The Delights of South Island

One of the odder coincidences of physical geography is the fact that there are two double islands, roughly the same size, positioned at each other's antipodes, or farthest-distant point. The islands of England and Ireland in the Northern Hemisphere and the islands of North Island and South Island in the Southern Hemisphere are just such a coincidence. The first two islands comprise the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (or Eire), and the second two islands comprise New Zealand. Among these four islands, there can be no doubt that South Island is the least polluted and most spectacularly scenic of them all.
　　There is much competition to make such a claim. The island of England, politically constituting England, Scotland, and Wales of the United Kingdom, is dotted with country villages set alongside rivers and lakes. There are not very tall but nonetheless rugged mountains in the north, and endless miles of rocky coastline that seem mystical. Ireland, too, is a paradise of greenery, with far fewer people than populous England and even more quaint villages scattered among its low-lying hills and forever green fields. North Island in New Zealand sports a balmy climate and the beaches to make use of it; one beach alone is more than 150 kilometers long, and with relatively few people on its shores, one can pretend one is at the very end of the earth. Volcanoes, large lakes, and quickly flowing rivers traverse the land. Given the beauty of these three islands, what makes South Island so special?
　　Plenty. For those who like mountains, South Island is sure to please. Mt. Cook at 3,764 meters is its highest peak, with 16 others above 3,000 meters. Naturally, many local and foreign mountain climbers come here for the challenge of these Southern Alps. In addition, there is an extensive glacier system, endless forests, and innumerable lakes throughout this highland area. Some of the world's best mountain scenery is available within the 500-kilometer long chain of the Southern Alps.
　　Perhaps you prefer the sea? South Island is not only an island, but many tiny islets can be found off its coastline. Great deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling can be had, though the waters here are cooler than those of North Island. (Remember, in the Southern Hemisphere, as we go north, it gets warmer.) As fewer people live on South Island than on North Island, those who crave solitude and pristine beaches will be amazed at their luck here. With almost no heavy industry on South Island, the air, water, and land are all free of pollution. The local seafood is therefore clean, plentiful, and never-ending.
　　Do healthful climates interest you? South Island is the place to be. Its temperate climate sees little snow except in the highlands and mountainous areas. Like Ireland and England, there are no extremes of temperature, either. Summers are warm, not hot, and winters are brisk rather than freezing. The fresh air is sometimes humid from the abundant rainfall of this area. Every season invites the nature lover to get out and be active in the countryside.
　　Of course, South Island is not for everyone. For those who need busy, crowded, noisy, and polluted cities, this Southern outpost will surely disappoint. For those who enjoy pressure and stress, South Island will leave them empty-handed. And for those who would rather stay at home or in an office in front of a computer screen or in the thumping, smoke-filled dance floors of discos, some of the world's best natural scenery will never entice them away. For the rest of us, though, South Island is the world's best-kept secret. If Nature's paradise sounds alluring, make a point of visiting South Island.

　　自然地理上较为奇特的巧合之一是地球上有两组大小约略相同、位置相对或者说相距最为遥远的双岛。北半球的英格兰和爱尔兰群岛以及南半球的北岛和南岛就是这样的一种巧合。第一组的两座岛构成英国和爱尔兰共和国，第二组的两座岛则组成新西兰。四个岛中，南岛无疑是污染最少且风景最秀丽的。
　　这样说势必经过一番竞争。在政治版图上构成英国的英格兰、苏格兰和韦尔斯的英格兰本岛，乡间农村沿着河岸和湖畔星罗棋布。北部的山虽不高但却崎岖不平，而绵延不绝的岩岸则展现出神秘的风情。爱尔兰也是个绿色天堂，人口远不及人烟稠密的英格兰，却有更多古意盎然的农村散布在低洼的山丘和常绿的田野间。新西兰的北岛以拥有温和的气候和可享受这宜人气候的海滩为傲；光是一个海滩就超过150公里长，而岸上人口相当稀少，可以让人假装自己是在世界的尽头。火山、大湖和湍急的河流横亘着全岛。既然这三个岛如此美丽，南岛又有何特别之处？
　　那可多着呢。对那些喜爱大山者来说，南岛一定能取悦他们。南岛的最高峰库克山高3764米，另外还有16座超过3000米的山峰。自然而然地，许多国内外的登山家来到此地挑战南半球的阿尔卑斯山脉。此外，还有一个广大的冰河系统、无止尽的森林和数不尽的湖泊遍布在这个高原带。一些举世无双的山光水色可在这绵延500公里长的南阿尔卑斯山脉之间欣赏到。
　　也许你比较喜欢海？南岛并不只是一座岛屿，在它的外海还散布着众多的小岛屿，可以从事深海钓鱼、深海潜水和浮潜——虽然这里的水温比起北岛的水温要来的低。（记住，在南半球愈往北走海水愈温暖。）由于南岛的人口比北岛少，喜爱独处和原始海滩的人在此将会对于他们有幸来到这里而感到惊异。南岛上几乎没有重工业，空气、水和土地全都未受污染。当地的海鲜因而干净、富饶而且取之不尽。
　　你对健康的气候感兴趣吗？来南岛这地方就对了。除了在高原和山区地带，这儿温和的气候很少降雪。就像爱尔兰和英格兰一样，气温也不严酷。夏天暖而不热，冬天则凉爽而不寒冷。清新的空气有时会因这地区丰沛的降雨而潮湿。这里一年四季都适合爱好大自然的人出门到乡间去活跃一番。
　　当然，并非每个人都会喜欢南岛。对那些需要繁忙、拥挤、嘈杂和受污染城市的人而言，南半球的这个边陲地区必定会让他们感到失望；对那些喜欢压力和紧张的人而言，南岛将使他们空手而返；而对那些宁愿待在家里或办公室计算机屏幕前、或是窝在音乐震天价响、烟雾弥漫的迪斯科舞池内的人而言，世上最棒的一些自然景色永远也无法诱使他们离开。但是对我们其余的人而言，南岛是世上最棒的秘境。如果大自然中的天堂听起来让你觉得有吸引力，那么别忘了到南岛去玩一玩。