Every year in early October， Albuquerque International Balloon Festival is held in Albuquerque， the biggest city in New Mexico. Because of the great number of balloons， it is the world’s largest ballooning event8.
For more than three decades9， guests from all over the world come to Albuquerque in October to celebrate ballooning. This is the most photographed10 event on earth. It is also the largest annual11 international event held in the United States.
In 1972， there were only 13 balloons for the first balloon festival in Albuquerque. In 2018， over 500 balloons joined the event with over 1000 pilots. Among them， there were over 100 special shape balloons. Over 900，000 people attended this event. Compare this to the whole population of New Mexico， which is only about 2 million.
Wind directions and air temperature are the keys to successful hot air balloon flights. Albuquerque has the perfect combination of these elements. The winds go south near the valley and go north when up in the sky， so pilots can start easy and change directions easy. Because of its desert climate， it’s cold in the mornings so balloons rise faster more easily.
When hundreds of colorful balloons fly up high， the sky of Albuquerque becomes a moving cartoon. It’s full of colors and special characters. You can find an American astronaut， the Holland artist Van Gogh， the bee couple， the lonely clown， a baby holding a bottle， cute penguins， a pig that can fly， and tasty looking fruit basket… It is a time when dreams come true and romance fills the sky. Grown-ups and children are amazed and joyful during the balloon festival.
The only thing to notice is that balloons rise into the sky in the early morning or are lit up after dusk. If you go to the balloon festival， be sure to keep warm and pack lots of clothes！
每年10月初，新墨西哥州最大的城市阿爾伯克基会举办一年一度的阿尔伯克基热气球节。由于参加的热气球数量之多，它也是全世界最大的热气球节。
30多年来，世界各地的游客都会在金秋十月来到阿尔伯克基，庆祝热气球节。这是全世界被拍得最多的盛会，也是美国一年一度最大的盛事。
1972年，阿尔伯克基第一次举办热气球节时，只有13个热气球现身。2018年，有超过500个热气球在1000余名热气球飞行员的护驾之下出现。其中，超过100个是特殊形状的气球。参加热气球节的观众人数也达到了史无前例的90余万。要知道，整个新墨西哥州的人口总量只有两百万左右。
风向和空气温度决定了热气球是否能够成功飞行。阿尔伯克基拥有完美的风向和气温。溪谷中风向朝南，到了高空中风向则常常转向北，因此，飞行员可以轻易让热气球起飞和转向。再加上阿尔伯克基的沙漠气候，清晨总是比较凉爽，热气球在冷空气中更容易迅速飞高。
当上百个不同颜色的热气球同时起飞升空，阿尔伯克基的天空就像一幅流动的卡通画，满是色彩和特别设计的形象。美国宇航员、荷兰艺术家梵高、成双成对的蜜蜂、孤独的小丑、抱着奶瓶的婴儿、可爱的企鹅、会飞的猪、美味的水果篮……既是梦想成真，又是浪漫满天。无论是成年人，还是孩童，在热气球节，大家都会欢呼雀跃、无比快乐。
唯一要注意的是，由于温差大，加上热气球要么是在清晨升上天空，要么是在傍晚之后点亮灯火，如果你去参加热气球节，一定记得保暖，多带衣物！
Tip
the keys to：短语the key to（keys为复数形式）的意思是“关键是”“关键在于”。当key表示“钥匙；答案；关键”之意时，后面的to为介词，表示“对象”关系。例如：the key to the door （门的钥匙）；the key to the question（问题的答案）；the key to success（成功的关键）；the key to happiness（幸福的秘诀）；The key to our success was the team and the culture.成功的关键在于团队和文化。
