Original subtitles

HI. I’M BILL PULLMAN.

AS PART OF A RANCH FAMILY,

I KNOW THAT WATER IS PRECIOUS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHERE IN MONTANA.\n

IT’S THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE WEST.

\h\hMOST OF AMERICA’S GREAT\NWATERWAYS HAVE BEEN DAMMED,\n

BUT THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER \h\h\h\h\hIS AN EXCEPTION.\n

IT FLOWS FREE FOR THE ENTIRE \h\h\hLENGTH OF ITS JOURNEY.\n

BUT IT CAN ALSO BE A PLACE OF PERIL.

\h\h\hIN THIS CHAPTER\NOF "EPIC YELLOWSTONE,"\n

YOU’RE GOING TO SEE TWO MOTHERS, A GRIZZLY AND A BISON,

EACH WITH THE CHALLENGE \hOF GETTING THEIR YOUNG\n

ACROSS THE RAGING RIVER.

BOTH HAVE FIERCE DETERMINATION, AND BOTH FACE UNCERTAIN ENDINGS.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE JOURNEY \h\h\h\hDOWN THE RIVER WILD.\n

IT’S AMONG THE LAST \h\h\hOF ITS KIND--\n

A MIGHTY RIVER STILL WILD.

♪

\h\h\h\hIT FLOWS FROM THE HEART\NOF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK...\n

\h\h\h\h\hAND CARVES THROUGH THE\NMOUNTAINS OF THE AMERICAN WEST.\n

♪

\h\hTHIS IS THE STORY OF A RIVER\NMOVING AS FEW RIVERS STILL DO...\n

UNDAMMED...

UNTAMED,

OF RAGING WATERS THAT GIVE...

AND TAKE.

♪

THIS IS A JOURNEY FROM THE PEAKS

TO THE PLAINS,

WHERE ANCIENT LANDS WELCOME CREATURES FROM ANOTHER TIME.

[THUNDER]

THIS IS THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER,

UNLEASHED AND FREE.

♪

THE PEAKS OF THE WORLD’S \h\hFIRST NATIONAL PARK\n

FEED THE LARGEST HIGH ELEVATION BODY OF WATER IN NORTH AMERICA,

YELLOWSTONE LAKE.

[TRUMPETING]

\hITS SHORE CIRCLES\NMORE THAN 100 MILES.\n

ITS DEPTHS PLUNGE \hNEARLY 400 FEET.\n

THIS GIANT NATURAL RESERVOIR \h\h\hHAS ONLY ONE OUTLET...\n

[TRUMPETING]

THE MIGHTY YELLOWSTONE RIVER.

BUT ON THIS JANUARY DAY,

\hTHE RIVER’S EXIT\NIS LOCKED IN ICE,\n

REDUCED TO A FEW STEAMING POOLS,

CRITICAL REFUGE FOR A SPECIES \hTHAT ONCE FACED EXTINCTION.\n

[TRUMPETING]

NEARLY ALL THE TRUMPETER SWANS \h\h\h\hIN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS\n

MIGRATE HERE EACH WINTER.

\h\h\hTHEY FLOCK TO OPEN WATER\NHEATED BY GEOTHERMAL SPRINGS.\n

BUT EVEN IN THIS SANCTUARY, \h\h\hSAFETY IS NOT A GIVEN.\n

[TRUMPETING]

♪

\hTHE WORLD’S LARGEST WATERFOWL\NHAVE ATTRACTED A HUNGRY COYOTE.\n

[TRUMPETING]

HUNTING ON THE FROZEN RIVER \h\h\h\h\h\hIS A CHALLENGE.\n

THERE’S NO COVER,

NOTHING FOR THE COYOTE \h\h\hTO HIDE BEHIND.\n

IT MUST BE PATIENT

AND WAIT FOR A MISSTEP.

♪

♪

IT’S NOT EASY TO CATCH \hTHE SWANS OFF GUARD.\n

\hTHEIR CROWDED SAFE HAVEN\NIS SMALL, BUT IT’S ENOUGH.\n

♪

THOSE LINGERING FARTHER \h\h\h\h\hFROM THE WATER\n

WON’T BE ABLE TO MAKE \hSUCH A QUICK ESCAPE.\n

GATHERING MOMENTUM TO LIFT

A 20-POUND BODY INTO THE AIR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTAKES TIME,\n

TIME THAT’S RUNNING OUT.

♪

[TRUMPETING]

\hTHE COYOTE WATCHES\NITS CHANCE FLY AWAY.\n

♪

\h\h\hTHIS GOLDENEYE DUCK\NCAN’T ESCAPE TO THE AIR...\n

OR RETREAT TO THE WATER.

