The Arctic: Greenland. Recent global warming is causing unprecedented changes in this frozen land. The frequency of glacier collapse is rapidly increasing, and in some cases, the speed of glacial motion has doubled in the past 15 years. To understand these changes, the crew teams up with a French glaciologist and travels to the massive Greenland ice sheet. This episode introduces the frozen landscape and explores the deep mysterious ice caves that suck in meltwater.
The Greatest Places begins by noting that Earth is "the most diverse planet in the solar system," and impressive computer-generated graphics depict the very early history of the planet, showing vividly how geological events formed the continents. Particular sites around the world (the "greatest places" of the title) are then visited, and some dazzling cinematography displays the exotic locations spectacularly. A trip into the jungles of Madagascar demonstrates how the island, isolated as it was for 40 million years, developed unique wildlife, including many species of lemurs. High atop the Tibetan plateau, nomads are seen herding yaks and Buddhist pilgrims are filmed against the stunning peaks of the Himalayas. A "holy lake" in Tibet dissolves into a shot of the mighty Amazon River, and the ecosystem of the South American jungle is explored. And the world's largest island, Greenland, is scanned by cameras that linger on the sheer enormity of glaciers as well as on the native peoples who manage to live at extreme low temperatures. Near the end of the film the narrator notes that "life is a reflection of the landscape." And the breathtaking film shot in these remote but magnificent locales does demonstrate beautifully the awesome diversity of both landscape and life on Earth.
Witness the greatest collection of diversity ever produced. The Greatest Places is a large-format film that takes you on a journey to seven of the most geographically dynamic locations on Earth.