Sargasso_图书大全
Sargasso
ISBN: 9780385114011
定价: 0.00
内容简介
The Sargasso Sea, a huge eddy within the North Atlantic
Ocean, was first observed by Christopher Columbus on his
intial West Indies voyage. It takes its name from the floating
seaweed called Sargassum, or gulfweed, a brown algae that
is easily recognized by the many small berrylike bladders
which keep it afloat.
Shifting currents impart a whirlpool-like shape and motion
to the Sargasso, and objects are gradually drawn toward its
center, where, legend has it, century-old ships still float,
rotting, eternally trapped by the matted weed and lack of
wind to fill their sails...
While the waters beneath the seaweed might be hundreds
of fathoms deep, the calm surface and floating vegetation
give an impression of shallows-so much that Columbus re-
duced his westward speed for fear of running aground. The
Santa Maria, Pinta, and Niha were becalmed and drifted
there, entrapped by the yellow and green weeds for weeks.
Today, travelers in high-powered ships, in airplanes-and
even in space vehicles-still enter the Sargasso Sea and van-
ish for all time.
No one knows why.
