奥地利绿湖：爱玩“变脸”就是我

From+lakelubbers.com+etc

We all love a stroll1） in the park on a beautiful summer day， but one of the most popular parks in Austria is only accessible during the winter！

Located at the foot of the Hochshawab Mountains in Trag??， Styria， the Green Lake is one of the world's strangest natural phenomenon. Exquisite2） yet fleeting3） are the words that describe this lake. The tiny lake， surrounded by pines and reflecting the massive Hochschwab Mountains， exists for only a few short months a year.

A shallow pond within a park-like setting for most of the year， it becomes a stunning and picturesque4） picture in green water from May through July. The dry lake-bed is a lush5） meadow for most of the year， a county park favored for hiking and the contemplation6） of nature. The nature reserve offers hiking trails， park benches， bushes， grasses and flowering plants until warm spring days bring water from the thawing mountain peaks to drown it all. Only 1～2m deep during most of the year， Green Lake swells to depths of nearly 12m when fed by snow melt， submerging7） bushes and park benches alike under the waters.

The water is crystal clear and gives a spectacular view of the park meadow submerged underneath. As the water is fresh from the snowcaps8） free of impurities9）， the visibility under the lake is amazing. You can see the green foliage10） from the surface of the lake. The clarity of the water is said to be so good that its visibility is often compared to that of tropical waters.

Along with the greenery， animated life also thrives in the lake. The lake supports a variety of animals such as snails， water fleas， small crabs， fly larvae11）， and different species of trout12）. The plants are not abundant because of the rocky bottom of the lake. Little in the way of aquatic13） vegetation grows during the short months of the lake's existence.

Because of the foliage and grass of the park under the water， Green Lake's water appears a beautiful color of emerald14） green. The submerged tree trunks and branches， paths， park benches and big rocks make the bottom of the lake look like a wonderland， as if there is a civilization underwater. The vision is perfected with the sun streaming down in beams from the surface of the water. The ripples and waves send waves of light down to the bottom of the lake， making it almost a surreal experience.

June is the best month when the grass and flowers are in full bloom underwater. There are also benches to sit and bridges to walk on under the water！ From July the water starts to recede15） and by the end of the year the park is again visible on the ground and available for hikers.

Even though the temperature of the lake remains 4 to 8 degrees centigrade， it is very popular with divers who come especially to dive and visit the underwater park. One of the most popular activities is scuba16） diving along the submerged trails. However， diving at Green Lake is controlled， and divers must possess the appropriate diver ID card. A hotel-restaurant near the shore offers the only legal access for divers to enter the water. Underwater photography is popular at Green Lake. If you have any affinity17） at all for beautiful lakes， diving， or both of these things combined， you should probably book a flight to Green Lake immediately.

A vacation that includes Green Lake is perfect for those who would enjoy a walking holiday around central Austria. All of Styria is picturesque and geared towards18） those who want to hike along country roads and across rough tracks to view some of Europe's best scenery.

Austria is a treasure trove of19） natural beauty， but the crown jewels are located in Styria， and Green Lake is a sparkling diamond adorning these crown jewels.

我们都喜欢在明媚的夏日里去公园散散步，但在奥地利最受欢迎的公园当中却有一个只有冬天才能去！

绿湖坐落于奥地利施蒂利亚州特拉古斯市霍赫史瓦山脉的脚下，是全球最怪异的自然景观之一。人们用“美不胜收但又转瞬即逝”这样的词语来形容它。因为这个四周松树环绕、将巍峨的霍赫史瓦山峦倒映其中的小湖每年现身的时间只有短短几个月。

