tenacious foliage before reconnecting toward the bottom third of the cliff. As it nears the valley floor, the massive waterfall nears 500 feet (152.4 meters) in total width.

韋奴弗森瀑布的水流自峭壁面飛躍而出，一路向下暴跌，拖出一條水霧朦朧的尾跡。這條“馬尾”長約590英尺（179米），這使其成爲世界上已經測量過的馬尾瀑布中的魁首。在剛衝出懸崖時，水流如同薄紗般展開，分裂成各式各樣的瀑布景觀，相互交織，裝飾了這險峻的崖面。水流打在鋸齒狀的岩石和頑強的枝葉上後又再次分離開，直到距懸崖底部僅餘三分之一距離時才重新匯聚在一起。瀑布在接近谷底時，水簾總寬度接近500英尺（152.4米），好一派壯觀景象！

審校：落月 編輯：Lion 來源：前十網