美国西部地区今年遭遇大旱,导致科罗拉多河主要水库米德湖(Lake Mead)水位急剧下降,危及农业灌溉及居民生活。
Lake Mead levels have been declining — droughts have been getting worse in recent years, with scientists saying climate change is exacerbating the situation.
令人惊骇的是,随着水库日益枯竭,目前已有两具湖底藏尸显现出来,可能揭开多桩谋杀案的真相。
The shoreline of Nevada's Lake Mead receding has led to the discoveries of two sets of human remains and cracked open the mystery of the nation's largest reservoir's watery depths and what may be hidden below.
死者被塞在桶里投入湖底 图片来源:福克斯新闻网
米德湖是美国最大水库,位于亚利桑那州和内华达州交界处,由科罗拉多河上的胡佛大坝拦蓄而成,长约105公里,最大宽度约15公里,面积600多平方公里,向亚利桑那州、内华达州、加利福尼亚州和墨西哥部分地区2500万人供水。这座水库距离“赌城”拉斯维加斯40多公里,而坊间早就流传着赌城黑帮斗勇比狠、掀起血雨腥风的种种传闻,其中包括杀人后弃尸湖底的说法。
There's a murder mystery at Lake Mead. Lake Mead is behind the Hoover Dam and about 40 miles from the Las Vegas strip. As the lake dries up, it could help crack some very cold cases.
福克斯新闻网报道截图
《洛杉矶时报》报道截图
多家媒体报道,随着近日米德湖水位骤降,已有多具尸骸从湖底显现,其中一些人的死亡时间超过几十年,有明显谋杀痕迹。
例如,一名死者身上有枪伤,被塞在桶里投入湖底,作案时间可能是上世纪七八十年代,作案者显然以为可以让真相永远沉在湖底。
Police say the first body, which was inside a barrel, was likely dumped in the 1970s or 1980s.
死者被塞在桶里投入湖底 视频截图
警察称随着水位持续下降,估计会有更多尸体浮出水面。
Police warn that more bodies will probably be found as the lake recedes.
当地时间周六下午,有目击者告诉巡护米德湖的国家公园服务人员,称他们发现了人体尸骨遗骸。
The National Park Service, which patrols Lake Mead, said the latest discovery of "human skeletal remains" was reported by witnesses on Saturday afternoon.
据媒体报道,发现尸骨的是两位姐妹,当时她们正在湖上玩单桨冲浪,最开始以为该物体是一块大石头。
Saturday's discovery was made by two sisters who were paddleboarding, they told local media, adding they thought it was a large rock before finding bones.
在一些湖区,水位已经低得无法划船,对观光旅游业造成冲击。由于湖泊面积萎缩,一些所谓“湖滨餐厅”事实上已经基本看不见湖景,对游客的吸引力大幅下降。
不过,也有商家另辟蹊径:提供浮潜装备,供有探险和破案欲望的游客在湖中“搜寻更多藏尸”,以期协助警方破获更多谋杀案。
专家警告,如果米德湖水位继续下降,胡佛大坝将无法再水力发电,甚至科罗拉多河下游将面临无水境地。
来源:新华社客户端 福克斯新闻网 BBC
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