Original subtitles

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- NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS - SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL

AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI, THERE, I'M DYLAN

DREYER, AND THIS IS "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'LL EXPLORE SOME OF THE

COLDEST PLACES ON EARTH AND WHAT

FURRY AND FREEZING CREATURES CAN

WEATHER THE COLD.

LIKE ONE BEAR WHOSE COAT IS

WARMER THAN IT LOOKS.

PLUS, WE LOOK FOR PENGUINS WHERE

YOU'D LEAST EXPECT THEM.

- ALL THIS AND MORE ON TODAY'S - "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: WHEN YOU THINK OF THE - EARTH'S FREEZING ENVIRONMENTS,

- YOU PROBABLY THINK OF THE NORTH - OR SOUTH POLES, OR SOMEWHERE

THOUSANDS OF MILES ABOVE SEA

LEVEL, LIKE MOUNT EVEREST.

BUT SOME OF THE PLANET'S COLDEST

PLACES ARE IN SOME OF THE

- WARMEST CONTINENTS AND THESE ARE - THE PLACES THAT CAN CONTAIN THE

MOST LIFE.

- LIKE ON THE SOUTHERN TIP OF - SOUTH AMERICA, WHERE ALL SPECIES

OF ANIMALS WARM UP TO

PATAGONIA'S FREEZING

TEMPERATURES.

WELCOME TO THE COLDEST PLACES IN

THE WORLD.

- LIKE THE TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA, - WHERE 20,000 YEARS AGO, THE

WHOLE OF SOUTHERN CHILE WAS

COVERED BY ICE.

TODAY, JUST FOUR PERCENT OF THIS

ICE SHEET REMAINS IN TWO FIELDS.

THE LARGER OF THE TWO, THE

SOUTHERN PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD,

STILL EXTENDS MORE THAN SIX AND

A HALF THOUSAND SQUARE MILES.

IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST EXPANSE

OF ICE IN THE WORLD, OUTSIDE OF

THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS WINTER

APPROACHES...MORE AND MORE

STORMS BRING NEW SNOWFALL TO

FEED THE ICE FIELD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: DAYS SHORTEN TO JUST

SEVEN HOURS OF LIGHT.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE FREEZING

PEAKS, FLAMINGOS FUEL UP WHILE

THEY CAN.

THEIR TONGUES PUMP UP AND DOWN

SIX TIMES PER SECOND, PUSHING

WATER THROUGH THEIR BEAKS,

ALLOWING THEM TO FILTER OUT

ALGAE AND INVERTEBRATES.

- SOON, THE LAKE WILL FREEZE OVER - AND THE FLAMINGOES WILL BE

FORCED TO MOVE NORTH TOWARDS THE

EQUATOR.

NOT ALL ANIMALS CAN ESCAPE THE

BRUTAL GRIP OF WINTER.

THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SIT

OUT THE SNOWS.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THIS GUANACO'S DOUBLE - COAT OF FUR HELPS IT COPE WITH

THE COLD.

A FINE DOWN LAYER CLOSE TO THE

SKIN INSULATES AGAINST THE

BITING WIND AND COARSE OUTER

HAIRS KEEP WET SNOW AWAY FROM

ITS BODY.

GUANACOS STICK TOGETHER IN

HERDS, KEEPING A WARY EYE OUT

FOR DANGER.

THE PUMA IS A CONSTANT THREAT.

- A GRAY FOX WILY ENOUGH TO FOLLOW - THE HERDS MAKES A MEAGER LIVING

PICKING UP SCRAPS FROM ANY PUMA

KILL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT CLIMATE IS THE

BIGGEST CHALLENGE HERE.

NOT ALL ANIMALS WILL SURVIVE THE

FIVE LONG MONTHS OF WINTER.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: GUANACOS RECYCLE EACH - MOUTHFUL OF FOOD, EXTRACTING

EVERY LAST NUTRIENT AVAILABLE.

A PUMA IS DESPERATELY HUNGRY.

BUT THE GUANACOS ARE ON

HIGH-ALERT.

- AND WITHOUT THE ELEMENT OF - SURPRISE, THE PUMA HAS LITTLE

CHANCE OF MAKING A KILL.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: A HARE IS HARDLY MORE - THAN A MOUTHFUL, BUT IN THESE

LEAN TIMES, IT COULD BE THE

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND

DEATH.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: BUT THIS TIME, THE HARE - HAS HOPPED AWAY TO SAFER

GROUNDS.

