Loch Ness
尼斯湖风光
尼斯湖位于苏格兰高地都府印威内斯（Inverness） 西南大约半个小时的车程。尼斯湖由地裂而形成，因此形状狭长，远远望去，犹如一条长河流淌在两岸的崇山峻岭之间。两岸的山脉随着天气和季节的变化呈现出不同的颜色：冬天是一片湛蓝，春天便是黄绿相间，夏天是翠绿，秋天则是红黄相间。绚丽多姿的山峦倒映在湖水中，美丽的景色宛如一幅幅油画。
自古以来，人们便传说尼斯湖中有怪兽居住。成千上万的旅游者每年从世界各地蜂拥而至，虽说没有机会见到水怪，但也享受到了尼斯湖诗情画意般的自然风光。尼斯湖最深处水深两百多米，古老的城堡威严的矗立在尼斯湖中央，虽然已是残墙断壁，但它却记载着苏格兰悠久的历史。在城堡的对面是新修建的游客服务中心，里面有免费的电影为游客放映，这部纪录片为游客展示了尼斯湖的形成和尼斯湖怪兽的各种资料，令游客们大饱眼福。
尼斯河即尼斯湖的下游，印威内斯（Inverness）这个美丽的小城就坐落在尼斯河的入海口处，它面对大海背靠青山，尼斯河蜿蜒曲转在小城的中间。河两岸19世纪的建筑和雕塑令人感叹世人的绝妙技艺。走在岸边，经常会看到野兔在草地上蹦跳，野禽在河水中漫游，海鸥在天空中盘旋，小鸟在树枝上歌唱。这里人与大自然已巧妙地融为一体，和谐共存，令人心旷神怡，流连忘返。
Loch Ness （Scottish Gaelic： Loch Nis） is a large， deep freshwaterfreshwater n.淡水（不是海洋水的）， 湖水，内河 lake （known in Scotland as a loch） in the Scottish Highlands， extending for approximately 37 km （23 miles） southwest of Inverness. It is the largest body of water in the geologic fault known as the Great Glen， which runs from Inverness in the north to Fort William in the south. The Caledonian Canal， which links the sea at either end of the Great Glen， uses Loch Ness for part of its route.
Loch Ness is one of a series of interconnectedinterconnect vt.使互相连接， murky lakes in Scotland that were carved by glaciers during previous ice ages. Quite large and deep， Loch Ness has exceptionally low water visibility due to a high peat content in the surrounding soil.
Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 56.4 km2 （21.8 sq mi）， but due to its extremeextreme adj.尽头的， 极端的， 极度的， 偏激的， 最后的 n.极端， 极端的事物 depth is the largest by volume. At its deepest part， 226 m （740 feet）， London，s BT Tower at 189 m（620 feet） would be completely submerged.
Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the legendary Loch Ness Monster （“Nessie”）， although it is scenic in its own right. Boat cruisescruise vi.巡游， 巡航 n.巡游， 巡航 poperate from various locations along its shores giving tourists the chance to look for the monstermonster n.怪物， 妖怪.
It also acts as the lower storage reservoir for the Foyers pumpedstorage hydroelectric scheme， which was the first of its kind in Britain. The turbinesturbine n.涡轮 were originally used to provide power for a nearby mill， but now electricity is generated and supplied to the National Grid.
At its southwestern end， near Fort Augustus， one can see the only island on Loch Ness. Cherry Island is an example of a Crannog （artificial islands generally from the Iron Age）.
For many years it has been supposed that there is a large dinosaurlike “monster” resident in Loch Ness. The evidence for its existence are a series of sightings of a plesiosaurlike dinosaurdinosaur n.恐龙 throughout the last 100 years. The case has occasionally been supported by indistinct photographicphotographic adj.照相的 evidence.
However， several scientific studies have been conducted， including thorough sonar surveys of the loch， and these have not revealed any presence of such a “monster”. Many people believe that the size （21 square miles） and great depth of the loch （almost 800 feet）， together with potentialpotential adj.潜在的， 可能的， 势的， 位的 n.潜能， 潜力， 电压 underwater caves， gives the monster many places to hide.
Regardless of the truth， the suggestion of the Monster，s existence makes Loch Ness one of Scotland，s top tourist attractions.
The reporting of something unusual and unexplained in Loch Ness took its modern form and began to interest the media in the 1930s. It has been a tourist attraction ever since. Loch Ness is Scotland，s largest Loch in terms of its volumevolume n.卷， 册， 体积， 量， 大量， 音量， and it is more than 600ft （180m） deep for much of its 23 miles （37km） length. The sightings over the years are at the core of the Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition Centre and the Original Loch Ness Monster Visitors Centre， both at Drumnadrochit. In addition， the complex here has wide ranging quality souvenirsouvenir n.纪念品 shopping， including kilts and whisky.
Loch Ness has much more than an elusive monster. There are plenty of attractions on both sides of the loch. These include the interesting 3acre garden at Abriachan， while just below Drumnadrochit is Urquhart Castle with its visitor centre telling the story of this important Great Glen fortress. Fort Augustus is a good place to watch the life of the Caledonian Canal at the series of locks here. Also here， visitors can enjoy the Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre， a Rare Breeds Park and also the Clansman Centre， a living museum based round a reconstructed 17th century turf house. Costumed （and armed！） clansfolk give a vividvivid adj.生动的， 鲜明的， 鲜艳的， 大胆的， 清晰的， 活泼的， 逼真的 insight into Highland life of old.
The east side of the loch is the quieter of the two sides. The roads here were originally built as military roads to connect the garrison at Inverness with Fort Augustus and Fort William. From the Suidhe Chumein viewpoint on the B862， the straightness of the soldiers， work can be appreciated. The Falls of Foyers on the B852， as the road descends to loch level， are also worth viewing and there are places along this narrower road where good views of the loch can be peacefully enjoyed.
Activities in the area include walking the Great Glen Way （though there are also shorter walks）， cycling on the Great Glen Cycleway， also ponypony n.小型马 v.付清 adj.小型的， （新闻）每日摘要的 trekking， golf and angling. In summary， this is an area close to Inverness with fine scenery but also a good choice for families， especially on the water， with motorcruisers for hire and also guided cruises available on Loch Ness.
The Island of Skye
梦幻小岛——斯凯岛
斯凯岛是英国内赫布里底群岛中最大、最北的岛屿。位于苏格兰西北近海处。长77公里，面积1，735平方公里。多山地与高沼地，最高点海拔1009米。海岸线切割破碎，海湾深入内陆达8公里左右。牧场广大，以饲养牛、羊为主。作物有马铃薯等。沿海有渔业，还有硅藻土开采加工、威士忌酒酿造、毛纺业等，旅游业亦较重要。
据说斯凯岛有一个别称：天涯海角。也许是译自它的名字，也许是因为它所处的地理位置，也许是因为它是探险者和运动爱好者的天堂。无论如何，只要你到了斯凯岛，你就会感觉自己了不起。
到斯凯岛有一个必经之路，小港口Mallaig。这个小港口只有一条大的道路，渔民们在这里过着神仙般的日子，家家户户都种着小花，院里有秋千，早晚听着潮涨潮落，从容地生活。在这里，乘坐麦克白号游船就可以到达斯凯岛（大约15分钟）。说老实话，岛上并没有什么名胜，却每年吸引着无数的人来，打听过才知道，这里是最佳的徒步和自行车运动场所。难怪沿途有那么多全副武装的年轻人，扛着自行车的都不计其数。
The Island of Skye， situated off the West coast of Mainland Scotland， is the largest and best known of the Inner Hebrides.