IT’S INJURED,

JUST THE ADVANTAGE THE COYOTE NEEDS.

♪

[QUACKING]

[TRUMPETING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hNOT A SWAN,\NBUT BETTER THAN NOTHING.\n

♪

♪

A FEW WARM FEBRUARY DAYS \h\h\hOPEN THE CHANNEL.\n

[TRUMPETING]

THE SWANS HAVE ROOM TO MOVE,

TO STRETCH THEIR WINGS.

[TRUMPETING]

AND THE RIVER THAT GAVE

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hITS NAME\n

FLOWS FREE.

IT LEAVES THE LAKE, \h\h\hHEADING NORTH,\n

THE START OF A JOURNEY TO THE MISSOURI RIVER,

NEARLY 700 MILES AWAY.

THIS IS NO ORDINARY VOYAGE.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE YELLOWSTONE\NIS THE LONGEST UNDAMMED RIVER\n

IN THE LOWER 48 STATES.

IT FLOWS WITH A WILDNESS THAT’S DISAPPEARING FROM AMERICA.

\h\hIT STILL HARBORS\NEXTRAORDINARY LIFE.\n

♪

EVEN IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER,

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S AN ARTERY,\NDRAWING MANY TO ITS BANKS.\n

♪

\h\hTHE COYOTE MUST BE\NENDLESSLY ON THE HUNT\n

FOR CALORIES THAT WILL CARRY IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

IT FOLLOWS THE OPEN RIVER.

\h\h\hTHE COYOTE SPENDS\NMUCH OF ITS YEAR ALONE.\n

SOMETIMES A HUNTER, \hOFTEN A SCAVENGER,\n

ITS STRENGTH IS ADAPTABILITY.

♪

BUT THE COYOTE ISN’T AT EASE \h\h\h\h\hIN THE ICY WATER,\n

\h\h\hAND ITS QUEST\NTO FIND ENOUGH FOOD\n

WILL BE AS LONG AND GRUELING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS THE SEASON.\n

♪

[SQUEALING]

RIVER OTTERS ARE AT HOME \h\h\h\h\hIN THE WATER.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY RELY\NON THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER\n

WHEN THEIR SUMMER HABITAT

IN LAKES AND TRIBUTARIES \h\h\h\h\hFREEZES OVER.\n

♪

LESS THAN A YEAR OLD,

TWO PUPS HAVE ALREADY GROWN \h\h\h\hAS BIG AS THEIR MOM,\n

BUT THEY STILL HAVE \h\hA LOT TO LEARN.\n

THEY’LL STAY WITH HER \h\h\hTHROUGH WINTER,\n

FOLLOWING HER EVERY MOVE.

\h\hTHE MOTHER LEADS\NTHE PUPS DOWNSTREAM,\n

\h\h\hTOWARD A PLACE\NTHEY’VE NEVER BEEN--\n

A PERFECT FISHING HOLE.

BUT AS THEY GET CLOSER TO THEIR DESTINATION,

SHE CAN’T LET THEM STAY IN THE WATER.

UP AHEAD, THE RIVER IS CHANGING.

THE PULL OF THE CURRENT \h\h\hIS SUDDENLY SWIFT,\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THE SOUND\NOF A DISTANT ROAR SWELLS.\n

[ROARING]

[SQUEALING]

THE MOTHER CALLS THE PUPS \h\h\h\h\hOUT OF THE WATER\n

AND INTO THE DEEP SNOW.

THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO ESCAPE \hTHE DANGER AROUND THE BEND.\n

\h\h\h\hTHE UPPER FALLS\NOF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER\n

PLUMMET MORE THAN 100 FEET

\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER A LIP\NOF HARD VOLCANIC ROCK.\n

THE OTTERS CAN’T RISK A SWIM.

\h\h\hA RIDE OVER THIS GIANT\NWOULD LIKELY BE THEIR LAST.\n

FORCED OUT OF THE RIVER,

THE OTTERS MUST FIND \h\h\hANOTHER ROUTE.\n

WHEN YOU CAN’T SWIM,

YOU CAN SLIDE.

