[00:00:58]This daring attempt by the Russians to claim

2007年 俄罗斯大胆地声称

[00:03:57]the disputed seabed at the North Pole in 2007

北极受争议的海床是自己的领土

[00:08:00]caused fury among the competing countries

引发了几个竞争国的强烈反对

[00:10:50]and it's unlikely to be the last such dispute.

而这样的争端将会源源不断

[00:15:21]The Arctic has never been so important

北极从来没有这么重要过

[00:18:44]and not just because of its resources.

而这并不仅仅因为它资源丰富

[00:24:12]The North-West passage,

西北水道

[00:25:38]a legendary sea route

是加拿大北部和阿拉斯加周围的

[00:26:47]around the north of Canada and Alaska,

一条传奇海路航线

[00:29:03]cleared of ice in the summer of 2007

2007年夏天

[00:32:00]for the first time since records began.

自有记录以来 冰雪首次消融

[00:35:16]This promises a much faster and cheaper shipping route

从此 往来大西洋和太平洋的航线

[00:39:02]between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

变得既快捷又便宜

[00:45:42]And some wildlife could benefit from an ice-free Arctic too.

无冰的北冰洋同时也惠及了一些野生动物

[00:49:21]Bowhead whales are one of just

北极露脊鲸是少数

[00:57:07]a few whales that can live year-round in the Arctic

一整年待在北极的一种鲸鱼

[00:59:55]because they have no dorsal fin.

因为它们没有背鳍

[01:04:06]This means they can come up for air in small spaces

因此它们能在狭小的空间里浮起来呼吸

[01:07:02]and travel easily under the ice.

并能在冰下自如游弋

[01:11:00]Their unique body shape used to mean that the Arctic whales had

独特的身形曾让它们

[01:14:37]the seas to themselves for most of the year.

几乎整年都独占这片海域

[01:16:33]But now, some cousins from down south are moving in.

但现在 南方的"亲戚"也来搬来这里