VOA慢速英语--土耳其的图兹湖因气候变化和农业政策而干涸

Turkey’s Lake Tuz Dries up Because of Climate Change, Farming Policies

Lake Tuz, Turkey's second-largest lake and home to several kinds of birds, has entirely¹ dried up this year.

Water has also gone down at several other lakes across Turkey. Experts say the lakes are victims of drought brought on by climate change and harmful agricultural policies. They warn that the entire area around the Mediterranean² Sea is especially at risk.

Levent Kurnaz is a scientist at Bogazici University's Center for Climate Change and Policy Studies. He told the Associated Press, "(We have) rising temperatures and decreasing rain, and on the other side, the water needs for irrigation in agriculture. It's a bad situation all over Turkey at the moment."

For hundreds of years, Lake Tuz has been home to huge groups of flamingos³ that travel and reproduce⁴ there when the weather is warm. But this summer, thousands of dead flamingos were found spread out across the dried-up lakebed.

"There were about 5,000 young flamingos. They all perished⁶ because there was no water," said Fahri Tunc. He is the wildlife photographer who took pictures of the dead birds. He also heads the local office of a Turkish environmental group. Tunc said, "I hope I do not come across such a scene again."

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported that a study conducted by Ege University shows that water levels at Lake Tuz began to drop in 2000. The study noted⁷ that the lake dried up this year because of rising temperatures, increased evaporation⁸ and a lack of rain. The study also noted a sharp decrease in underground water levels around Lake Tuz.

Environmental groups say poor government agricultural policies play a major part in the lack of water in Turkey's lakes.

Farms in the area have started growing profitable⁹ but water-intensive crops such as corn, sugarbeets and alfalfa. These crops have used up groundwater supplies, Tunc said. He added that farmers have dug thousands of unapproved wells, while streams supplying water to the lake have dried up.

Tunc is a native of Aksaray, a city to the south of Lake Tuz. He is saddened by the thought that he will not be able to enjoy the flamingos with his 7-month-old son as he did with his 21-year-old son. He remains¹⁰ hopeful, however, that Lake Tuz may replenish¹¹ itself if the government stops the water-intensive agriculture.

But climate scientist Kurnaz is less hopeful. He said, "They keep telling people that they shouldn't use groundwater for this agriculture and people are not listening."

Kurnaz noted, "If you don't pay them enough money, the farmers, they will plant whatever is water-intensive and will make money for them."

Words in This Story

drought – n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

irrigation – n. an act or process of supplying with water or cleaning with a flow of liquid

perish⁵ – v. to become destroyed; die

scene – n. the place of an event or action

replenish – v. to fill or build something up again

1 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

2 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

3 flamingos   

n.红鹳，火烈鸟（羽毛粉红、长颈的大涉禽）( flamingo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Flamingos stand in a salt lake in Larnaca, Cyprus. 塞浦路斯的拉纳卡市一个盐湖中的火烈鸟。 来自互联网
• The research started researchers studied greater flamingos and in a bird sanctuary in southern Spain. 研究人员在西班牙南部的一个鸟类保护区对大型火烈鸟进行研究。 来自互联网

4 reproduce   

v.生育，繁殖，复制，重做

参考例句：

• The machine can reproduce a key in two minutes.这机器能在两分钟内复制一把钥匙。
• The picture will reproduce well.这照片会印得很清楚。

5 perish   

vi.丧生，毁灭，消亡，失去弹性，老化

参考例句：

• Crowns and thrones may perish.王权不会永存。
• Steam will fill the atmosphere and all life will perish.水蒸汽将充满大气层，所有的生命都将毁灭。

6 perished   

丧生( perish的过去式和过去分词 )； 消亡； 死亡； 损坏

参考例句：

• A family of four perished in the fire. 一家四口死于此次火灾之中。
• Hundreds of sheep perished that year because of drought. 那年由于干旱，几百头羊突然死去。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 evaporation   

n.蒸发，消失

参考例句：

• Be careful not to lose too much liquid by evaporation.小心不要因蒸发失去太多水分。
• Our bodies can sweat,thereby losing heat by evaporation.我们的身体能出汗，由此可以蒸发散热。

9 profitable   

adj.有益的，能带来利益的，有利可图的

参考例句：

• That business became profitable last year.那项生意去年变得很赚钱。
• The convention business is very profitable for the hotel industry.承办会议业务能给旅馆业带来很高的利润。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 replenish   

vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满

参考例句：

• I always replenish my food supply before it is depleted.我总是在我的食物吃完之前加以补充。
• We have to import an extra 4 million tons of wheat to replenish our reserves.我们不得不额外进口四百万吨小麦以补充我们的储备。