♪

FOLLOWING THEIR MOTHER’S LEAD, \hTHE PUPS GET THE HANG OF IT.\n

♪

\h\hTHE DAUNTING DESCENT\NBECOMES A NEW ADVENTURE.\n

♪

\h\h\h\h\hBY THE TIME THEY REACH\NTHE BOTTOM, THE PUPS ARE FLYING.\n

[SQUEALING]

THEY ARRIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME

\h\h\hIN A PLACE THAT’S UNLIKE\NANY OTHER ON THE YELLOWSTONE.\n

♪

IN THIS GROTTO OF ICE,

THE CONSTANT IMPACT \h\h\hOF THE CASCADE\n

\h\h\hKEEPS THE POOL\NFROM FREEZING OVER.\n

\hTHE FORCE OF FALLING WATER\NCREATES A DEEP PLUNGE BASIN\n

FULL OF OXYGEN,

IDEAL HABITAT FOR LARGE FISH.

\h\h\hFINDING CONFIDENCE\NIN THIS SHELTERED COVE,\n

THE PUPS EXPLORE THEIR NEW HOME.

THEY FISH FROM RAFTS \hOF FLOATING ICE...\n

AND DINE IN SCULPTED CAVES,

\h\h\h\hMAKING THE MOST\NOF A WINTER WONDERLAND.\n

IN MARCH, SUNLIGHT SLOWLY \hRETURNS TO YELLOWSTONE.\n

♪

CLIMBING TEMPERATURES \hUNLOCK SNOW AND ICE.\n

\h\h\h\hSLABS BREAK FREE,\NUNLEASHING POWERFUL FLOES.\n

♪

THEY BUILD VOLUME AND MOMENTUM \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE CHANNEL.\n

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMELTWATER\NFROM 70,000 SQUARE MILES\n

\h\h\h\h\hDRAINS INTO\NTHE YELLOWSTONE RIVER.\n

BY MAY, STREAMS BEGIN TO SWELL.

TRIBUTARIES BECOME TORRENTS.

MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER \h\h\h\h\hRACE TO THE RIVER.\n

♪

HALF A MILE DOWNSTREAM FROM THE UPPER FALLS,

SPRING’S RAGING FLOOD

\h\h\hPOURS OVER THE LARGEST\NVERTICAL DROP IN THE RIVER--\n

THE LOWER FALLS.

THE RIVER PLUMMETS 308 FEET,

NEARLY TWICE THE HEIGHT \h\h\hOF NIAGARA FALLS.\n

THE THUNDERING WHITEWATER \h\h\hSLICES THROUGH ROCK,\n

CARVING THE GRAND CANYON \h\hOF THE YELLOWSTONE.\n

\h\h\hIRON IN THE ROCKS PAINTS\NTHE WALLS OF THE FAMOUS GORGE\n

A BOLD YELLOW.

[CHIRPING]

HOT SPRINGS AND STEAM VENTS

LEAVE STRIPES OF PASTEL PINK \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND ORANGE.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h24 MILES LONG,\NAS MUCH AS 1,200 FEET DEEP,\n

\hTHE GRAND CANYON\NOF THE YELLOWSTONE\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS A MONUMENT\NTO THE FORCE OF RAGING WATER.\n

♪

♪

[GRUNTING]

WITH THE BIG MELT, BISON BEGIN A MIGRATION TO HIGHER GROUND.

THEY MUST CROSS SWOLLEN RIVERS \h\h\hTO REACH SUMMER PASTURE.\n

THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY SPRING TRAVELERS DRIVEN BY HUNGER.

\h\h\h\hA GRIZZLY BEAR,\NJUST OUT OF HIBERNATION,\n

APPROACHES A RUSHING TRIBUTARY,

AND SHE’S NOT ALONE.

\h\hAFTER A LONG WINTER\NIN THE DEN WITHOUT FOOD\n

AND MONTHS OF NURSING \h\h\hTHREE NEW CUBS,\n

HER RESERVES ARE GONE.

SHE NEEDS TO REACH \hHUNTING GROUNDS\n

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.

\h\hBUT GETTING THERE\NWILL BE NO EASY FEAT.\n

IN THESE EARLY DAYS \h\hOUT OF THE DEN,\n

THE CUBS ARE STILL CLUMSY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON FOOT.\n

THIS RIVER IS A TURBULENT PLACE FOR A FIRST SWIM.

BISON MOVE AS A HERD,

\h\h\hPROTECTING YOUNG CALVES\NWITH THE STRENGTH OF NUMBERS.\n

THE CALVES STAY CLOSE,

EVEN WHEN THEIR MOTHERS LEAD THEM INTO DANGEROUS WATERS.

A CALF TAKES THE PLUNGE,

\h\h\hAND INSTANTLY,\NIT’S IN DEEP WATER.\n

♪

\hIT TAKES ALL OF ITS EFFORT\NTO KEEP UP WITH ITS MOTHER.\n

AS THE REST OF THE HERD PILES IN, CHAOS ENSUES.

