2007年VOA标准英语-New Grand Canyon Attraction offers Spectacular

By Joseph Mok
Grand Canyon¹, Arizona
27 June 2007
 

The Grand Canyon in the Southwest state of Arizona is one of the seven natural wonders in the world. Carved out by the Colorado River over millions of years, the colorful gorge² is over 400 kilometers long and is 24 kilometers across at its widest point. Now visitors to this popular tourist destination have a new way to experience the breathtaking views of the canyon.  For producer Joseph Mok, VOA's Parke Brewer³ has more on the Grand Canyon Skywalk. 

Developer David Jin

The horseshoe-shaped skywalk extends 21 meters over the Grand Canyon's edge, creating a unique vantage point for visitors to look deep down into the chasm⁴ and the winding⁵ Colorado River 1200 meters below. 

David Jin, the developer of the skywalk project, recalls his Grand Canyon experience that brought about the idea. "It was back in 1996,” says Jin.  “I took a helicopter tour at (the) Grand Canyon from the bottom to the top.  After that, I wondered what it would be like to walk among the cliffs.  Therefore, the idea of skywalk was born."

While Jin will profit from the $30 million project for 25 years, the Hualapai Indians, who agreed to building the skywalk on their land along the Grand Canyon's western rim⁶ hope income from tourists will help alleviate⁷ poverty in their community.  Sheri Yellowhawk is the CEO of the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, which oversees⁸ the tribe's tourism business.

Sheri Yellowhawk, CEO of the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation

"It will benefit by bringing in much-needed revenue for our people,” says Yellowhawk. “Peach Spring [Arizona] is 56 miles from here. And we have a lot of social problems, a lot of needs: educational needs, needs for elderly, governmental needs, infrastructure⁹, just a whole array of needs. There is going to be a lot more jobs. But there are only 2200 members. There are so many jobs so we're gonna not only benefit the Hualapai, but the surroundings economies."

Skywalk is expected to be the centerpiece of the Hualapai Indians' tourism industry which includes helicopter tours, river rafting, a cowboy town and a museum of Indian replica¹⁰ homes. 

Theodore Quasula, President of the Board of Directors of the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, says leaders of the tribe have visions beyond tourism and profit.  "We wanted to instill the values, the culture and never forget where we came from,” says Quasula. “Likewise, we're gonna take care of those who are going to come after us. we want to make sure that our young people in particular have all the means to get an education, we want them to come back, we want them to be the managers to run this place.  Just a few short years away, I think we are going to have that."

After three years of construction, the skywalk opened to the public in March 2007. Since then, the Hualapai Indians have seen a six fold increase in daily visitors.

A boy looks down into the Grand Canyon from the Skywalk's glass floor

"It's a long way down there. It's amazing," says one tourist.

"Indescribable. Worth every penny!" and "Excellent! Beautiful!” say others.

"I'm ready to do bungee jumping," remarks a fourth.

Buzz Aldrin, a former astronaut who once walked the moon was one of the first to saunter the skywalk.

"This magnificent first walk bridges centuries of vision towards the future of hope," says Aldrin.

Not everyone supports the skywalk.  One is Robert Arnberger, former Superintendent¹¹ of the Grand Canyon National Park. "The Grand Canyon deserves much better than to have a thrill ride or thrill walk hanging over its edge," says Arnberger.

But Developer David Jin says, the skywalk design is environmentally conscious, utilizing¹² recycled water and solar energy. In addition, the structure is designed to withstand hurricane force winds as well as powerful earthquakes.

So far Skywalk has attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

1 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。

2 gorge   

n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃

参考例句：

• East of the gorge leveled out.峡谷东面地势变得平坦起来。
• It made my gorge rise to hear the news.这消息令我作呕。

3 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

4 chasm   

n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突

参考例句：

• There's a chasm between rich and poor in that society.那社会中存在着贫富差距。
• A huge chasm gaped before them.他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。

5 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

6 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

7 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

8 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 replica   

n.复制品

参考例句：

• The original conservatory has been rebuilt in replica.温室已按原样重建。
• The young artist made a replica of the famous painting.这位年轻的画家临摹了这幅著名的作品。

11 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

12 utilizing   

v.利用，使用( utilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Utilizing an assembler to produce a machine-language program. 用汇编程序产生机器语言的过程。 来自辞典例句
• The study and use of devices utilizing properties of materials near absolute zero in temperature. 对材料在接近绝对零度时的特性进行研究和利用的学科。 来自辞典例句