Notes:
Niger – ニジェール（アフリカ西部に位置する国）;
barren – 不毛の、荒れ果てた;
tragedy struck – 悲劇が起こった（tragedy＝悲劇、strike＝襲う・発生する の組み合わせ）;
drunk – 酔っ払った;
perish 消える，朽ちる;
topple – 倒す、崩れさせる;
remains – 残骸、遺跡、遺体;

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In the vast Ténéré Desert of Niger, an African country, there once stood a tree like no other. It was the only tree for 400 kilometers in every direction—completely alone in the barren landscape.

Why was this tree so isolated? Long ago, it was part of a forest, but as the land became dry, all the other trees perished. This lone tree survived by drawing water from deep underground.

The Tuareg people revered the tree, considering it a symbol of hope. Even European maps from the 1930s marked it as a landmark for travelers.

However, in 1973, tragedy struck. A drunk driver crashed into the tree, toppling it. People around the world were shocked by its loss.

Today, the tree’s remains are preserved in the Niger National Museum, and a metal sculpture now stands in its place.
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Notes:
vandalism 芸術の故意の破壊(行為)、暴力行為;
strain (心身の)緊張，力み;

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Overtourism in Tokyo and other big Japanese cities has become a big problem, especially after COVID-19. Places like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are now very crowded. This has led to issues like vandalism and disrespectful behavior from tourists​​. The overcrowding is putting a strain on the city services and making life harder for locals.

To fix this, Japan is promoting less-visited areas to spread out the tourists. They are investing in better infrastructure and making rules to protect important cultural sites​. For example, Kyoto has limited access to some residential areas and sacred places to cut down on disruptions​​. Local communities are now more involved in managing tourism to make sure it helps both the economy and the people living there​ .

These efforts aim to balance the good economic effects of tourism with practices that are sustainable. By doing this, Japan hopes to lessen the bad impacts of overtourism and build a stronger, more resilient tourism industry that benefits everyone in the long run.
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