Retired NYC Subway Cars Transform Into "Luxurious Condominiums" For Fish

退役地铁车厢成鱼儿家园

While the sight of an 18-ton subway car being dumped into the Atlantic Ocean may appear like an ecological disaster, it is quite the opposite. Instead of harming marine life, the sturdy steel structures submerged deep into the Atlantic Ocean transform into perfect artificial reefs that provide comfortable homes for all kinds of sea creatures.

把18吨重的地铁车厢投入大西洋看似是在破坏生态，其实结果并非如此k==rI#5JGi7Q)e。沉入太平洋深海的坚固钢制车厢不但没有对海洋生物造成威胁，反而形成了完美的人造礁石，成为了各种海洋生物的舒适的家园u)N^=X=6O]~7(Ja。

The idea of the unusual disposal method was inspired by the State of Delaware's artificial reef program. Started in 1995, it entailed sinking decommissioned tankers, naval ships and tugboats to the bottom of the Atlantic. According to officials, the program was necessary because of the loose sand and silt that make it impossible for natural reefs to form.

这个非同寻常的投放想法最初是由德拉华州人工礁石计划发起的8W@8,pCRp(U,H#。这个计划起始于1995年，向大西洋海底先后投了弃置的坦克、海军船和拖船;_iJpCeShK0m。据负责人称，这个计划非常必要，因为海底松散的泥沙不利于形成自然礁石oU6UPH_rApEdqxWYqZ1。

The artificial reefs are still constantly monitored and studied to ensure they don't pose any threat to the underwater sea life. Thus far, numerous sea creatures have successfully converted the carbon steel subway cars into their new homes. In many instances, the metal surfaces are covered in algae, making them almost unrecognizable.

负责人还在持续关注和研究这些投入海底的人工礁石，保证它们对海底生物没有威胁Ma#4.xUHO9oTzJh7*Ar。到现在已经有无数海洋生物成功把钢铁的车厢变为它们的家AL=O~*E1it(iiD_AB(=。由于金属的外皮都被海藻掩盖，乍一看还真认不出它们的原来面目呢yd99fVjXECmsb|K6。

In addition to shelter, the reefs provide 400 times as much food per square foot as the natural sand bottom. The dual role that the reefs play is particularly beneficial to fish such as black sea bass, which are not fast swimmers and need help escaping from sharks and other predators. An added benefit is the economic boost it provides the various states thanks to the increase in recreational activities like scuba diving.

除了给海洋生物提供居住场所，这些人工礁石每平方英尺比自然泥沙海底产生的食物要多400倍at1*4&sDATGh~;]F+9。扮演双重角色的人工礁石对巨鲈这类的鱼是极其有利的，因为巨鲈游的很慢，需要有地方躲避鲨鱼和其他捕食者)xF&g+3466。人工礁石还给许多州带来了开展娱乐性潜水活动的经济效益MkG&Eg,Mz,C1X,0.8s。

While the success of this unusual project has been known to a few, it has recently garnered public attention thanks to Stephen Mallon, a photographer who has followed the recycling efforts for many years. His recently held exhibition entitled "Patterns of Interest" vividly depicts a three-year journey of subway cars from carbon steel structures to robust marine abodes.

虽然现在已经有一些人了解到这个项目的取得的成功，它真正引起公众注意还是要感谢这些年一直跟随拍摄的摄像师Stephen Mallon]7g~2PIuaXdp。他最近举行了一场名为“有趣的形态”的摄影展，生动展示了三年来碳钢地铁车厢如何一点点成为海洋生物牢固的家园pgIKXXcBVhl;a-Y。

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