[GRUNTING]

♪

THE GRIZZLY HASN’T FOUND AN EASY PLACE FOR THE CUBS TO CROSS.

\h\hBUT HER EMPTY STOMACH PULLS\NHER INTO THE WATER NONETHELESS.\n

♪

FEAR GRIPS HER ENTOURAGE.

[GROWLING]

\h\h\h\h\hTHE SOW STAYS PUT,\NCOACHING THE CUBS TO FOLLOW,\n

BUT IT’S A BIG RIVER \hFOR LITTLE BEARS.\n

THE BISON HERD STRUGGLES \h\h\h\hTO STAY UPRIVER\n

FROM THE MOST VIOLENT RAPIDS.

\h\h\hLOSE YOUR FOOTING,\NAND THE RIVER TAKES YOU.\n

♪

[GROANING]

EVEN THE STRONGEST ARE LOST.

\h\hTHE SAME CURRENT\NDRAGS THE CALF DOWN.\n

THE GRIZZLY MAY HAVE MADE \h\h\h\h\hTHE WRONG MOVE.\n

ALL THREE CUBS FOLLOWED HER \h\h\h\h\h\hINTO THE RIVER.\n

NOW THEY’RE SWIMMING \h\hFOR THEIR LIVES,\n

AND SHE CAN’T HELP THEM \h\h\h\h\h\hALL AT ONCE.\n

MATERNAL INSTINCT IS FIERCE,

BUT SO IS THE RIVER.

♪

\h\h\h\hTHE COW USES HER BODY AS\NA SHIELD, BREAKING THE CURRENT.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN HER LEE,\NTHE CALF MAKES HEADWAY,\n

WHILE OTHERS FALTER.

♪

[GRUNTS]

\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE ESCAPED\NTHE WATER’S DEADLY GRIP.\n

[GRUNTS]

FOR THE BEAR CUBS,

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER \h\h\h\hIS FINALLY IN REACH.\n

ONE DOWN...

♪

TWO TO GO.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hAGAINST THE ODDS,\NALL THREE CUBS HAVE SURVIVED\n

THEIR FIRST ENCOUNTER \h\h\hWITH THE RIVER,\n

BUT THE BATTLE HAS DRAINED THEM.

BEFORE THEY CAN SET OUT \h\h\h\h\hTO FIND FOOD,\n

IT’S NAPTIME.

♪

♪

\hTHE BISON HERD WILL CONTINUE\NTHE JOURNEY TO HIGHER PASTURES\n

IN THE HEART OF YELLOWSTONE.

\h\hBUT THE RIVER TRAVELS\NIN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION,\n

LEAVING THE PARK

AND MEETING CIVILIZATION.

IT RUNS THROUGH THE GATEWAY TOWN OF GARDINER, MONTANA,

THE NORTHERN ENTRANCE \h\h\hTO YELLOWSTONE.\n

\hBUT THE STREETS\NARE SOON REPLACED\n

BY A MAN-MADE TAPESTRY OF RANCHES AND HOMES.

♪

IN PARADISE VALLEY,

\hTHE SHARP RIDGES\NOF YOUNG MOUNTAINS\n

RISE ABOVE THE RIVER,

\h\h\h\hAND SPRING TURBULENCE\NMELLOWS INTO EASIER CURRENTS.\n

\hBENEATH THE SURFACE, WARMING\NTEMPERATURES SEND AN UGLY BUG\n

ON A QUEST TO FIND A PARTNER.

FOR THREE YEARS, THE SALMONFLY \hLIVES IN THE FORM OF A NYMPH\n

ON THE RIVER BOTTOM.

NOT A PRETTY PHASE,

BUT A DRAMATIC MAKEOVER \h\h\h\h\h\hIS IN REACH,\n

\h\h\h\hIF THE NYMPH\NCAN MAKE THE JOURNEY\n

FROM ITS WATERY HOME \h\h\h\hTO DRY LAND.\n

\h\h\hIN THIS CLEAN,\NFAST-FLOWING WATER,\n

THE SALMONFLY NYMPH \h\hHAS GROWN TO BE\n

MORE THAN TWO INCHES LONG.

IT’S THE LARGEST OF MORE THAN \h\h3,000 SPECIES OF STONEFLY.\n

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS LIFE,

THE GIANT LEAVES THE WATER \h\h\h\hAND MEETS THE AIR.\n

BUT BEFORE IT CAN TAKE \h\h\hA SINGLE BREATH,\n

IT MUST TRANSFORM.

