Everyone likes a list. Forbes Magazine annually lists the 50 richest people in the world. Every Christmas, children make wish lists to send to Santa Claus. A range of charts list top songs and albums every week. And at the end of every year, newspapers, magazines and Web sites compile various lists of reader's favorites, from cars to chocolates and fine wine.
人人都喜欢列清单:《福布斯》杂志每年都会公布全球富豪五十强;每年圣诞节，孩子们都会写下愿望清单寄给圣诞老人;各式各样的音乐榜每周都会推出热门单曲与热卖专辑;每到年底，许多报刊、杂志及网站都会发布各式各样的“读者最喜爱的XXX”榜单，内容从汽车到巧克力，再到红酒，无所不包。
One subject primed for listing is waterfalls. Although a waterfall seems simple in nature -- it's usually a river that plunges over a rocky ledge into a pool of water, then continues flowing as a river -- the visual effect of a large waterfall in a beautiful setting can be breathtaking. But despite their beauty and common billing as local landmarks, compiling an accurate list of the highest waterfalls in the world is not an easy task. Waterfall enthusiasts and geologists debate points such as flow volume, whether the falls are composed of one drop or several and of course the methods for accurately determining the height of the falls. Many of the world's tallest waterfalls aren't very well known, and that's not because they aren't captivating -- it's mostly because they're in very remote, rugged locations. And because they're so far off the beaten path, a few of these giants were only recently discovered. So although this list is up-to-date, there may be other waterfalls out there even taller than these 10. Read on to learn about the current kings in the waterfall world, but don't be surprised if a new discovery or two changes the list in the future.
接下来要公布的是瀑布排行榜。从本质上讲，瀑布也只是一条从悬崖边飞流直下、汇集入潭，继而再次蜿蜒流淌的河流。这样看来，它的确朴实无华，但若明媚如画的景色再配上一道大瀑布，其带给人的视觉冲击却震撼无比。尽管这些瀑布美丽壮观，当地人引以为傲，并将之视为地标，但要编制出这样一份精确的榜单却绝非易事。瀑布发烧友与地质学家们就一系列问题展开了争论，比如瀑布的流量大小、瀑布是单流还是分流等，当然，这其中自然少不了对精确测量瀑布落差方法的讨论。许多世界上落差巨大的瀑布并非悉数为人所知，但这并不是说它们缺乏魅力，而是因为这些瀑布大都远离城镇，地处崎岖偏僻之地。此外，有的大瀑布所处之地委实远离寻常路径，以至于它们直到近几年才为世人所知。因此，尽管该榜单已是最新的，但我们仍无法排除“一瀑更有一瀑高”的可能。让我们阅读下文，来一睹当前瀑布界十大王者的风采。不过，如果将来有那么一两个新发现使得这一榜单发生改变，届时也别大惊小怪哦！
10.Browne Falls, New Zealand
10.新西兰布朗瀑布
Waterfall hunters might be forgiven for missing the smallest of the 10 waterfalls on our list. For one thing, Browne Falls sits near the southern tip of New Zealand, emptying into Doubtful Sound along the coast of Fjordland National Park. The sound (which is a large type of ocean inlet) sits miles from the nearest road and far from the island nation's major cities.
布朗瀑布是这份榜单上最小的一个瀑布，瀑布迷们早前未能发现它的踪迹也是有情可原的。因为布朗瀑布位于新西兰南端，瀑水沿着峡湾国家公园沿岸倾泻而出，注入神奇峡湾；而该峡湾（一个大型的入海口）则远离这个岛国的主要城市，距离最近的公路也有几英里之遥。
The waterfall's path doesn't help its visibility, either. Starting at a height of 2,030 feet (619 meters), the falls course through a series of gradual, frothing drops before plunging into a deep, brushy ravine. The lower half of the falls winds through the dense vegetation, which hides its path from most casual onlookers. This has made Browne Falls a target of speculation: Some argue that Sutherland Falls, also located in Fjordland National Park, is actually New Zealand's highest waterfall. That cascade plunges vertically over three straight steps in a misty, highly visible display. But with a total height of 1,902 feet (580 meters), Sutherland falls slightly short of Browne.
