Solar-powered 'supertrees' breathe life into Singapore's urb

Solar-powered 'supertrees' breathe life into Singapore's urban oasis
Singapore's latest development will finally blossom later this month,with
an imposing canopy(天蓬,遮篷) of artificial trees up to 50 meters high towering over a vast urban
oasis.
The colossal solar-powered supertrees are found in the Bay South garden,
which opens to the public on June 29.It is part of a 250-acre（英亩） landscaping project -- Gardens by the
Bay -- that is an initiative from Singapore's National Parks Board
that will see the cultivation of flora and fauna from foreign lands.
The man-made mechanical forest consists of 18 supertrees that act as
vertical gardens,generating solar power,acting as air venting ducts（管道） for nearby conservatories,and collecting rainwater.To
generate electricity,11 of the supertrees are fitted with solar photovoltaic
systems that convert sunlight into energy,which provides lighting and aids
water technology within the conservatories below.
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Varying in height between 25 and 50 meters,each supertree features
tropical flowers and various ferns（蕨类植物） climbing across its steel framework.The large canopies
also operate as temperature moderators,absorbing and dispersing heat,as well
as providing shelter from the hot temperatures of Singapore's climate to visitors
walking beneath.
The project is part of a redevelopment scheme（计划,方案） to create a new downtown district in the Marina Bay（滨海湾） area,on Singapore's south side.Project organizers hope
the completed Gardens by the Bay will become an eco-tourist destination
showcasing sustainable practices and plants from across the globe.
Bridges dubbed（命名）
"skywalks" have been erected（建造） connecting several of the higher 50-meter supertrees
(the same height as the Arc de Triomphe（凯旋门） in Paris),letting visitors stroll between them and view
the gardens from dizzying heights.
The horticultural heaven also boasts two green conservatories in close
proximity -- the Cloud Forest（雾林） and Flower Dome（屋顶） -- climate-controlled biomes（生物群系） inspired by the shape of an orchid flower,which project
organizers hope will become the park's main attractions.The biomes are the
equivalent size of four football fields and will become the new home for
220,000 plants from almost every continent.These are some of the only areas
where an admission fee is charged -- approximately US$22 (S$28) for
holiday-makers or US$16 (S$20) for Singapore residents.
还有一段：
However,the supertrees and biomes only make up 5% of the multimillion-dollar landscaping development won after an international design competition by UK landscape architects Grant Associates（英国景观建筑联营公司）.The remainder of the Bay South garden will pay homage to the ethnic makeup of the country.In the Heritage Gardens,visitors can explore the Chinese,Malay,Indian and Colonial-themed areas and learn about the links between plants and Singapore's history.Surrounding these cultural green spaces in the rest of the 103-acre（英亩） Bay South park are sprawling areas complete with lakes and bridges.