COMING UP, WE HOP OVER TO THE

ANDES MOUNTAINS, WHERE THE COLD

CAN BE UNBEARABLE.

- PLUS, WE HEAD TO PENGUIN LAND IN - PENINSULA VALDES.

[BREAK]

.

- NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE - MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE ANDES WERE FORMED BY

THE FORCES OF PLATE TECTONICS

MORE THAN 65 MILLION YEARS AGO.

- THE MOUNTAINS ARE STILL - GEOLOGICALLY ACTIVE, CAUSING

EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANIC

ERUPTIONS ALL DOWN THE CHAIN.

ON THE BORDER BETWEEN BOLIVIA

AND CHILE IS A SERIES OF HOT

VENTS AND MUD POTS KNOWN AS SOL

DE MANANA.

SULFUR AS STEAM BELCHES 150 FEET

INTO THE AIR FROM A SUBTERRANEAN

PRESSURE COOKER.

THE EARTH'S INNER FIRES SURFACE

HERE AT NEARLY 16,000 FEET ABOVE

SEA LEVEL.

BUT AT LOWER ALTITUDES, THE

HABITATS ARE MORE STABLE.

3,000 FEET DOWN VOLCANICALLY

ACTIVE ALTIPLANO, THE PREVAILING

WIND PUSHES MOISTURE-LADEN AIR

UP AGAINST THE MOUNTAIN SLOPES.

THIS WATER VAPOR COOLS AND

CONDENSES INTO A COLD FOG.

HERE AT AROUND 10,000 FEET ABOVE

SEA LEVEL ARE THE ALPINE

GRASSLANDS OF THE ANDEAN PUNA.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THE MOUNTAINS MELT WATER - CREATES FRESHWATER STREAMS,

WHICH FEED MARSHES.

VISCACHAS ARE RABBIT-LIKE

RODENTS, WHICH GRAZE THE BOGGY

GRASSES.

- THEY HAVE THIN MUSCLE WALLS IN - THEIR LUNGS TO MAXIMIZE OXYGEN

UPTAKE.

- AN ADAPTATION TO LIVING AT SUCH - HIGH ALTITUDE.

ANDEAN FOXES PATROL THE PUNA.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOXES USUALLY CREEP UP

ON THEIR PREY.

NOT AN EASY THING TO DO IN THIS

OPEN MARSH.

DESPITE THEIR ADAPTED LUNGS,

RUNNING EXHAUSTS THE VISCACHA.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: BUT THE FOX TIRES - QUICKLY, TOO.

- FEW TREES CAN GROW IN THE SOIL - OF THE PUNA.

- ONE OF THE TALLEST PLANTS IS - CALLED THE PUYA.

IT GROWS FOR DECADES BEFORE

SENDING UP A TALL SPIKE COVERED

IN HUNDREDS OF TINY FLOWERS.

THIS RICH FOOD SOURCE IS SOUGHT

AFTER BY ONE OF THE ANDES MOST

ICONIC ANIMALS.

EVERY SUMMER, ANDEAN BEARS

VENTURE UP FROM THE FORESTS

BELOW TO THESE SOGGY GRASSLANDS.

- THIS MOTHER BEAR FINDS THE SUGAR - FILLED FLOWER SPIKES

IRRESISTIBLE.

HER LONG CLAWS RIP THROUGH TO

THE SUGARS OF THE PUYA'S BASE.

HER CUBS ARE KEEN TO COPY HER,

BUT IT TAKES YEARS OF PRACTICE

TO GET THE TECHNIQUE JUST RIGHT.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: FLAT MOLARS ALLOW THE - MOTHER TO CHEW THROUGH FIBERS

TOO TOUGH FOR MOST ANIMALS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: PUYA GROW TO BE MORE

THAN 30 FEET TALL.

THESE ANCIENT LOOKING PLANTS

RELY ON THE ANDEAN HILLSTAR

HUMMINGBIRDS TO POLLENATE THEM.

THE AIR IS SO THIN, IT'S HARD TO

SUSTAIN A HOVER, SO THEY OFTEN

PERCH ON THE PUYA'S SPINES TO

FEED ON ITS NECTAR.

