2007-10-18, Molten Lava Lake - 熔岩湖

Called the hellhole of creation, the Afar Triangle lies at the junction¹ of three continental² plates which spread further each year. The oldest living lava³ lake and one of the lowest points on the planet. Geologists⁴ here can study the process that formed the world millions of years ago.

Molten lava spews out from deep in the earth to form Erta Ale's Lava Lake. As the lava cools, it creates a black crust. Hot magma burst through in continual eruptions⁵.

Now the real work begins, Franck tries to collect lava. Getting (a) lava out of a boiling pit is no easy task. Franck tosses a cable into the pit hoping the lava will cake to it. He tries again and again, even in the darkness he can't get close enough, at every attempt the heat drives him back. Unless he gets protection from the heat, there is no way he can collect the samples.

So he calls Caston to bring him a thermal⁶ suit. I need a thermal suit to continue and to try to take some samples of that up, over. Very,very heavy. It is Franck's only hope to get close enough to the red-hot magma.

For security, he ties himself into a safety harness. Over and over, Franck throws a cable into the pit. But each time the lava quickly melts the cable. It is as if Erta Ale herself is swallowing the cable. He desperately⁷ wants to fulfil the promise he made to gather a hint. But Erta Ale does not give up her bounty⁸ easily. In the end, Franck is forced to collect samples lying at the edge of the lava pit.

It's 2 am before they return, exhausted⁹ to the surface. I think this is freshest of all, (it doesn't look like lava). some fragments but not directly in the lake. It's fresh enough. Yeah, yeah… Look.

1 junction   

n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站

参考例句：

• There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
• You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。

2 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

3 lava   

n.熔岩，火山岩

参考例句：

• The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。
• His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

4 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。

5 eruptions   

n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year. 今年火山爆发了好几次。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Over 200 people have been killed by volcanic eruptions. 火山喷发已导致200多人丧生。 来自辞典例句

6 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• 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。

7 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

8 bounty   

n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与

参考例句：

• He is famous for his bounty to the poor.他因对穷人慷慨相助而出名。
• We received a bounty from the government.我们收到政府给予的一笔补助金。

9 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。