AS THE SUN SETS,

THOUSANDS OF NYMPHS EMERGE \h\h\hFROM THE YELLOWSTONE\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND BEGIN\NTHE SAME METAMORPHOSIS.\n

WRITHING FROM WITHIN,

THE SALMONFLY STRUGGLES TO BREAK OUT OF ITS HARD EXOSKELETON.

UNTIL IT TEARS ITS LUNGS \h\hFROM ITS OLD SHELL,\n

IT CAN’T BREATHE.

♪

♪

WITH TREMENDOUS EFFORT, THE NYMPH BECOMES A FLY.

♪

♪

\h\hIN ORDER TO MINGLE\NIN THE GROWING CROWD,\n

\h\h\hTHE SALMONFLY\NWILL NEED ITS WINGS.\n

\hCRINKLED MEMBRANES\NMUST UNCURL AND DRY.\n

♪

BY DAWN, THE SALMONFLY SHIMMERS.

ITS TRANSFORMATION IS COMPLETE.

BUT REACHING NEW COMPANY \h\hWILL TAKE A CLIMB...\n

AND A LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN.

♪

♪

URGENCY FILLS THE AIR.

\h\hTHE SALMONFLIES\NHAVE JUST A FEW DAYS\n

TO FIND A MATE AND LAY EGGS.

♪

♪

NOT ALL MAIDEN FLIGHTS \h\hMEET WITH SUCCESS.\n

HEAVY BODIES AND DELICATE WINGS

MAKE THE SALMONFLY CLUMSY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE AIR.\n

THE SLIGHTEST GUST CAN SEND THEM PLUMMETING BACK INTO THE RIVER.

WET, THEIR NEW WINGS \h\h\h\hARE USELESS,\n

AND HUNGRY MOUTHS WAIT.

TROUT RISE TO THE SURFACE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hCOLLECTING\NTHE WEALTH OF PROTEIN\n

DELIVERED BY CRASH LANDINGS.

♪

\h\hOTHER HUNTERS JOIN THE FISH\NIN MAKING THE MOST OF THE EVENT.\n

BUT SO MANY SALMONFLIES EMERGE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT PREDATORS\NHARDLY DENT THEIR NUMBERS.\n

AS SUMMER’S WARMER TEMPERATURES

\h\h\h\hMAKE THEIR WAY\NTO HIGHER ELEVATIONS,\n

THE HATCH CONTINUES IN WAVES.

DENSE CLOUDS OF SALMONFLIES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hMOVE UPRIVER,\n

BACK TO THE LOWER FALLS.

ALONG THE RIVER’S BANKS,

INSTINCT DRIVES THEM TO FULFILL THEIR ONE AND ONLY PURPOSE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hA MALE SEARCHES\NFOR HIS LARGER COUNTERPART.\n

OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK,

\h\h\h\h\hHE PAIRS OFF WITH\NAS MANY FEMALES AS POSSIBLE.\n

♪

SHE HAS JUST ONE PARTNER.

♪

♪

WHEN THE COUPLING IS OVER,

SHE PUMPS A ROUND EGG SAC \h\h\hOUT OF HER ABDOMEN.\n

SHE’LL DROP THIS EGG BOMB \h\h\h\h\hINTO THE RIVER,\n

LEAVING HER LEGACY \hIN THE CURRENT.\n

THE ADULT SALMONFLIES WILL LIVE FOR JUST A FEW WEEKS.

IN THAT TIME, THEIR PRESENCE \h\h\hBECOMES A SIREN CALL,\n

PULLING DRIFTERS TO THE RIVER.

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

IT’S THE FINE ART OF IMITATION--

\h\h\h\h\hA HANDMADE FLY\NCRAFTED IN EVERY DETAIL\n

TO MATCH THE GIANT INSECT.

\h\h\h\hATTENTIONS TO THE LURE\NHAVE BEEN PIQUED BY THE HATCH.\n

\hTHE CAST REQUIRES\NGRACE AND PRECISION.\n

♪

♪

♪

♪

A PERFECT LANDING MIMICS THE SPLASH

OF A FALLEN SALMONFLY.

♪

♪

♪

\h\h\hIT TAKES YEARS\NTO MASTER THIS HOAX.\n

THE BEND OF THE ROD, THE ARC OF THE LINE,

MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE \hIN SELLING THE STUNT.\n

♪

IT’S NOT THE MOUTHFUL \hTHE TROUT EXPECTED.\n

♪

BUT IT WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR AS LONG\NAS THE SALMONFLY HATCH LASTS,\n

OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE PLENTY.