不过即便走在通往瀑布的小径上，人们也无法窥见布朗瀑布的全貌。水流从619米(2030英尺)的高处冲泄而出，层层叠叠，逐渐平缓，最终流向深邃雄伟、灌木丛生的峡谷。水流落地之时因冲击力巨大，水面泛起白沫。瀑布的下半部分蜿蜒流淌过茂密的植被，这更使得通往瀑布的小径“待字闺中无人识”。有人认为同处峡湾国家公园的萨瑟兰瀑布才是货真价实的新西兰第一高瀑布，这使得布朗瀑布备受质疑。萨瑟兰瀑布共分三级，层层相叠，瀑水从峰峦之上直泻而下，水雾氤氲，蔚为壮观，令人叹为观止。但其落差仅为1902英尺（580米），略逊布朗瀑布一筹。
9.James Bruce Falls, Canada
9.加拿大詹姆斯·布鲁斯瀑布
People interested in seeing the world's ninth tallest waterfall will have to stay focused; visitors to James Bruce Falls near British Columbia's Princess Louisa Inlet could easily be distracted by the other, more visible waterfalls in the area.
詹姆斯·布鲁斯瀑布位于英属哥伦比亚省的路易莎公主湾，而游客到了此地却极容易被抬眼可见的其他瀑布吸引住目光。因此，要想目睹这一世界第九高瀑布的风采，人们可要专心一点哦！
James Bruce Falls is a comparative trickle when viewed alongside more mammoth waterfalls. Its glacial water source produces a fraction of the flow of a large river, so it's more a winding ribbon of whitewater than a thundering sheet of falling water. James Bruce Falls twists and turns through 2,755 feet (840 meters) of rocky, folded hills before emptying into the inlet. It is difficult to see in its entirety from its mouth, which must be reached by boat; a hike into the hills on local trails can produce a better view. Nearby, however, a number of other waterfalls can be found. Some of these, like the short but frothing Chatterbox Falls, produce their grandest display near the inlet shore. Vacationers and casual tourists may be tempted to stay near these easier-to-access falls, rather than making their way to what some regard as North America's highest waterfall.
詹姆斯·布鲁斯瀑布与其附近水流量巨大的瀑布相比，简直就是涓涓细流。它的水源来自于冰川，形成了一条大河的支流。因此，与其说它是一帘声如雷鸣的瀑布，倒不如形容它为一道迂回缠绕的流水。瀑布在怪石嶙峋的群山间蜿蜒盘旋了840米（2775英尺），方才注入公主湾。人们必须乘船才能到达瀑布口，但即便如此，仍不能一览瀑布全貌，欣赏如画美景。相较之下，徒步穿梭于山间小道反而能欣赏到一幅更美的画卷。然而，它附近还有其他瀑布，例如落差虽小却泛起梦幻般泡沫的查特伯希瀑布，这些瀑布共同造就了公主湾岸边巍然壮丽的景象。与其跋山涉水去瞻仰那素有“北美第一高瀑”美誉的詹姆斯·布鲁斯瀑布，度假者及游客们可能会更乐意驻足欣赏这些“唾手可得”的美景。
8.Pu'uka'oku, United States
8.美国普乌卡欧库瀑布
Pu'uka'oku is another record-setting waterfall -- this one found along the rugged coast of Moloka'i in the Hawaiian Islands. This thin ribbon of water is located on a cliff on the island's northeastern coastline, where it drops 2,755 feet (840 meters).
普乌卡欧库瀑布还创了另一个记录——位于夏威夷莫洛凯岛崎岖的海岸上。它就像一条薄绸，飘荡在莫洛凯岛东北部海岸线的陡峭悬崖上，落差达840米（2755英尺）。
Like other waterfalls along this dramatic shoreline, Pu'uka'oku has carved a deep fissure into the porous volcanic basalt of the cliff face. This makes it harder to see than younger cascades, which haven't carved away as much of their beds. Tourists may be able to make out the falls from boats or helicopters led by experienced guides who know exactly where to look. The coast of Moloka'i is a fearsome environment that sometimes produces a phenomenal sight. Powerful winds blowing up the cliff face loft the falls into the air, causing them to fan out into misty spray. The water literally takes flight on the howling wind, giving hardy viewers a glimpse of a truly rare natural phenomenon.
