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These strange stalactite-like formations are known, rather appropriately, as snottites.
這些奇特的鐘乳石狀的結構，確切地說，叫做“鼻涕石”
The drops dripping from the ends are sulphuric acid, strong enough to burn skin.
其末端滴落的液滴就是硫酸，酸性強到足以腐蝕皮膚。
The snottites are, in fact, vast colonies of bacteria capable of growing a centimetre a day.
“鼻涕石”其實是大型菌落，每天能長長1厘米。
In this world without sunlight, these bacteria extract energy from the hydrogen sulphide gas.
在這個沒有陽光的世界里，這些細菌只能從硫化氫氣體中吸收能量
Bacteria like these are known as extremophiles
像這樣的細菌被稱為嗜極生物
because of their ability to survive in such extreme conditions.
因為它們能在這種極端環境中生存
And these extremophiles play another important role in this cave.
這些嗜極生物還在這個洞中扮演著另一個非常重要的角色。
Surprisingly, they are the basis of a food chain
令人吃驚的是，它們竟然是食物鏈中的第一環
which supports, amongst other creatures, the larvae of these midges.
用以養活其它生物，例如這些蚋的幼蟲。
Villa Luz's ecosystem was certainly very remarkable,
露茲別墅山洞的生態系統的確非同尋常
but cave explorers were soon to make an even more astonishing discovery.
但是洞穴探險家們很快又有了更驚人的發現。
Beneath this arid landscape lies a subterranean wonderland.
誰能想到在這些貧瘠的土地下有一處地下仙境。
