Dry lands cover almost a third of the globe. In one corner of the African continent, farmers once watched their fields blow away: years of drought had left the soil bare and hard, and every heavy rain washed more of it into the river.
Then a simple idea spread from village to village. Dig a shallow half-moon pit around each young tree. The pit holds rainwater long enough for the roots to drink, and the damp ground slowly comes back to life.
The farmers built no large dam and bought no machines. Twenty years later, five million trees stand where there was only dust, and young men who had left for the city are coming home.
乾旱土地覆蓋了將近三分之一的地球。在非洲大陸的某個角落，農民曾眼睜睜看著自己的田地被風吹走：多年的乾旱讓土壤變得光禿又硬實，每一場大雨又把更多土沖進河裡。
後來，一個簡單的做法從一個村子傳到另一個村子。在每棵小樹周圍挖一個淺淺的半月形坑。這個坑能把雨水留住夠久，讓樹根喝到水，潮濕的土地也慢慢恢復生機。
農民沒有蓋大型水壩，也沒有買機器。二十年後，原本只有沙塵的地方長出了五百萬棵樹，當年離鄉進城的年輕人也陸續回來了。
Notice to hikers
From 1 December to 28 February the upper trail above the Blue Cave is open only between 7:00 and 15:00. Frosty rock near the cliff edge becomes slippery once it gets dark.
Warm gloves, a hat and a working flashlight must be shown to the ranger at the gate. Hikers without them will be turned back.
給登山者的公告
十二月一日至二月二十八日期間，藍洞以上的上段步道僅於七點至十五點開放。天色一暗，懸崖邊結霜的岩石就會變得濕滑。
保暖手套、帽子與可正常使用的手電筒必須在入口處出示給管理員檢查。未攜帶者將被勸返。
Dear Mr. Ford,
I am writing about the geography field trip to Stone Basin on 14 April. I have three questions.
First, our class of thirty includes two students who walk with crutches. Is the path to the caves flat enough for them, or is there a second route?
Second, your notice says the ground stays damp all year. Should students bring rubber boots, or will the school lend us some?
Third, may we stay until sunset? The landscape seen from the western cliff is said to be at its best then, and my students would like to draw it.
Thank you for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Alice Yeh
福特先生您好：
我來信是想詢問四月十四日到石盆地的地理戶外教學。我有三個問題。
第一，我們班三十人當中有兩位學生需要拄拐杖行走。通往洞穴的步道對他們來說夠平坦嗎？還是另有第二條路線？
第二，您的通知上說那裡的地面全年都很潮濕。學生需要自備雨鞋，還是學校會出借給我們？
第三，我們可以待到日落嗎？聽說從西側懸崖看出去的風景在那時最美，我的學生想把它畫下來。
感謝您的協助。
謹此
葉愛麗絲
Rainfall measured at four stations on the same island, in millimeters per year.
| Station | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coast | 1200 | 1150 | 1310 |
| River Basin | 1900 | 1400 | 2050 |
| Mountain Peak | 3400 | 3100 | 3520 |
| Dry Plain | 620 | 410 | 700 |
The drought of 2023 was felt everywhere, but the plain lost about a third of its usual rain. Farmers there now share one deep well.
同一座島上四個氣象站測得的年雨量，單位為毫米。
| 測站 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 海岸 | 1200 | 1150 | 1310 |
| 河谷盆地 | 1900 | 1400 | 2050 |
| 山峰 | 3400 | 3100 | 3520 |
| 乾燥平原 | 620 | 410 | 700 |
2023 年的乾旱各地都感受得到，但平原少了約三分之一的常年雨量。當地農民現在共用一口深井。