Nine Islands, Three Plates

Polly flew low over black rock and green fields by the sea. Mist moved over the hills inland. This was São Miguel, the biggest Azores island.

Polly aliruka chini juu ya miamba myeusi na mashamba ya kijani karibu na bahari. Ukungu ulitembea juu ya vilima vya ndani. Hiki kilikuwa São Miguel, kisiwa kikubwa zaidi cha Azores.

The island was made under the sea. Three huge pieces of the earth push together there. Heat rises through cracks in the rock. Every island here came from fire and cooled rock.

Kisiwa hiki kilitengenezwa chini ya bahari. Vipande vitatu vikubwa vya dunia vinasukumana pale. Joto hupanda kupitia nyufa za mwamba. Kila kisiwa hapa kilitokana na moto na mwamba uliopoa.

Most fields here have a hedge of hydrangea flowers: blue, purple, and sometimes pink. Farmers brought the plants from Asia long ago to mark field borders. The rich soil makes the flowers deep blue.

Mashamba mengi hapa yana ua wa maua ya hydrangea: buluu, urujuani, na wakati mwingine waridi. Wakulima walileta mimea hii kutoka Asia zamani ili kuweka mipaka ya mashamba. Udongo mzuri huyafanya maua kuwa ya buluu iliyokolea.

Further inland, green hills rose around quiet valleys. Thin white steam rose from somewhere among them. Polly flew toward the high ground to look.

Kuelekea ndani, vilima vya kijani vilipanda kuzunguka mabonde tulivu. Mvuke mwembamba mweupe ulipanda kutoka mahali fulani kati yao. Polly aliruka kuelekea nyanda za juu kuangalia.