Three Gorges
长江三峡

Natural Features
自然概况

The Three Gorges have showed the magic workings of nature with their marvelous and beautiful mountains and waters. The grotesque peaks and rocks on the two sides of the Three Gorges are accounting the great changes taking place in the region in the past billion years，and the variegated wracks of lives sleeping deep between the rock layers are narrating the history of the evolvement of lives during the past hundreds of millions of years.How many visitors have been attraded here by the charming thou-sand-year-long history of the region，the great ancient relics of human civilization，and the mysterious folk tales!Sandwiched between the mountains on the mid part of the Yangtze River，the Three Gorges runs across Fengjie and Wushan Mountain in Sichuan Province and Badong，Zigui，and Yichang in Hubei Province，extending 193 kilometers tong to include Qutang Gorge，Wuxia Gorge，and Xiling Gorge.City of White Emperor in Fengjie is the vital passage of the west part of the Three Gorges. Nanjinguan in Yichang is the important gateway of the east part. Along the banks of the Yangtze River，the high peaks rise in emerald verdure overhanging rocks tower into the clouds，dangerous cliffs seem to reach the sky，rocks are jagged and grotesque,waterfalls are spraying and sparkling，clouds and mists are curling，rapids and torrents are seething，and fierce waves are deep，serene and exquisite.
长江三峡以其奇秀壮丽的山水风景尽显了大自然的神工巧匠。三峡两岸陡峭连绵的山峰，形状怪异的奇石叙述者当地成千上万年之间所发生的巨大变化；岩层中沉睡这的斑驳混杂的生物遗骸诉说着成千上万当中生命进化的历史。有多少游人被这里千年历史的迷人风光，人类文明的文物古迹以及神秘灵异的故事传说所吸引!倾泻于长江中部、崇山峻岭之间的三峡，流经四川省奉节县的白帝城和巫山，湖北省的巴东、秭归和宜昌，全长193公里，洽途包括瞿塘峡，巫峡和西陵峡。奉节的白帝城是三峡西端的重要通道，宜吕的南津关是砚峡东部的重要途径。漫漫长江两岸青葱翠绿的山脉山峰矗立，顶上欲坠的悬崖直人云霄，陡峭险要的绝壁跃与上天空，岩石千切怪异，江水汹涌澎湃，云雾缭绕，迅流湍急。

Currently the Three Gorges region is most famous for the Three Gorges Dam.The Three gorges Dam is under construction at a place called Sandouping in the middle of the Xiling Gorge. The dam is not yet complete，but the construction has already cut off the flow of the river，and therefore the water level in the Qutang，Wuxia，and the western portion of the Xiling gorges has already begun to rise. In addition to the impact of the dam on the ecology and people(i. e. the mass relocation of towns and villages)of the region，the dam will also change the scenery of the Three Gorges. Because the water level will be higher，the gorges will be less narrow and the mountains will appear lower. Proponents of the dam point out that because the mountains reach several thousand feet above the river，the gorges are still likely to offer spectacular views of the surrounding cliffs，and it should be noted that most riverboat companies that operate in the three Gorges intend to continue to offer tours of the region. The increase in width of the Gorges will also allow larger ships through the gorges and it is anticipated that river traffic of all kinds will increase.
如今，长江三峡最令人关注的地方则是三峡大坝三峡大坝的位置在四陵峡中部，一个叫三斗坪的地方。二程建设日前还没有个部完成，不过对西陵峡的截流早已顺利完成。因此，现在的瞿塘峡、巫峡和西陵峡西面部分的水位已经开始上涨。三峡大坝除了会给当地的生态和人民生活带来影响外（如大批城镇村落的迁移)，还会改变三峡原来如画的风景。由于水位的升高，几个峡谷会显得没有以前那么狭窄，两面的山峰也会显得没有以前那么高大。三峡大坝的支持者们则说，因为两面的山峰高出水面好几千英尺，三峡依然能够给旅游观光者们呈现出周围的悬崖峭壁。而且还要大家注意，即大部分在三峡载客的轮船公司打算继续在这里为游人服务。三峡的宽度增加也会允许较大船只在里面通过，所以，预计各种形式的水上旅行将会有所增加。