尼斯湖（Loch Ness）：不列颠多元文化研究成果揭示

Loch Ness is hidden away in the Scottish highlands.In fact Loch Ness might be nothing but unknown to the world were it not for one rather notable attraction.Loch Ness has the distinction of being home to the world's most famous monster.Loch Ness（Loch is a Scottish word for "lake" or "arm of the sea"） is part of what is called the Great Glen，a narrow valley some 96 kilometers long that stretches to the sea from one coast of Scotland to the other.It is one of the three interconnecting lochs in the valley.A t its deepest point Loch Ness reaches far below sea level，deeper even than the North Sea.

尼斯湖隐匿于苏格兰高地。事实上，若不是有相当引人注目的景观，尼斯湖可能并不为世人所知。尼斯湖与众不同之处在于，它是世界上最有名的水怪的栖身之地。尼斯湖（“Loch”在苏格兰语中是“湖”、“海湾”的意思）属于世人称作“大峡谷”的一部分，峡谷很窄，长约96千米，从苏格兰的一个海岸延伸到另一个海岸。峡谷中有3个相连湖泊，尼斯湖便是其中之一。尼斯湖最深处远低于海平面，甚至比北海还要深。

Despite the reputation of monster as being frightening，dangerous creatures ready to gobble up anyone who happens by，the Loch Ness monster seems to have developed a large and popular following in modem times."Nessie"，as the monster is called by her loyal fans，she proved to be neither fearsome nor harm ful.In fact Nessie seems to be rather shy and withdrawn，preferring its own company to that of strangers.

尽管有传闻称水怪是种危险、可怕的怪物，甚至随时会吞掉过路人，但尼斯湖水怪似乎逐渐成为了现代人竞相追逐之物。正如忠实的粉丝将她昵称为“尼西”一样，说明她既不可怕也没有危害。实际上，尼西很害羞，也很孤僻，喜欢独处，不愿亲近陌生人。

Although many sightings of the creature have been recorded，they are no truly reliable images or pictures of her existence.Most accounts of the monster's appearance refer to a very large creature with a long neck and flippers，something like those of a whale or fish，for propulsion through water.

虽然有大量关于水怪的目击记录，但作为证据，这些图像或照片并不可信。其中水怪大多被描述成一种脖子长、长着类似鲸或鱼类鳍状肢的大型生物，靠其鳍状肢在水中前行。

The first encounter with a monster in Loch Ness was recorded around 1,500 years ago.According to record，an Irish saint chased away a large and fearful creature that was attacking one of his monks as the monk swam across the loch.The monster，apparently，was frightened off by the shouting of the saint and had no heart to return.There is no record of another sighting until centuries later.

有关尼斯湖水怪的记载最早可追溯到约1 500年前。据记载，一位爱尔兰圣徒赶走了一个大块头的可怕的家伙，他的一个僧侣游过湖面时遭到了它的袭击。水怪显然被圣徒的叫喊吓坏了，再也不敢回来，直到数世纪以后才又有了它的消息。(www.xing528.com)

In 1871 a Scotsman described that he saw a strange creature moving slowly across the loch.Others who saw the creature，at the same time，described it as having a large hump on its back that rose out of the water.Loch Ness hunting has become an industry in Scotland in recent times.M odeminterest in Nessie began with a sighting that occurred in May of 1933.A local newspaper report of an enormous animal swimming in the loch caused some excitement.London newspaper sent reporters north for stories of a "monster in Loch Ness".

1871年，一个苏格兰人称自己看到一个奇怪的生物慢慢游过湖面。其他同时看到水怪的人称其背部有一个能浮出水面的巨大驼峰。近些年来，捕猎尼斯湖水怪在苏格兰已经成了一种产业。现代人对尼西的兴趣始于1933年5月的一次见闻。当地一份报纸报道了一只巨型动物在尼斯湖游泳从而引发了骚动。为此，伦敦报业派记者到北方采访了“尼斯湖水怪”一事。

The search for Nessie continues these days with the use of high-tech equipment.In recent times two deep-sea submersibles（miniature submarines used for deep water investigations） have been brought in for detailed sonar searches of the Loch.So far，no monster has been found yet.

现在，人们借助高科技设备继续寻找尼西。近年来，两个用于深水调查的微型潜水艇被放入湖中进行详细的声纳探测。不过直到今天人们也没发现水怪。

There has been speculation over the centuries about what the Loch Ness monster really is.Some say the sightings may have been nothing more than seals or large fish in the loch.One theory had it that a creature resembling a species of dinosaur could be living somewhere in its depths.Others have suggested that minor volcanic activity at the bottom of the loch could have caused disturbances in the water that were mistaken for a monster.Guesses range from floating debris to unusual wave pattern on the surface of the water.No explanation accounts for the attraction that has lasted for so long.

过去几百年里，人们一直在思索尼斯湖水怪究竟为何物。有些人说那些影像只不过是湖里的海豹或大型鱼类。有种理论称水怪是某种长得像恐龙的生物生活在湖泊深处。还有人认为是湖底小火山活动引发的水中骚动，从而被误认为是水怪。从漂浮的残骸到水面的奇特波纹，人们对水怪的猜测众说纷纭。然而，没有人能说清楚为何人们对水怪的兴趣会持续如此之久。