在一年中的大部分時间里，绿湖湖水清浅，如同一片池塘，周围环境也跟个公园似的；但5～7月份期间，这片碧绿的湖水就变成一幅景色迷人、风光古雅的图画。干涸的湖底在一年中的大多数时间里都是一大片郁郁葱葱的草地，人们可以徒步远足，也可以在大自然中沉思冥想，这些都让这个县级公园备受青睐。绿湖公园还是个自然保护区，园内有徒步小径、公园长椅、灌木丛、草地和开花的植物，直至暖春招至山巅积雪的融水，将这一切淹没。一年当中大多数时候，绿湖只有1～2米深，当积雪融水流入时，湖的深度可增至12米左右，诸如灌木丛、公园长椅等就会被没入水下。

绿湖的湖水晶莹剔透，让淹没在水下的公园草地展现出一派壮观景象。由于这里的湖水是刚融化的山顶积雪，没有杂质，因此湖下的能见度令人称奇。你都可以透过湖面看到水下的绿叶。据说这里的水清澈无比，其能见度常常可与热带水域相媲美。

与青葱绿叶相伴的还有那些生机勃勃、茁壮生长在湖里的生物。湖中栖居着各种各样的动物，比如螺、水蚤、小螃蟹、蝇蛆和多种鳟鱼。由于湖水底部都是岩石，因此湖里的植物并不丰富。在绿湖露面的短短几个月里，鲜少有什么水生植物可以生长出来。

由于公园里的绿色草木被淹没在水里，绿湖的湖水呈现出一种美丽的翠绿色。被浸没的树干和枝桠以及沉浸在水中的小径、公园长椅和巨石让湖底看起来仿若仙境，好似水下有个王国一般。随着一束束阳光从湖面照进湖底，这种幻象变得完美无瑕。还有那涟涟碧波在湖底映出一道道波光，营造出一种几乎如梦似幻的感觉。

6月是绿湖最美的时节。此时，水下草木旺盛，花朵盛放，还有长椅可坐，小桥可走。从7月起，湖水开始慢慢消退，等到年末，公园又露出水面、重见天日，徒步旅行的人们又可以来此远足。

尽管绿湖的水温保持在4～8摄氏度，但潜水爱好者还是很喜欢这里，专程到此潜水，游览水下公园。这里最受欢迎的游玩项目之一便是沿着浸没在水下的小径用水肺潜水。不过，在绿湖潜水可是有管控的，而且潜水者必须持有相关的潜水身份许可照。湖岸附近的一家酒店是潜水者下水的唯一合法入口。水下摄影也是绿湖的热门项目。如果你真喜欢美丽的湖泊、潜水或是这两者的组合的话，或许你应该立即订张机票前往绿湖。

对于那些想要在奥地利中部徒步旅行的朋友来说，如果行程里面包括绿湖，那假期就完美了。而且施蒂利亚处处风景如画，适合那些想在乡间小径和崎岖道路上徒步欣赏一些欧洲最佳美景的朋友。

虽说奥地利是一个拥有自然美景的宝藏，但施蒂利亚才是皇家御宝所在地，而绿湖就是那颗点缀这些皇家御宝的闪亮钻石。

5. lush [l??] adj. 郁郁葱葱的，植被茂盛的

6. contemplation [?k?nt?m?ple??n] n. 沉思，冥想

7. submerge [s?b?m??d?] vt. 使没入水中；浸没

8. snowcap [?sn??k?p] n. （山峰的）雪顶

9. impurity [?m?pj??r?ti] n. 不纯；劣质

10. foliage [?f??li?d?] n. 叶子；树叶；枝叶

11. larvae [?lɑ?v?] n. 幼体，幼虫

12. trout [tra?t] n. 鲑鱼，鳟鱼

13. aquatic [??kw?t?k] adj. 水栖的；水生的

14. emerald [?em?r?ld] n. 翠绿色

15. recede [r??si?d] vi. 退；后退

16. scuba [?sku?b?] n. 自携式水下呼吸器；水肺

17. affinity [??f?n?ti] n. 喜爱，吸引

18. gear ... towards： 使适合于……；使与……相适应

19. a treasure trove of： ……的宝库