Loving France 法兰西之恋

    Loving France 法兰西之恋
Landing in France, a sacred feeling suddenly arises which attracts you to know more about this country.
    France, approximately hexagonal in shape, has a boundary on the east with Germany, Switzerland and Italy, and is bounded on the southeast by Monaco and the Mediterranean¹ Sea; on the south are Spain and Andorra, with the Bay of Biscay on the west and the English Channel on the north as natural borders.
    A series of massive mountain ranges includes the Alps, which separate France and Italy, and the Jura Mountains that delineate the Franco-Swiss border. The Rhine River, at the northeast corner of France forms the Franco-German boundary. The Pyrenees Mountains, extending along the Franco-Spanish frontier from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay, forms the other mountain boundary of France.
    The plains region is a projection² of the great plain of Europe. The outstanding features of the plains are the river valleys. Among all the rivers, totaling more than 200 with numerous tributaries³ which are almost all commercially navigable, the Rhine River is the largest in terms of discharge volume.
    The capital and largest city in France is Paris, which attracts many visitors every year. Marseilles is a chief port and Lyon is an industrial center famous for its textiles. Other major cities include Toulouse, an industrial and trade center; Nice, a resort; Strasbourg, a Rhine River port and industrial and commercial center; Bordeaux, a seaport⁴ and most famous for its wine.
    French perfume, champagne⁵, and bridges in Paris… want to know more? Then next time we will return to Paris, and you will learn more about her.
    踏进法国的领土，一种神圣的感觉会油然而生。这种感觉会吸引着你更多的去了解这个国度。
    法国从地图上看近似六边形。它东边与德国、瑞士和意大利接壤，东南与摩纳哥和地中海为邻，南边是西班牙和安道尔，比斯开湾和英吉利海峡则分别在西面和北面形成了天然的屏障。
    连绵起伏的山脉包括阿尔卑斯山脉横亘于法国和意大利之间，形成了一道天然国界；而侏罗山脉则延绵构成了法国和瑞士难以逾越的国界。在法国东北角，奔涌的莱茵河形成了法国与德国天然的楚河汉界。位于在法-西边界的比利牛斯山脉，由地中海一直延伸到比斯开湾，形成了法国的另一道山界。
    法国的平原在欧洲广袤的平原上是一个凸起，它突出的特点就是河流广布。总共有200多条大河和不计其数的支流，其中大部分可做商业航行。如果以流量计算，则莱茵河是法国最大的河流。
    首都巴黎是最大的城市，每年吸引了无数的游客；马赛是最大的港口，而里昂则以纺织工业著称于世。其他的大城市大家应当能耳熟能详：图卢兹是工业及贸易中心，尼斯是著名的旅游胜地，斯特拉斯堡是莱茵河上的重要港口，也是工业和商业中心，波尔多是海港城市，它盛产的葡萄酒则更是名扬天下。
    还有法国的香水、香槟酒、巴黎的桥……。你想知道的更多吗？下次我们会谈到巴黎，您可以深入地了解她！

1 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。

2 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。

3 tributaries   

n. 支流

参考例句：

• In such areas small tributaries or gullies will not show. 在这些地区，小的支流和冲沟显示不出来。
• These tributaries are subsequent streams which erode strike valley. 这些支流系即为蚀出走向谷的次生河。

4 seaport   

n.海港，港口，港市

参考例句：

• Ostend is the most important seaport in Belgium.奥斯坦德是比利时最重要的海港。
• A seaport where ships can take on supplies of coal.轮船能够补充煤炭的海港。

5 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。