AND EVERY LINK IN THE FOOD CHAIN

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBENEFITS\NFROM THE RIVER’S BOUNTY.\n

THE MEETING OF HUMAN AND RIVER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS NOT CONFINED\n

TO THE NARROW CHANNEL \h\h\hOF THE WATERWAY.\n

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

\h\hFLOODS HAVE DEPOSITED\NRICH SEDIMENT ON THE LAND\n

STRETCHING TO THE BASE \h\hOF THE MOUNTAINS.\n

WATER PULLED FROM THE RIVER \h\h\h\h\h\hIRRIGATES FIELDS\n

AND SUSTAINS A WAY OF LIFE.

♪

AS SETTLERS MOVED WEST \h\hTO WORK THE LAND,\n

SMALL TOWNS SPRANG UP \hON THE YELLOWSTONE.\n

\h\h\h\hA BEND IN THE RIVER\NFRAMES LIVINGSTON, MONTANA.\n

ON THE FOURTH OF JULY,

\h\hTHE RODEO DRAWS THOUSANDS\NTO AN ARENA ON THE RIVERBANK.\n

COMPETITORS WAIT BEHIND GATES.

♪

♪

\hWHILE THE RIVER\NCRUISES CALMLY BY,\n

SPECTATORS SETTLE IN.

A TORRENT IS UNLEASHED.

♪

\h\h\hTHE CHALLENGE--TO HOLD ON\NFOR EIGHT EXCRUCIATING SECONDS.\n

THE TRICK IS LETTING MOTION \h\h\h\h\hFLOW LIKE WATER...\n

♪

DIVERTING THE IMPACT...

♪

\h\hFINDING FLUIDITY\NAND A KIND OF GRACE.\n

♪

♪

♪

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

\h\h\h\hEVERY RODEO EVENT TESTS\NA SKILL USED TO WORK THE CATTLE\n

\h\h\h\hON THE RANCHES\NUP AND DOWN THE RIVER.\n

♪

ROPING RUNAWAY CALVES...

WRANGLING STEERS FOR BRANDING...

\h\hMAKING TIGHT TURNS\NWHILE MOVING THE HERD.\n

\hTHE NIGHT BUILDS\NTO A GRAND FINALE.\n

[EXPLOSIONS]

♪

♪

THE CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE REFLECTS ON THE YELLOWSTONE,

A RIVER THAT RUNS FREE.

♪

JUST BEYOND THE TOWN \h\h\hOF LIVINGSTON,\n

THE YELLOWSTONE TURNS EASTWARD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT MEETS\NTHE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD,\n

\h\h\hA LINE WHICH CONNECTED\NTHE EAST COAST TO THE WEST.\n

\h\hAS AMERICA EXPANDED, MANY OF\NITS GREAT RIVERS WERE HARNESSED.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hDAMS POWERED\NTHE GROWTH OF A NATION.\n

BUT THE YELLOWSTONE MOVES \h\h\hWITHOUT OBSTRUCTION.\n

\hIT’S THE LONGEST\NFREE-FLOWING RIVER\n

IN THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES.

IN THE ABSENCE OF DAMS,

WATER LEVELS RISE AND FALL \h\h\h\hWITH THE SEASONS,\n

KEEPING A RARE FOREST ALIVE.

\h\h\hCOTTONWOOD TREES DEPEND\NON FLOODING FOR REGENERATION.\n

♪

IN THE SPRING, HIGH WATER \hCOVERS THE GRAVEL BARS.\n

WATER LEVELS DROP AGAIN JUST AS CLOUDS OF WHITE

\h\h\h\hBEGIN TO DRIFT\NFROM THE COTTONWOODS.\n

♪

\hA SINGLE TREE CAN DISPERSE\NMORE THAN 25 MILLION SEEDS.\n

EACH IS WRAPPED IN DOWNY FIBER \h\h\hAND FLOATS ON THE WIND.\n

IT NEEDS THE PERFECT CONDITIONS TO GERMINATE--

MOISTURE, BARE DIRT, \h\h\hAND SUNLIGHT.\n

THE RECEDING FLOODWATERS REVEAL SILTY GRAVEL BARS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT EXACTLY\NTHE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR.\n

THE SEEDLINGS HAVE A NARROW \hWINDOW, JUST A FEW WEEKS,\n

TO TAKE ROOT BEFORE THEIR LANDING SITES GET TOO DRY.