THE ANDEAN HILLSTAR IS THE MOST

SPECIALLY ADAPTED HUMMINGBIRD TO

SURVIVE IN THE ANDES.

AT NIGHT, IT MUST GO INTO A

STATE OF INACTIVITY TO SURVIVE

THE COLD.

AS THE SUN SETS, THE TEMPERATURE

DROPS.

THIN AIR DOESN'T HOLD ONTO THE

SUN'S HEAT FOR LONG.

- WITHIN THREE HOURS, THE - TEMPERATURE HAS PLUMMETED TO

MINUS FOUR DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

- SO, THESE HUMMINGBIRDS LOWER - THEIR HEARTRATE AND DROP THEIR

BODY TEMPERATURE BY UP TO 20

DEGREES TO CONSERVE ENERGY.

EVERY NIGHT IS LIKE A 12 HOUR

WINTER.

EVEN THE WATER FREEZES.

AND FOR THE HILLSTAR, IT IS A

NIGHTLY BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL.

THE HIGH-ALTITUDE HABITATS OF

THE ANDES ALSO UNDERGO A TRUE

SEASONAL WINTER.

MANY ANIMALS DESCEND TO LOWER

SLOPES TO SURVIVE.

BUT SOME WILL SIT IT OUT.

- MOST YEARS, EVEN THE SALT LAKES - TURN TO ICE.

- ANY BIRDS LEFT BEHIND RISK BEING - FROZEN INTO THE LAKE.

COMING UP, HOW DO THESE SEA

EAGLES STAY SO WARM IN THE

FREEZING WATER?

PLUS, WE EXPLORE WHAT'S SLIDING

AROUND IN PENINSULA VALDES.

[BREAK]

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE

MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IF YOU ENJOY WARM

WEATHER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO AVOID

THE ANTARCTIC PLATEAU.

THAT'S WHERE THE COLDEST

TEMPERATURE WAS EVER RECORDED,

AT MINUS 128 DEGREES.

AND THE HOTTEST WAS JUST 10

DEGREES.

- VERY LITTLE LIFE CAN SURVIVE - THERE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER

PLACES ON EARTH WHERE PLANTS AND

ANIMALS THRIVE IN THE COLD, LIKE

THIS ISLAND IN JAPAN WHERE FOOD

MIGHT BE SCARCE, BUT LIFE IS

DOING JUST FINE.

JAPAN IS A LAND OF WILDLY

DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FROM SNOW-COVERED

MOUNTAINS TO STEAMY SUBTROPICAL

MANGROVES.

- ANIMALS HAVE ADAPTED TO SURVIVE - IN THEM ALL.

THIS IS HOME TO WILDLIFE FOUND

NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

UNIQUE RESIDENT AND MYSTERIOUS

VISITORS ARE FOUND HERE IN

JAPAN'S ISLANDS OF EXTREMES.

THE SHIRETOKO PENINSULA IN

NORTHERN HOKKAIDO BORDERS THE

COLDEST SEA IN EAST ASIA.

THE SEA OF OKHOTSK.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: DURING WINTER, IT - BECOMES ALMOST COMPLETELY

COVERED WITH ICE.

THE ICE ORIGINATES IN EASTERN

RUSSIA AND IS PULLED SOUTH BY

OCEAN CURRENTS.

IN EARLY WINTER, THE ICE AROUND

THE SHIRETOKO PENINSULA CAN

REACH ALMOST TWO MILES WIDE AND

30 MILES LONG.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: AT THE SAME TIME COLD - CURRENTS ARRIVE HERE FROM

RUSSIA, WARM TROPICAL CURRENTS

ARRIVE FROM THE SOUTH.

- AS THESE CURRENTS COLLIDE, THE - NUMBER OF PLANKTON LITERALLY

EXPLODES.

HUGE SHOALS OF FISH COME HERE TO

FEED.

- THESE WATERS BECOME SOME OF THE - RICHEST FISHING GROUNDS IN THE

WORLD.

AND THEY PROVE IRRESISTIBLE TO

SOME OF NATURE'S MOST SKILLFUL

HUNTERS.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: A THIRD OF THE WORLD'S - POPULATION OF STELLER'S SEA

- EAGLES MIGRATE HERE FROM RUSSIA - EVERY WINTER.

STELLER'S SEA EAGLES ARE AMONG

THE LARGEST EAGLES IN THE WORLD.

