纪录片《南太平洋》 第117期 水火相容（22）

Like Kingman Reef, all signs of these islands' volcanic¹ past have long since disappeared.

像金曼礁岛的火山，自从消失后，所有痕迹消失已久

But without it, land could never have got started here.

但要是没有它，陆地也不会在这里开始

In the very west of the Pacific, however, volcanoes have had a helping² hand.

在太平洋西面，火山有个帮手。

Palau - the jewel of Micronesia.

帕劳群岛，蜜克罗尼西亚的明珠。

As with many islands in the Pacific, its volcanic peaks still linger on.

由于太平洋有许多岛屿，其中的火山山峰依旧存在的。

Beyond their shores are other familiar scenes... barrier reefs... and small coral atolls.

海岸的远处是另一个熟悉的景致，堤礁，小型的珊瑚环礁。

But here, there's something different.

但这里有些东西是不一样

The reefs of Palau have risen from the deep not slowly, like Kingman, but suddenly.

帕劳的暗礁从深处升起，不像金曼那么慢，但出奇不意。

35 million years ago, powerful earthquakes forced them high above the waves.

3500万年前，强大的地震迫使它们高高的伸出海面。

And Palau's rock islands were created. Some are up to 200 metres tall.

帕劳的岩岛诞生了。有些高达200米以上。

Exposed cliffs now reveal their rock's true origins.

暴露的峭壁如今露出岩石真正的起源

It's limestone³, created by crushed coral and ancient shells.

这是石灰岩，由压碎的珊瑚和古老的贝壳产生。

1 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 limestone   

n.石灰石

参考例句：

• Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
• Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。