\h\h\h\hCOTTONWOODS THRIVE\NALL ALONG THE YELLOWSTONE.\n

THEY PROVIDE HABITAT

\h\h\h\hFOR MORE THAN HALF\NOF MONTANA’S BIRD SPECIES.\n

\hTHE GREAT BLUE HERON\NSTANDS FOUR FEET TALL.\n

[SQUAWKING]

IT SPENDS MUCH OF ITS LIFE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN SOLITUDE.\n

♪

BUT TO RAISE YOUNG,

NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST HERONS \h\h\h\h\hGATHER IN A ROOKERY.\n

HIGH IN THE COTTONWOODS \hABOVE THE YELLOWSTONE,\n

\h\h\hTHEY BUILD PLATFORM NESTS\NAND TAKE TURNS DEFENDING CHICKS\n

FROM EAGLES, RACCOONS, \hAND OTHER PREDATORS.\n

BUT THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF THE ELEVATED ROOKERY

ALSO POSES A PROBLEM.

STRANDED IN THE AIR,

THE CHICKS CAN’T GATHER FOOD \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THEMSELVES,\n

EVEN WHEN THEY GET QUITE LARGE.

\h\h\h\hTHEIR PARENTS HAVE AN\NINCREASINGLY DIFFICULT CHORE--\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFEEDING\NTHEIR ENORMOUS OFFSPRING.\n

♪

\hTHE HERON HUNTS\NIN SHALLOW WATER,\n

LOCATING ITS PREY BY SIGHT.

♪

SMALL FISH COMPOSE MUCH OF ITS DIET.

IT ALWAYS SWALLOWS FISH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHEADFIRST,\n

\h\h\h\hORIENTING THE SCALES\NSO THEY SLIDE DOWN SMOOTHLY.\n

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\hTHE HERON SHAKES ITS CATCH,\NATTEMPTING TO BREAK ITS SPINE,\n

\h\hMAKING IT EASIER\NTO GULP DOWN WHOLE.\n

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\hCONVENIENTLY STASHED\NIN THE BIRD’S STOMACH,\n

THE FISH IS READY FOR TRANSPORT BACK TO THE ROOKERY.

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THE HERON WILL REGURGITATE \hTHE FISH FOR ITS CHICKS.\n

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\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS SUMMER PEAKS,\NWATER LEVELS CONTINUE TO DROP\n

AND NEW FEATURES EMERGE.

A WAVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h700 MILES\NFROM THE NEAREST OCEAN,\n

THE YELLOWSTONE HAS SURF.

\h\h\h\hA RIVER WAVE ONLY FORMS\NUNDER VERY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.\n

\h\h\hON THIS AUGUST DAY,\NTHE YELLOWSTONE SPEEDS BY\n

AT MORE THAN 4,000 CUBIC FEET \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPER SECOND.\n

HIDDEN JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE,

A ROCKY SHELF ABRUPTLY SLOWS \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE RIVER’S FLOW\n

AND CREATES A STANDING WAVE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN ITS WAKE.\n

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♪

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\h\hTHE RIVER BRUSHES OFF MANY\NWHO ATTEMPT TO TAME ITS SWELL.\n

BUT THE FORCE OF THE WATER \h\h\h\hCAN BE HARNESSED.\n

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THIS WAVE WILL ONLY LAST \h\h\h\hFOR A FEW WEEKS.\n

IT’S ONE OF ROUGHLY A DOZEN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTANDING WAVES\n

EVER SURFED ON THE YELLOWSTONE.

THE PHENOMENON IS RARE ENOUGH

THAT SOMETIMES THE HIDDEN GEMS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE KEPT SECRET.\n

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EACH YEAR, AS THE WATER LEVELS VARY, SURF SPOTS COME AND GO.

\h\hBUT UNLIKE AN OCEAN BREAK,\NTHIS IS A NEVER-ENDING RIDE...\n

FOR AS LONG AS THE WAVE LASTS.

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♪

[THUNDER]

AUGUST STORMS FILL THE AIR \h\h\h\hWITH ELECTRICITY.\n

[THUNDER]

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AND THE RIVER FLOWS \hWITH A NEW ENERGY\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hAS IT MOVES\NINTO A DRIER LANDSCAPE.\n

IN EASTERN MONTANA,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE SNOW-CAPPED PEAKS\NOF THE HEADWATERS ARE LONG GONE.\n

\hHERE, THE YELLOWSTONE\NREVEALS ANCIENT STORIES.\n

EACH BAND OF STONE MARKS \h\hA CHANGING GEOGRAPHY\n

\hSTRETCHING BACK\N65 MILLION YEARS,\n

\h\h\hTO A TIME WHEN THIS WAS A\NTROPICAL SWAMP ON AN INLAND SEA.\n

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LIGHT REFLECTED ON THE RIVER

\hLEFT DISTANT GALAXIES\NTHOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.\n

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THE GLOW OF THE AURORA BOREALIS PAINTS A RIBBON OF COLOR

THAT WINDS THROUGH THE BADLANDS.

