Lake Cih is located at the northwest corner of Kinmen. The original place is the entrance of Lake Shuangli (Two Carps). In 1969, Ma An-lan, the commander of the Kinmen Defense Command, initiated(1) the construction and finished it the following year. Lake Cih's causeway(2) was also built with a view to combine war-preparedness, transportation, and people's livelihood.(3) Lake Cih's causeway is also called the Great Wall Bridge. It measures about 550m in length and connects Jinchen city and Kuningtou village together. Separating Lake Cih and the sea, the causeway makes the lake half saltwater and half fresh water. The lake's waterway leads directly to the sea, and fish and shrimp are so abundant(4) that fishermen gather here now and then.
慈湖位於金門島西北角，原本是雙鯉湖出海口，在民國五十八年（西元1969年）由金防部司令官馬安瀾提倡興建，隔年完工。慈湖築堤是當時集戰備、交通與民生的重要水利工程。慈堤又名長城橋，長約五百五十公尺，是連接金城通往古寧頭的要道，並且阻隔慈湖與海，使慈湖形成一半鹹水、一半淡水的湖泊。內湖也因有水道與海相通，魚蝦豐富，常有釣客到此垂釣。

Around Lake Cih is a wetland where there are fish farms, swamps, trees, and so on, making this the largest habitat(5) for migratory birds in Kinmen. Inside the bird-watching area, different species of birds gather and form an ideal place for bird ecology(6) as well as one of the best bird-watching spots in Kinmen. The bird species of Lake Ci normally include cormorants, goose-ducks, storks, ibis, and many others.
慈湖周圍的溼地，有魚塭、沼澤、樹林等，是候鳥最大的棲息地。賞鳥區域內鳥種豐富，水鳥群集，是最好的鳥類生態區，也是金門最重要的賞鳥地點之一。慈湖鳥類以鸕鶿、雁鴨科、白鸛、鷺科等為主。
Lake Cih faces Little Kinmen and the Chinese Mainland across the sea. Besides bird-watching, visitors can also catch a glimpse of Little Kinmen and the Mainland. At dusk, taking a walk and viewing the sea is most favorable(7) and highly enjoyable. Accompanied by the whispering waves and the starry night sky when there is little light interference, lovers just cannot help but enjoy their date around Lake Cih.
慈湖隔海與小金門和大陸廈門相望，除了賞鳥外，還可眺望小金門和大陸河山。下午黃昏夕陽西下時，在此散步、觀賞海景，景致格外迷人。夜晚沒有太多光害的星空伴隨著浪濤聲，絕對是約會的好去處。（十八）

■1. initiate-(vt)開始實施；創始。
■2. causeway-(n)堤頂道路，砌道。
■3. livelihood-(n)生計、生活。
■4. abundant-(adj)豐富的；大量、充足的。
■5. habitat-(n)動物的棲息地，植物的產地。
■6. ecology-(n)生態、環境；生態學。
■7. favorable-(adj)討人喜歡的；贊同、稱許的；順遂的。

【本系列及新聞英文解說，由金門技術學院Patti老師指導，本報編輯部提供，歡迎各界指正或提供建議】

資料來源：金門縣政府
原書作者：陳建民、漢貴恩