IN FULL FLIGHT, THEIR WINGSPAN

REACHES AROUND EIGHT FEET.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SLOWLY CIRCLING THE ICE,

RAZOR SHARP EYES SCAN THE SEA

FOR ANY SIGN OF PREY.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: ONE FLICKER OF MOVEMENT - IS ALL IT TAKES.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: BUT CATCHING A FISH DOES - NOT GUARANTEE A MEAL.

THERE ARE JEALOUS EYES

EVERYWHERE.

WITH UP TO 2,000 SEA EAGLES

GATHERING HERE, COMPETITION IS

FIERCE AMONG THESE NORMALLY

SOLITARY BIRDS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FIGHTS OVER FOOD ARE

COMMON.

BEAKS, TALONS, AND WINGS ARE ALL

USED AS WEAPONS.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: EVENTUALLY, THE HUNTER - PREVAILS.

- AFTER THE EFFORT IT TOOK TO KEEP - HOLD OF ITS PREY, THE EAGLE IS

HUNGRIER THAN EVER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHITE-TAILED EAGLES ARE

ON PATROL, TOO.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: IN MANY PLACES, THE - WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLE WOULD BE

KING, BUT HERE STELLER'S SEA

EAGLES ARE VICTORIOUS.

COMING UP, IT'S PENGUIN TIME IN

PATAGONIA.

NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[BREAK]

.

- NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE - MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: 500 MILES EAST OF THE

ANDES AND BEYOND PATAGONIA'S

VAST PLAINS LIES PENINSULA

VALDES.

- IT STICKS OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC - OCEAN TO FORM TWO SHELTERED

BAYS.

PROVIDING A WELCOME RESTING

PLACE FOR OCEAN FRIENDS.

THESE MAGELLANIC PENGUINS HAVE

BEEN AT SEA FOR SIX MONTHS, BUT

THEY MUST COME TO THE SHORE TO

BREED.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: PENGUIN COUPLES RETURN - TO THE SAME NEST YEAR AFTER

YEAR.

- THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS - OF PENGUIN NESTS IN SEVERAL

COLONIES ALONG THIS COAST.

IN THESE LARGE ROOKERIES, SOME

PENGUINS MUST WALK OVER A MILE

INLAND TO REACH THEIR BURROW.

- NOT EASY FOR AN ANIMAL ADAPTED - TO LIFE IN THE OCEAN.

- PENGUIN BODIES ARE BUILT FOR THE - SEA.

TIGHTLY PACKED FEATHERS ARE

COATED IN WATER-RESISTANT OIL,

- SECRETED BY A GLAND ABOVE THE - TAIL.

AND WITH FLIPPER-LIKE WINGS,

THEY FLY THROUGH THE WATER.

LIFE ON LAND IS MUCH HARDER

WORK.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: EVEN ON PATAGONIA'S COOL - SPRING DAYS, A PENGUIN CAN

OVERHEAT.

THEY CAN'T SWEAT, BUT PATCHES

AROUND THEIR EYES HELP BREAK

- DOWN THE HEAT, AND THEY CAN EVEN - PANT TO KEEP COOL.

- COLONIES DISPERSE WHEN THEY'RE - AT SEA AND THESE PENGUIN PAIRS

HAVEN'T SEEN EACH OTHER FOR SIX

MONTHS.

THEY'RE DESPERATE TO FIND THEIR

PARTNERS.

BUT FINDING YOUR MATE AMONG THE

MULTITUDE CAN BE TRICKY.

- BILL FENCING IS A WAY OF - GREETING OLD ACQUAINTANCES, LIKE

A HANDSHAKE OR A PENGUIN POUND.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT NOT ALL PENGUINS ARE

PLEASED TO SEE EACH OTHER.

SQUABBLES OVER NEST SITES ARE

COMMON.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: LOUD CRIES CARRY RIGHT - ACROSS THE COLONY AND EACH

PENGUIN RECOGNIZES THE

DISTINCTIVE CALL OF ITS PARTNER.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THESE LONG-DISTANCE - RELATIONSHIPS SEEM TO WORK AND

THESE LOVEBIRDS ARE READY TO

SETTLE DOWN FOR THE LONG SUMMER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WE

TRAVEL TO SOME OF THE COLDEST

PLACES ON OUR PLANET.

WHERE THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES

CAN SOMETIMES BE A HOTSPOT FOR

LIFE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON

ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]