Storyline

The South American continent is a land of great extremes, stretching from the Antarctic to the Equator. It has the planet's greatest river system, longest mountain chain, biggest and richest rainforest and driest desert. Using the latest camera techniques, including infrared night vision cameras, rarely seen animals are revealed, while a special aerial camera soars over the continent, revealing an entirely new perspective on its varied and dramatic landscape.

First Aired

2000-11-06
Last Aired

2000-12-18
Creator
Genre

Documentary
Seasons

1
Episodes

6
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

BBC Two

Keywords:

south america nature documentary

Stream and watch Andes to Amazon

Season 1

1. Lost Worlds

The opening episode traces the events that have created the unique landforms and ecology of South Amer...More

The opening episode traces the events that have created the unique landforms and ecology of South America. Originally part of the supercontinent Gondwana, it broke away around 100 million years ago and became an island. At that time, it was dominated by reptiles and strange plants similar to the araucarias and tree ferns of Chile's Valdivian forests.Less

49mins 2000-11-06

2. Mighty Amazon

The second programme shows how life along the Amazon River is dominated by the annual cycle of floods....More

The second programme shows how life along the Amazon River is dominated by the annual cycle of floods. In the dry season, female giant river turtles gather on exposed sand banks to lay their eggs. As broad reaches of river are cut off by sandbars, caimans and egrets take advantage of the bounty of fish trapped in shallow lagoons. Underwater infrared cameras film scavenging candiru and an electric eel hunting.Less

49mins 2000-11-13

3. Great Plains

The third instalment features Brazil's Cerrado grasslands and the Pantanal, the largest seasonal swamp...More

The third instalment features Brazil's Cerrado grasslands and the Pantanal, the largest seasonal swamp on Earth. The plains have pronounced wet and dry seasons, and the creatures of these ancient habitats have evolved survival strategies to withstand the extremes of drought, fire and flood.Less

49mins 2000-11-20

4. Andes

In the fourth programme, the viewer is taken on a journey along the Andes, the spine of the continent....More

In the fourth programme, the viewer is taken on a journey along the Andes, the spine of the continent. In the northern tropics, spectacled bears feed on bromeliads in the cloud forests and on the puya flower spikes in the alpine grasslands of the Páramo. At these altitudes hummingbirds find it difficult to hover, so those such as the Andean hillstar perch on flowers as they drink the nectar. The Andes are a young range in geological terms, and volcanic activity is still present.Less

49mins 2000-11-27

5. Amazon Jungle

Episode five covers the Amazon rainforest, home to more varieties of plants and animals than anywhere ...More

Episode five covers the Amazon rainforest, home to more varieties of plants and animals than anywhere else on Earth. Despite the profusion of life, finding food can be a challenge for both people and animals. Many plants have poisonous leaves, seeds and fruit to protect themselves against attack.Less

49mins 2000-12-11

6. Penguin Shores

The final programme begins in the Falkland Islands, where thousands of rockhopper penguins negotiate t...More

The final programme begins in the Falkland Islands, where thousands of rockhopper penguins negotiate the treacherous wave-swept coast and sea cliffs as they come ashore to breed. Huge shoals of krill live in the cold, oxygen-rich waters of the surrounding ocean.Less