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The lower slopes of the andes are harsh.
安地斯山脉的低坡段很崎岖。
But climb higher, and the mountains become otherworldly.
沿着它向上，高山上的环境变得超凡脱俗。
Their altitude prevents rain clouds from blowing in from the east.
它们的高度让雨云无法从东边吹上来。
Whilst another, lower range nearer the west coast, prevents rain coming in from the pacific ocean.
同时另一个靠近西海岸较矮的山脉，会防止雨从太平洋过来。
This creates, between them, one of the driest high-altitude deserts on earth... The atacama.
这使得中间形成了地球上最干燥的高山荒漠之一。阿他加马沙漠。
There is, nonetheless, a lake here -- a volcanic one that is filled with extremely salty water from underground.
尽管如此，这里还是有一个湖泊，一个火山湖，充满了自地下涌上浓度极高的盐水。
And this attracts flamingos. They come here each summer.
而这吸引了红鹤前来。它们每个夏天过来。
And here they nest and raise their young, taking advantage of the lake's plentiful algae.
在这筑巢，养育后代，利用湖里丰富的藻类。
But with the arrival of winter, temperatures at night drop to below freezing.
但当冬季来临，夜晚的温度会降至冰点以下。
Conditions that even these Hardy birds cannot endure for long.
这样的环境，即使是这些耐寒的鸟也不能忍受太久。
The adults start to leave and head for warmer temperatures, lower down the mountain.
成年鸟开始离开，前往气温较温暖，高度低一点的山里。
But they leave behind their four-month-old chicks, which are old enough to feed themselves but not yet strong enough to fly.
但它们将四个月大的雏鸟留下，虽然长得够大，能自己进食，但还没有强壮到能飞行。
With each passing night, temperatures continue to fall.
随着每个晚上过去，气温持续下降。
And then, one morning, after a particularly cold night, the chicks find themselves surrounded by ice.
然后在一个特别冷的夜晚之后的早晨，雏鸟们发现自己被寒冰包围。
Huddling together allows some to preserve precious body heat.
挤在一起取暖，能帮助一些鸟保存珍贵的体温。
But those on the outside are left even more exposed.
但独自在外的却更加暴露在寒风中。
And some have already succumbed to the freezing conditions.
有一些没能抵挡住刺骨的寒冷。
The salty ice is now so cold that it congeals on the chicks' feathers.
富盐分的冰已经冷到开始在雏鸟的羽毛上凝结。
Weighed down, their chances of flying are even more remote.
增加重量，让它们成功起飞的机率更低。
Now 40mph winds whip across the lake, driving down temperatures even further.
现在时速40英里的强风横跨过湖泊，把温度更进一步压低。
Yet this very wind that could kill them might just be their saviour.
但这场可能杀死它们的大风，也可能是它们的救星。
The youngsters turn to face it.
雏鸟们迎着风。
If they can catch it just right, it could give them the lift they need to take their very first flight.
如果它们正确捕捉到风向，可以带给它们第一场飞行所需要的升力。
For those encumbered with heavy loads of ice... the struggle is almost too much.
而那些身上负担太重冰块的雏鸟，其挣扎已几乎到超出负荷的程度。
Freedom at last.
终于获得自由。
