四大令人叹为观止大桥.docVIP

四大令人叹为观止大桥 　　Bridges have been around ever since humans began to move themselves―and their goods―from one place to another. Early bridge engineers had to do little more than fell a tree across a ravine1） or stream， but they soon discovered that they could span greater distances and haul heavier loads by putting more time and energy into their structures. What follows is a survey of some of the most breathtaking bridges of the modern era. 　　自从人类开始将自己及自己的物品从一个地方移动到另一个地方，桥梁就一直存在了。早期的桥梁工程师所能做的仅仅是砍倒一棵树，将其架在峡谷或溪流之上，但是很快他们就发现，通过在桥梁架构上花费更多的时间和精力，他们可以跨越更大的距离，运送更重的货物。下面让我们纵览一些现代最让人叹为观止的桥梁建筑。 　　Millau Viaduct 　　The Eiffel Tower， which looms over2） the Paris skyline， measures 324 meters high from its four-footed base to the tip of its flagpole3）. Now imagine tearing the tower from its moorings4） and carrying it southeastward， through the Massif Central region of France to the Cévennes Mountains. Now imagine setting the tower down in the Tarn Valley， a deep gorge5） surrounded by high， rolling hills near the town of Millau， France. Now， finally， picture lining up six more similar towers and stringing a roadway across the valley. Look！ This is the Millau Viaduct， a massive bridge that opened in 2004 to carry the A75 motorway south to Béziers. 　　In reality， the highest point of this cable-stayed bridge6） is taller than the Eiffel Tower by 19 meters and only a little bit shorter than the Empire State Building （381 meters tall， if youre wondering）. A car traveling over the span is actually suspended 271 meters above the valley. Drivers who overcome their fear of heights can shave 100 kilometers and four hours off the long trip from Clermont-Ferrand to popular destinations along the Mediterranean Sea. The bridge also reduces pollution by relieving congestion7） that used to occur as cars queued up to cross a much older and smaller bridge in Millau. 　　米洛高架桥 　　埃菲尔铁塔赫然耸立在巴黎天际线上，从它的四个塔墩到顶杆的尖端有324米高。现在想象一下，把这座铁塔从它的泊地拔起，朝东南方向搬运，穿过法国中央高原地区搬到塞文山脉。现在想象把铁塔安放在法国米洛镇旁的塔恩河河谷――一个被高耸的、连绵起伏的山脉所环绕的幽深峡谷