正如这条引人注目的海岸线上的其他瀑布一样，普乌卡欧库瀑布不断冲刷这多孔的玄武岩悬崖表面，刻下一道道深深的裂痕。这使得它比刚形成不久的瀑布更加隐蔽，因为这些瀑布对岩壁的冲刷尚且时日不久，不足以形成深邃的沟壑以隐匿其踪迹。如有经验丰富的导游指引，找准最佳观景点，游客便可在船上或飞机上看到普乌卡欧库瀑布清晰的轮廓。莫洛凯岛海岸环境险恶，有时会出现非凡的景象——狂风扫过悬崖表面，将瀑布吹到空中，并使其呈扇形散开，吞吐水雾。瀑布之水驾着狂风翻飞，让勇敢的游客得以一饱罕见的自然奇观。
7.挪威巴拉弗森瀑布
To catch the action at the next waterfall on our list, you'll have to watch the seasons. Balaifossen is a winding, 2,510-foot (765-meter) waterfall located near the Osafjord in Ulvik, Norway. During warmer months, the narrow cascade slows to an imperceptible trickle; visit this waterfall in July, and you may spend your trip staring at a dry rock channel.
巴拉弗森瀑布榜上有名，但若想观赏它的美景，就要找准时机。巴拉弗森瀑布位于挪威于尔维克的Osafjord，水流蜿蜒盘曲，落差765米（2510英尺）。在温暖时节，这狭窄的瀑布会逐渐变成涓涓细流，几难察觉。倘若游客再等到七月才去看巴拉弗森瀑布，能观赏的可能就只剩干枯的岩石水道了。
Balaifossen's temporal nature comes from its source. The waterfall feeds on melting snow from higher up in the region's mountains. Consequently, its appearance, flow rate and overall drama can vary greatly from season to season and year to year. A warmer-than-normal year could see the falls shrink from their normal course width of about 20 feet (6.1 meters) to a mere dribble. And while the waterfall currently stands as one of the tallest in Europe, its very existence could be uncertain if climate change reduces the region's average snow pack below the level needed to feed the falls.
巴拉弗森瀑布时有流水，时而枯竭的特征是由其起源决定的。瀑布水源来自于周围区域高山群上的积雪，因而瀑布的景色，如水流和总水量，会因季节和年份变化而变化。倘若某年气温稍高，瀑布就会受严重影响，本来6.1米（20英尺）宽的瀑布，会“缩水”成极细的水流。虽然巴拉弗森瀑布目前仍位列欧洲最高瀑布之林，但若气候变化导致本地区平均年降雪量减少，达不到瀑布所需水量，那它就可能消失无踪。
6.挪威韦奴弗森瀑布
At slightly less than 2,840 feet (865 meters) in total height, Vinnufossen is regarded as Europe's highest --and one of its most dramatic -- waterfalls. This glacially fed waterfall is the centerpiece of a series of falls that line a cliff near Sunndalen, Norway. All of the falls pitch out from a high bluff of rock, each carving a notch in its sheer face. But it's Vinnufossen's further path that earns it recognition, and no small amount of awe, from onlookers.
韦奴弗森瀑布以其略微不足2840英尺（865米）的高度成为了欧洲落差最大、最富盛名的瀑布。而在挪威孙达尔镇附近悬崖上的瀑布群中，这条由冰川水孕育而成的瀑布无疑成为了核心景观。瀑布自气势磅礴的岩石悬崖倾泻而下，在几近垂直的岩壁上切割出一道道豁口。也正因如此，韦奴弗森瀑布赚足了名声，令旅游者叹为观止。
Vinnufossen begins with a plunge that leaps out from the cliff face and fans into a misty tail of rushing water. This horsetail stretches some 590 feet (179 meters) in flight, making it one of the longest measured drops of its type in the world. After its initial plunge, the waterfall veils: It splits into a series of intertwining falls that lace the face of the steep cliff. These various subfalls divide around jagged rocks and tenacious foliage before reconnecting toward the bottom third of the cliff. As it nears the valley floor, the massive waterfall nears 500 feet (152.4 meters) in total width.
韦奴弗森瀑布的水流自峭壁面飞跃而出，一路向下暴跌，拖出一条水雾朦胧的尾迹。这条“马尾”长约590英尺（179米），这使其成为世界上已经测量过的马尾瀑布中的魁首。在刚冲出悬崖时，水流如同薄纱般展开，分裂成各式各样的瀑布景观，相互交织，装饰了这险峻的崖面。水流打在锯齿状的岩石和顽强的枝叶上后又再次分离开，直到距悬崖底部仅余三分之一距离时才重新汇聚在一起。瀑布在接近谷底时，水帘总宽度接近500英尺（152.4米），好一派壮观景象！
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