With glaciers marking its tip, active volcanoes running along its spine, snow-capped peaks rising high above its range, both wet and dry tropical rainforests within its interior, and desert, lowland savanna and alpine tundra in between, the Andes is an extraordinary world of diverse terrain, extreme temperatures and multifarious wildlife. Rising out of the Pacific Coast, this high mountain range is 5,000 miles long, extending over seven countries between Tierra del Fuego in the extreme south to the Caribbean coast in the north.
Once the realm of the ancient Incan Empire, this place of myth and legend also has a rich, intriguing natural history going back to the Jurassic period, marked by an event of monumental portion—the formation of the Central American land bridge 3 million years ago. The creatures of the Andes set this land apart from all other places on earth. The Andes are home to the zorro, a “false fox” with adaptations that make it a successful inhabitant of the Andes. The flamingo, too, has developed utterly unique and specialized adaptations in order to thrive in an environment that doesn’t even seem livable—a salt pan.
Only a mountain range of extremes could harbor such a rich and diverse variety of life forms. Here you will find some of the highest, saltiest, wettest and driest terrains on the planet. Penguins, opossums, hummingbirds, llamas, pumas, foxes, condors, spectacled bears and many more have all managed to carve out an existence somewhere in one of the many worlds that we call the Andes. Buy the DVD. Online content for Andes: The Dragon’s Back was originally posted February 2007.
chries-the name of a small cat
I loved this show, I was born in Puno a small town high on the altiplano I used to hunt Chinchillas and Vizcachas when I was young, yeah I know I was so inmature and I didn’t enjoyed nature the way I do it today, so next time I’m visiting my country I’m definetly going to see the Flamingos dancing. This show opened my eyes
Great video production, unfortunately the monotone almost lifeless narration delivered by F. Murray Abraham drags it down a few notches. Why do they continue using this guy?
I just returned from a trip to the Galapagos and to Peru and I am still catching my breath—I took my 15 year old granddaughter and we had the trip of a lifetime. I can’t wait to see this program!
This show is simply magnificent, breathtaking in its beauty, message, and professionalism. The Andes are without a doubt one of the most enthralling ecosystems in a planet whose magnificence alone should inspire awe, love, and respect, instead of mere instincts of plunder, but that is what we see most often in human behaviour, a selfish behaviour abetted by corrupts politicians and an insane economic system.
Those of you who were wondering about the large rodents who sit in the sun like “monks” warming up after a night of freezing temperatures…they’re called VISCACHAS, and are of course indigenous to this part of the planet. See the wiki’s entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscacha. It’s fortunate such poor creatures possess a fur not coveted by humans, or else they’d be extinct already.
This is one of the best nature shows packed into a one hour presentation. In part because it’s just that good but also, as it states so little has been seen or explored in this region yet so many descriptions were the most, the least, the driest, the wettest in the world. We’ve seen so much Hi-Def great info from Africa, even Russia and Alaska & this is just so incredibly refreshing and informative. I would have to say the best one hour of Nature and, or wildlife in general. A true 10 out of 10. Thank you.
im just amazed with all different climates.cant wait to take a trip to south america peru its so rich in nature.i love perfection and all the picture taking by fotografers,very profesionals.i love the show,hope to see it sunday 25 at 8 pm .nice film
Incredibly beautiful and informative. . .
Wow, I should have watched all the excerpts first. My question was answered right there – the Zorro. This was an amazing show.
Please post this show online.
I second Ann’s motion, please post The Dragon’s Back on line. The photography was glorious. It was altogether fascinating and beautifully done.
why this video is not uploaded in nature’s website where you could watch all the previous episodes?
it’s a shame because all but few are uploaded on the site and i can’t find it on dvd.
I loved it so much! It’s one of my favorite episodes and i’m going to buy the DVD!
Fantastic site. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
Quite brilliant article, even if I have to mention that I’m not very familiar at all with this theme. Now I know a bit more :-) Frank
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How or where do I find this episode?! I want to buy it but can’t seem to find it anywhere.