纪录片《我们的地球》 第55期 淡水资源(12)

Baikal is the oldest lake in the world

贝加尔湖是世界上最古老的湖泊

and despite the harsh conditions, life flourishes here in isolation¹.

尽管生存条件恶劣，生命仍在这个与世隔绝的地方得到了兴盛

80% of its species are found nowhere else on Earth, including the world's only freshwater seal.

湖里80%的物种在地球上其它地方都不存在，包括世界上唯一的淡水海豹

With this seal and its marine-like forests of sponges,

有了这种海豹再加上海底森林一般的海绵

Baikal seems more like an ocean than a lake.

贝加尔湖看起来更像是海洋，而不是湖泊

There are shrimp-like crustaceans², giant amphipods as large as mice.

这种长得像虾一样的甲壳动物是一种大型端足类动物，它有老鼠那么大

They are the key scavengers in this lake.

它们是湖里不可或缺的“清洁工”

The water here is just too cold for the bacteria that normally decompose³ the dead.

由于湖水过于寒冷，分解尸体的细菌很难在此存活

Most rivers do not end in lakes but continue their journey to the sea.

大部分河流并非止于湖泊，而是一直奔向大海。

1 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

2 crustaceans   

n.甲壳纲动物（如蟹、龙虾）( crustacean的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These crustaceans provide a valuable food source for some fish. 这些甲壳纲动物是某些鱼类重要的食物来源。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• When the tide ebbs it's a rock pool inhabited by crustaceans. 退潮时，它便成为甲壳动物居住的岩石区潮水潭。 来自辞典例句

3 decompose   

vi.分解；vt.（使）腐败，（使）腐烂

参考例句：

• The eggs began to decompose after a day in the sun.鸡蛋在太阳下放了一天后开始变坏。
• Most animals decompose very quickly after death.大多数动物死后很快腐烂。