The Antarctic Continent: South Park

南极洲--南方的公园

Antarctica is the only continent where there has never been war. No military activity is allowed there and scientific research is a priority. Defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of latitude 60 degrees south, the 5.5m square miles (14.2m square km) of the world’s coldest, driest, windiest and most remote landmass are protected by the Antarctic Treaty, which came into force in June 1961 and designated the land "a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science".

南极洲是唯一一个从未有过战争的大陆。那里不允许有任何的军事活动，科研却是当务之急。南极洲的陆地和冰架都在南纬60度以南的地方，有550万平方米处于世界上最寒冷、最干燥、风最大、最偏远的地带，在《南极条约》的保护下。《南极条约》是在1961年6月开始生效的，条约规定该土地属于自然保护区，享有和平，同时用于科研。

It was not always so, writes David Day, an author, historian and research associate at La TrobeUniversity in Melbourne. Solid as a block of Antarctic ice itself, but no less readable for it, hislatest book draws on five years of meticulous research to tell the story of human endeavour inAntarctica, the last continent to be discovered. It paints a poignant biographical picture of thecharacters involved, the gruelling expeditions undertaken, and the rivalries between nations asthey raced to chart the continent and claim possession of it.

作家大卫霠饟卑：并不总是这样。大卫霠同时是墨尔本拉筹伯大学的历史学家和助理研究员。作为南极洲的一块大型冰块，虽然没有任何可读性，但他最近的著作借用五年细致的研究讲述了人们在这个最后被发现的南极大陆上所做的努力。书中描绘了辛酸的画面，讲述了他们进行的艰苦探险，国家之间的对抗比赛，这些国家竞相在南极洲上做记号，并声称该大陆为自己国家所有。

Antarctica’s future as a natural reserve is by no means assured. Whereas the treaty designedto protect it has certainly preserved peace and served as an example of co-operation betweennations, the prospect of mineral and oil deposits under Antarctica’s ice cap is attracting theattention of resource-starved countries and big business alike. In addition, environmentalgroups, scientists and tourists are all making their own demands. As Mr. Day writes, "Forcenturies, the Antarctic defied man’s approach. Now its dangers and its terrors have beenlargely conquered. Only its future remains unknown." Thank you.

未来的南极洲作为一个自然保护区是绝对不可能得到保证的。虽然旨在对其进行保护条约能确保这里的和平，同时为国家间的合作作为一个例证，但南极洲冰帽下矿产和石油的勘探吸引了资源匮乏国家大型企业的注意。此外，环保团体、科学家和游客都有各自的需求。就像大卫先生写道，数百年来，南极洲无视人的接近。现在南极洲大部分的危险和恐怖已经被征服了，只有其未来仍然是个未知数。谢谢。