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ON THE RIVER BOTTOM, A DIFFERENT GROUP OF SPECIES APPEARS,

CREATURES THAT COEXISTED \h\hWITH THE DINOSAURS.\n

\h\h\h\h\hTHE SNAPPING TURTLE\NHAS REMAINED NEARLY UNCHANGED\n

FOR MORE THAN 90 MILLION YEARS.

IT EVOLVED FROM TURTLES THAT HAD NO HARD PROTECTIVE EXTERIOR.

\h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE TODAY’S\NSPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE,\n

THEY WERE DEFENSELESS.

THE SHOVELNOSE STURGEON

BELONGS TO ONE OF THE EARLIEST \h\h\hKNOWN FAMILIES OF FISH.\n

ALL OF THESE ANCIENT SPECIES

ARE AT THE FAR WESTERN EDGE \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THEIR RANGE,\n

\h\hAND THEIR PRESENCE HERE IS\NA HARBINGER OF WHAT’S TO COME.\n

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\h\h\h\hTHE YELLOWSTONE\NIS BEGINNING TO RESEMBLE\n

THE WIDE AND MURKY RIVERS \h\h\hOF THE GREAT PLAINS.\n

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SOON AFTER IT CROSSES THE BORDER FROM MONTANA TO NORTH DAKOTA,

\h\hTHE YELLOWSTONE\NMEETS THE MISSOURI.\n

THEIR STREAMS CONVERGE,

AND THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER ENDS.

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\h\h\h\hTOGETHER, THESE WATERS\NWILL TRAVEL NEARLY 3,000 MILES\n

TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,

BUT THEIR PATH WILL BE TAME.

THE MISSOURI IS CAREFULLY \h\h\hCONTROLLED BY DAMS.\n

RESERVOIRS HOLD BACK WATER \h\hWHERE IT ONCE FLOWED,\n

AND MUCH OF THE WILDLIFE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THRIVED ACROSS\NAMERICA’S GREAT PLAINS IS GONE.\n

BUT THERE IS A PLACE \h\hON THIS PRAIRIE\n

WHERE THE PAST IS RETURNING,

IN SMALL HERDS REINTRODUCED \h\h\h\h\hTO THE GRASSLANDS.\n

[GRUNTING]

BISON GATHER IN LATE SUMMER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE RUT.\n

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\hBULLS FIGHT FOR DOMINANCE AND\NA CHANCE TO PASS ON THEIR GENES.\n

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THE SOUND OF THEIR BATTLES

\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS ONCE HEARD\NACROSS THESE GREAT PLAINS\n

\h\hAND ON EVERY BANK\NOF THE YELLOWSTONE...\n

\h\h\h\hTO ITS VERY BEGINNINGS\NIN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.\n

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♪

AT THE RIVER’S HEADWATERS,

GIANTS EXCHANGE BLOWS...

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\hA RITUAL MARKING\NTHE END OF SUMMER.\n

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\h\h\h\h\hBUT LIKE THE RIVER,\NTHE SEASONAL CYCLE CONTINUES.\n

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FOR THOSE THAT ENDURED THE RIVER AT ITS LEAST FORGIVING,

THE TRANQUILITY OF SUMMER \hIS A WELCOME RESPITE...\n

A TIME OF ABUNDANCE.

\hAS THE SEASONS CHANGE,\NSO, TOO, WILL THE RIVER,\n

A STORY CONSTANTLY IN MOTION

ALONG THE WILD BANKS OF THE YELLOWSTONE.

IT’S BEEN WELL OVER A CENTURY \h\h\hSINCE YELLOWSTONE BECAME\n

THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK \h\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD.\n

\h\hIT’S TO ALL OUR BENEFIT\NTHAT IT’S PROTECTED FOREVER.\n

\h\h\h\hBUT THIS PLACE\NISN’T FROZEN IN TIME.\n

\hIT’S ALWAYS CHANGING,\NREVEALING NEW MYSTERIES.\n

\h\h\hYELLOWSTONE IS A REMINDER\NTHAT PRESERVING OUR WILD SPACES\n

ISN’T JUST FOR WILD ANIMALS, \h\h\hBUT IT’S ALSO FOR US,\n

IF WE KEEP LOOKING AFTER IT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING "EPIC YELLOWSTONE."