评论
打印
At the northern extreme of our planet, the sun rises for the first time in months,
而在地球的北极，太阳在数个月的沉寂后第一次升起，
illuminating a very different ice world.
阳光照亮了一个截然不同的冰的世界
Unlike Antarctica, the Arctic is a vast frozen sea surrounded by land.
与南极不同，北极是广阔的冰封海洋，被陆地包围。
Here winter is coming to an end, but this bleak wilderness remains locked in ice.
这里的冬天已经临近尾声，但这片荒凉的无人区仍然是冰封的天地。
Eider ducks break the silence.
绒鸭的到来打破了这里的平静
They have stayed here, braving the northern winter, instead of flying south to warmer climes.
绒鸭没有迁徙到温暖的南方，而一直坚守在这里经受着北方寒冬的考验。
Flocks 40,000 strong sweep across the frozen wastes.
4万只绒鸭飞越这一片冰天雪地的荒野
They all have the same goal, a polynya,
它们都有相同的目标--冰间湖（冰穴）
a permanent hole in the sea ice, kept open throughout the winter by strong ocean currents.
冰间湖是结冰的海洋上永久性的洞孔，因为有强大的洋流使它们冬天也不会冰封。
This unusual duck pond provides an overnight sanctuary and, when day breaks, a rare chance to feed.
这个不同寻常的水池是过夜的庇护所，而且到了白天还有难得的进食机会。
Just 10 metres beneath the ice, the sea floor is carpeted with dense mussel beds.
就在离冰面10米以下的海底上，布满了密密麻麻的贻贝。
These can only be reached during a brief lull in the currents.
这个地方只有在洋流暂时停歇时才能吃到
The ducks must quickly prise the mussels free before the tide starts to turn.
绒鸭必须赶在潮流转向之前迅速采食
The window of opportunity is short.
机会之窗随时可能关闭
As the current begins to build, it's up, up and away.
洋流开始转强时它们就只好远走高飞了。
