The MOSE Project of Venice | 力挽狂澜的威尼斯『摩西计划』

The MOSE Project of Venice

力挽狂澜的威尼斯『摩西计划』

by Marcus Maurice

A new project aims to stop the flooding that has plagued Venice for decades.

一项新的计划将让威尼斯与困扰她数十年的水患说 bye bye。

On a windy day in November of 1966, Venice, Italy suffered the worst flooding in its history up until that time. Usually following the natural ebb and flow of water, the tide should go out to sea in the morning. _(1)_ Eventually, the tide reached 194 centimeters above normal levels, which was the highest ever recorded in Venice. The entire city was swamped, and beaches and seawalls were devastated. _(2)_ Therefore, the government decided to intervene. The result of this is the MOSE project, which consists of mobile gates that can protect the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea when water levels get too high.

The idea behind the MOSE project is relatively simple: 78 metal gates that are 20 meters high, 20 to 30 meters long, and five meters wide are built at the bottom of the mouth of the Venetian Lagoon. In normal conditions, these gates rest on the seabed. _(3)_ The gates are in four rows and each can be managed separately according to wind patterns or water levels.

Of course, life is usually more complicated than expected. _(4)_ Environmentalists and conservative groups are very upset about the MOSE project because they believe it will cause irreparable damage to the lagoon's environment. Also, many residents of Venice have objected to the skyrocketing cost of this huge construction project. _(5)_

(A) If there is high water or expected high waters, these gates can be filled with compressed air to allow them to emerge from the water and isolate the lagoon.

(B) Even so, the MOSE project is still on schedule and will be completed and ready for testing by 2012.

(C) However, on that fateful day, the water just kept coming in.

(D) The MOSE project has run into many obstacles over the years.

(E) Since then, high waters have been affecting Venice and other towns near the lagoon basin every fall, winter, and spring.

      在 1966 年 11月风势强劲的某一天，意大利威尼斯遭逢当时史上最严重的洪水。通常的情况下，潮水会随着正常退潮和水流，在早晨的时候流回海中。但是在灾难发生的这一天，海水仍持续涌进。到最后，潮水涨到比平常高出 194 公分，这是威尼斯有史以来的最高纪录。整座城市被海水淹没，沙滩和堤防均遭到破坏。从那时起，每逢秋季、冬季和春季，高涨的海水就一直影响着威尼斯和靠近舄湖区的其他城镇。因此，政府决定要介入。结果，『摩西计划』于焉诞生，这项计划是利用活动式的闸门，在亚得里亚海海水高涨时保护威尼斯免于侵害。

　　摩西计划的原理相当简单：在威尼斯舄湖口的底部建造 78 座高 20 公尺、长 20 至 30 公尺、宽 5 公尺的金属闸门。在正常的情况下，这些闸门都平躺在海床上。遇到满潮、或是预计会达到高水位时，压缩空气就会灌入闸门中，让闸门浮出水面将舄湖隔离。这些闸门共有 4 排，每一排都可根据风势或水位的状况独立运作。

　　当然，人生总是比预期的还要复杂。多年来，摩西计划遭遇到许多阻碍。环境学家和保守团体对摩西计划非常不满，因为他们认为这会对舄湖的环境造成难以弥补的伤害。同时，许多威尼斯居民也反对这项耗费巨资的建筑工程。即使如此，摩西计划仍按照预定进度兴建，并准备于 2012 年完工进行测试。

答案：  1. (C)2. (E)3. (A)4. (D)5. (B)

For Your Information

英国也曾饱受水患之苦，因此才有泰晤士河防潮闸（Thames Tidal Barrier）的诞生。该防潮闸位于英国泰晤士河伦敦桥（London Bridge）下游 14 公里处的锡尔弗敦（Silvertown）附近，是英国一项重要的防洪与通航建筑物。其任务是阻挡北海暴风长驱直入泰晤士河造成的大洪水，以保伦敦市区的安全，同时维持该河的正常航运，使海轮能在正常涨潮时直抵伦敦。风平浪静之时，泰晤士河防潮闸板会沉入水中，方便船只通过。