比萨斜塔"扶正"成功 可再屹立200年

　We all tend to stand that little bit straighter after a good wash and brush-up. And that includes the not-quite-so-Leaning Tower of Pisa. As well as cleaning centuries of grime from the Tuscan landmark, restorers helped stabilise its tilt by removing soil from beneath one side of its foundations. Its angle was previously 5.5 degrees from the perpendicular, but is now only 3.99 degrees off straight. Experts say the seven-storey bell tower should now be safe from further intervention for at least the next 200 years。

　　人们往往经过spa或洗浴后都会精神焕发、神采奕奕，当然比萨斜塔也不例外。日前，位于意大利托斯卡闻名世界的“比萨斜塔”经过翻修后，“腰杆挺直”了许多，同时享受过spa后的它已经可以用最良好的状态迎接世界各地的游客了。据悉，工作人员把支撑斜塔地基的土壤从一边移动到另外一边，使得斜塔的倾斜程度从原来的5.5度到现在的3.99度。维护斜塔的专家称，经过这次“大动干戈”，比萨斜塔可以以目前的身姿再“昂首”屹立200年。

　　The reason for the 183ft building’s lean is believed to be shallow foundations of only 10ft, coupled with weak, unstable sub-soil. ‘It was on the verge of collapse, but we managed to stop the tilt and secure it,’ said a spokesman. Using lasers, chisels and syringes, the restoration team took eight years and three months to clean the 24,424 blocks of stone。

　　据说，身高为55.8米的比萨斜塔8年前的状况就已经“令人忧心”，似乎随时都面临着倒塌的危险。一位负责维修的工程人员称，他们运用了激光、凿子以及洗涤器等等器械清理了大约2.4万块碎石，维修时间历时8年，终于将斜塔“扶正”成功，皆大欢喜。

　　The man in charge, Anton Sutter, said: ‘The stones were in an appalling state, mainly due to air pollution, though tourists and pigeons played a part. 'We've taken out the concrete used in past restorations and cleaned up the pigeon dirt, graffiti and hand-prints left by tourists as they struggle to keep their balance while climbing the winding stairs to the top.'

　　负责维修的工程人员Anton Sutter在分析比萨斜塔的倾斜原因说：“碎石是主要原因，同时空气污染、游客量也超过了斜塔承受的范围，还有鸽子也是造成斜塔倾斜过度的原因，因为鸽子的粪便会腐蚀斜塔砖壁，使得砖头松动。”此外，在维修过程中，工作人员还运用传统的建筑材料水泥进行固定，同时清理鸽子粪便以及游客在塔壁表面涂鸦，力求减少斜塔的倾斜程度。