steep and rugged terrain 復習

アメリカ西部のカリフォルニア、アリゾナ、ニューメキシコ州で大規模な山火事が発生しました。

Fires Rage Across Western States

Hundreds of firefighters are scrambling to contain several wildfires that have broken out across three Southwestern states caused by hot and dry weather.

Blazes in California, Arizona and New Mexico threatened communities with thousands of residents where so far hundreds of homes have been evacuated.

California

A fast-moving brush fire that broke out in Santa Barbara County had grown to 1,400 acres Thursday evening, threatening structures and prompting hundreds to evacuate, fire officials said.

Dubbed the Sherpa Fire, the blaze quickly spread with the help of strong winds in the area. About 800 firefighters, who are dealing with a steep and rugged terrain, had not contained any portion of the fire as of Thursday evening.

About 140 homes and ranches were potentially at risk.

No injuries have been reported.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/hundreds-evacuate-thousands-acres-burn-western-states/story?id=39924591

今回取り上げる表現は、"steep and rugged terrain"です。

1つずつ確認していきます。
まず、"steep"は、ご存知の通り「険しい、(坂、増減などが)急な」という意味があります。
次に、"rugged"/rˈʌgɪd/は、『ジーニアス英和辞典』第4版(大修館)で調べると、第一語義に、「でこぼこのある、起伏の多い、険しい、岩だらけの」などの意味がありました。
さらに、"terrain"は、同辞書で「自然地理、軍事上から見た)地域、地形、地勢」とありました。

したがって、"steep and rugged terrain"で「険しく起伏の激しい地帯」となります。(Akim)