The problem is the glare of the Sun causes theMediterranean

问题是太阳的炙烤导致地中海失水

to lose three times more water through evaporation

因为蒸发流失的水

than it receives from rivers and rain.

是它从河水和雨水中得到补给的三倍That means the Straits ofGibraltar are the Mediterranean's lifeline.

这意味着直布罗陀海峡是地中海的生命线

But it's the Straits that keep the Med

虽然只有14公里宽但是它能够确保地中海

topped up with water from the Atlantic Ocean.

获得大西洋的补给

If they were to close,then the whole Mediterranean Sea would simply dry up.

如果直布罗陀海峡关闭了 那么整个地中海就会干涸

It has happened.Six million years ago, the continents of Africa and Europe collided,

这种事发生过 6百万年前欧洲大陆和非洲大陆相撞

dosing the Straits of Gibraltar.

关闭了直布罗陀海峡

Isolated, the Mediterranean began to evaporate away.

地中海被隔绝，渐渐蒸发干涸

Just a few thousand years is all it took

只需要几千年

to transform something as big as the Mediterranean Sea into a desert.

就能将地中海那么大的海洋变成沙漠

You can discover the legacy of this dramatic event

你可以在西西里岛地下一公里处

over a quarter mile below the island of Sicily.

发现这个震撼事件的影子