万花筒 2010-05-05&05-06 拉脱维亚的“飞鱼”奇观

（单词翻译）

The waterfall at the Venta River in Latvia. It is here, near the town of Kuldiga, once a year fish can be seen jumping into the air trying to climb over a waterfall in an attempt to reach the upper course of the river, their favorite place for spawning¹.

Dubbed² the "flying fish", the Vimba travel the river until they reach the most challenging obstacle in its course: Venta's rumba, or Venta's Rapid -- a 249 meter-wide waterfall, which sometimes reaches 270 meters in height.

Many are unable to overcome the barrier.But, it's a job they can handle says fish inspector³ Janis Sprugevics.

"I think it doesn't disturb Vimbas to overcome this barrier. Taking into account their body build and muscles, Vimbas are meant for this type of current. The same as salmon⁴, the skeletal built of Vimbas is meant for them to migrate upstream, over rapids, upward."

Vimba fish are from the carp family. Their migration⁵ in the Venta River lasts for a few weeks each season.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters