Nature » mountains

Andes: The Dragon’s Back: Introduction

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:54:18 +0000

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.

To order a copy of Andes: The Dragon’s Back, please visit the NATURE Shop.

Online content for Andes: The Dragon’s Back was originally posted February 2007.

Kalahari: Introduction

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:08:15 +0000

The Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa is a world of extremes, its apparent emptiness punctuated by explosions of life. Relentless cycles of dry and wet, scarcity and plenty, dictate which creatures can live here, and which will die.

Shot in stunning high definition and 35mm film, and told through the eyes of renowned naturalist, filmmaker and longtime resident, Tim Liversedge, two remarkable films provide a masterful account of the inner workings of one of the last truly wild places on earth.

Kalahari: The Great Thirstland

Long spells of sparse rains leave riverbeds dry, and little to eat. Then, as if by magic, swarms and multitudes of birds and insects come to life, great herds of wildebeest and zebra gather, flamingoes coming home to breed fill the skies, and bullfrogs arise from years of sleep, when the great rains come to the Kalahari.

Kalahari: The Flooded Desert

The Okavango River flows inland through Botswana from mountains in the north, creating a spectacular delta – a permanent wetland in the heart of the desert. It supports a vibrant community of wildlife which would otherwise never call the desert home. But this world of water is no ’safe’ oasis. All life here is at the mercy of the delicate balance between the desert and the flood.

Watch a preview of Kalahari: The Flooded Desert:

To order a copy of Kalahari, please visit the NATURE Shop.

Online content for Kalahari was originally posted November 2003.

Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears: Video: Full Episode

tanner vea — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:58:17 +0000

The Drakensberg Mountains are Southern Africa’s Alps, rising more than 11,000 feet into the sky. But beneath their shimmering beauty lies an incredibly hostile environment for the creatures that manage to live there. Each spring, drenching rains destroy the grasslands at the base of the mountains, and those who would survive must climb up sheer cliffs of volcanic rock, through gauntlets of storms and snow, to reach the carpets of new grass on the plateau. The baboons that make their home halfway up the heights may have the advantage of agility, but eland, the world’s largest antelope, have long, spindly legs and heavy bodies, which make their climb to the top all but unbelievable. All have babies at their sides. And the vultures circle overhead.

(View full post to see video)

Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears originally aired February 8, 2009.

Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears: Video: Fire on the Mountain

tanner vea — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:14:48 +0000

In the high alpine meadows of the Drakensberg, eland graze on the lush grasses. But this area is a danger zone. The air at these altitudes is so dry that rain evaporates before it hits the ground. A lightning strike ignites a fire that quickly engulfs the mountain in thick smoke, destroying the eland’s precious pasture.

Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears: Introduction

tanner vea — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:30:20 +0000

Rising sharply from the South African landscape, cliffs like spines of a dragon form the majestic Drakensberg Mountains (their name actually means “Dragon’s Mountain”). Born of Jurassic molten lava, they span more than 600 miles and tower more than 10,000 feet. Despite the impossible terrain and unpredictable weather, the Drakensberg is home to a fascinating array of animals, including crab-hunting frogs, bone-devouring vultures, cliff-dwelling baboons, and furry ice rats.

But one animal’s perseverance makes it the ultimate survivor: the eland, the largest member of the antelope family. In order to overcome the ever-changing endurance test cast by nature, these tenacious mountaineers undertake an annual migration toward the summit in search of greener pastures. NATURE tracks their epic climb in Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears.

The eland’s annual journey begins during the summer down in the fertile valleys at the foot of the Drakensberg. However, this grassland paradise is soon battered by wet spells, turning it into a green desert with rotting plants and little to eat. Driven by hunger, the herd has no choice but to move to higher ground. For the nomadic eland, home is always a step ahead.

Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears premieres Sunday, February 8 at 8pm (check local listings).

Photo © AWF

Prince of the Alps: Introduction

admin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:28:00 +0000

NATURE reveals a breathtaking view into the world of a red deer calf as he struggles to survive in Prince of the Alps.

From the moment he is born, a red deer calf faces a life-long struggle to survive in his new home — the mountain wilderness of the Austrian Alps. His first six weeks are filled with exploration and discovery of his world, under the watchful eye of his mother. When he is ready, he and his mother journey along age-old migration paths from the forests up to the high mountain meadows, where the beginning of summer brings life and renewal to the slopes. There, they join other red deer mothers and their calves. The stags have already arrived, their antlers covered in tender velvet — and growing quickly.

Featuring panoramic scenes of lush landscapes, Prince of the Alps travels high into the mountains, where chamois and ibex are right at home on the nearly vertical cliffs, marmots emerge late from hibernation, and red deer prove their agility. The little prince enjoys special status in the herd, thanks to his mother’s social rank. She leads him to the best feeding places and teaches him about his new surroundings. His first brush with civilization is a herdsman calling out to his cattle. Unlike drivers on the roads, and the hunters and hikers who also invade their world, the herdsman poses no threat to deer in the mountains. The young calf also learns his first lesson about dangerous weather in the mountains, where storms rage and lighting kills.

In September, the mountains echo with the calls of the great red deer stags. During the six weeks or so of the autumn rut, the stags compete for the chance to father next year’s calves before the seasons change and winter claims the mountains. Snow, ice, cold, and hunger will also claim their share of the herds before spring returns. Many deer find it hard to feed and finding shelter takes all the energy they have.

Seven months into his life, the little prince is left alone and his chances of survival are slim. But when the sights and sounds of spring once again appear, and the red deer mothers and calves make their way up to the high mountain pastures, a one-year-old red deer calf with tiny antlers sets out with them. He has earned his place as Prince of the Alps.

Online content for Prince of the Alps was originally posted May 2008.

Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears: Where Did These Mountains Come From?

tanner vea — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:04:34 +0000

The Drakensberg mountain range extends more than 600 miles across Southern Africa. It encompasses massive sandstone buttresses, grass-covered plateaus, and cathedral-like rock towers that have earned these mountains their Zulu name, uKhahlamba, “barrier of spears.” In its alpine pastures, dangerous thunderstorms can gather in a matter of moments. Not far away, the Tugela Falls plummets more than 3,100 feet into a sparkling rainbow of water vapor. The mountains’ treachery is paired with stunning natural beauty. But how exactly did these extraordinary mountains get here?

The story begins about three billion years ago, when this landmass was part of a supercontinent known as Gondwanaland. At that time, scientists believe a massive lake covered the granite foundation on which the mountains now stand. Over the course of millions of years, runoff carried sand and mud into the lake, where it settled into sedimentary layers that hardened under the compacting weight. This process carried on until several hundred million years ago. The youngest of these sedimentary layers now lies exposed in the cliffs at the base of the Drakensberg range.

Tugela Falls, seen through a rock cleft

Then, around 160 million years ago, immense pressure deep within the Earth caused Gondwanaland to begin to split apart. The slowly drifting tectonic plates would eventually form the continents of today. In this period of great change, vast lava flows poured out through fractures in the Earth’s crust. Sometimes, these flows hardened into layers of basalt more than 150 feet deep. Over about 20 million years, the basalt deposits grew to be nearly a mile thick over the sandstone deposits below.

When the lava flows stopped, some 140 million years ago, the process of building this extraordinary mountain range was halted — and a slow process of wearing away began. Along the escarpment, erosion often follows fracture planes that form deep within the rock. As the rocks crumble along these planes, broad cliff faces form — sometimes extending in a straight line for many miles. Higher still, the layers of hard basalt have long since been whittled down by time and the elements. Blocks and slabs were shorn away, then pulverized over centuries of weathering or were swallowed by the Drakensberg’s deep ravines. Now, only towering basalt peaks remain, a chain of sentinels keeping watch over the landscape. The debris from this long process has been churned into a black soil that supports the grasses that cover the slopes below.

With its incredible geologic history, breathtaking landscapes, and wealth of San rock art, the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park was named a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2000. The range now plays host to tourists who travel here to enjoy the unique vistas, rugged trails, and challenging rock climbing the Drakensberg affords. From every vantage point, the “dragon mountains” bear the evidence of the powerful forces that have shaped them through the ages.

Photos © AWF

Kalahari Explorations: Lesson

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2003 19:19:14 +0000

Subject: Language Arts, Science, Geography

Grade Level: Upper Elementary 3-5

Overview:

In this lesson students will learn about the rich and vibrant environment of the Kalahari Desert. They will learn about the diversity of life and land in the desert, create artistic responses to the film, and explore interactive Web site features to learn about the geography, wildlife, flora, topography, and people of this area. The students will work in collaborative research groups, create graphic organizers, and share what they have learned with their classmates.

Learning Objectives

Students will conduct research on varied aspects of the Kalahari Desert.
Students will synthesize and evaluate a variety of information sources.
Students will summarize content knowledge from varied resources and apply this knowledge by creating an artistic and informative presentation.

Bookmark the following sites:

Standards

Language Arts Grades 3-5

Writing, Standard 1, Level II
http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=1
Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.

Prewriting: Uses prewriting strategies to plan written work (e.g., uses graphic organizers, story maps, and webs; groups related ideas; takes notes; brainstorms ideas; organizes information according to type and purpose of writing).
Uses strategies (e.g., adapts focus, point of view, organization, form) to write for a variety of purposes (e.g., to inform, entertain, explain, describe, record ideas).

Reading, Standard 7, Level II
http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=7
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts.
Summarizes and paraphrases information in texts (e.g., includes the main idea and significant supporting details of a reading selection).

Viewing, Standard 9
http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=9

Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media.
Understands different messages conveyed through visual media (e.g., main ideas and supporting details; facts and opinions; main characters, setting, and sequence of events in visual narratives).

Science Grades 3-5

Standard 6, Level II
http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=2&StandardID=6
Understands relationships among organisms and their physical environment.

Knows that an organism’s patterns of behavior are related to the nature of that organism’s environment (e.g., kinds and numbers of other organisms present, availability of food and resources, physical characteristics of the environment).

Knows that changes in the environment can have different effects on different organisms (e.g., some organisms move in, others move out; some organisms survive and reproduce, others die).

Knows that all organisms (including humans) cause changes in their environments, and these changes can be beneficial or detrimental.

Geography Grades 3-5

Standard 4, Level II
http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=2&StandardID=6
Understands the physical and human characteristics of place.

Knows how the characteristics of places are shaped by physical and human processes (e.g., effects of agriculture on changing land use and vegetation; effects of settlement on the building of roads; relationship of population distribution to land forms, climate, vegetation, or resources).

Background Activities

Activity One

The purpose of this activity is to introduce background vocabulary that will facilitate students’ understanding of the lesson activities.

1. Divide the students into small research groups and provide them with the list of words below. Ask each group to use varied information sources to define the terms. Tell the students to list the source or sources they used to find information about each term.

Desert
Delta
Plain
Silt
Predator
Arid
Climate Zone

2. Ask each group to present its definition and the sources it used. Compare each group’s definition and the sources used. Students may use dictionaries, encyclopedias, trade books, and the Internet to find information.

The following is a list of Internet sources that may be helpful:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/kalahari/

http://www.zoomschool.com/biomes/desert/desert.shtml

http://www.wordcentral.com/

http://www.m-w.com/netdict.htm

http://www.natureserve.org/

3. Lead a class discussion about how one is able to learn different kinds of information depending on the source materials used.

Activity Two

The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to aesthetically respond to the film through drawing.

1. After watching the film, tell the students to draw a scene that captures the beauty and power of nature in the Kalahari Desert. Encourage students to use color to capture the richness of the land and wildlife.

Steps
Activity One

The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to explore the diverse elements of the Kalahari Desert.

1. As a class, visit the “Introduction to the Eco-Explorer” at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/kalahari/eco_explorer.html. Ask the students to predict what information will be described in each section of the Eco-Explorer.

2. Divide the students into groups of three or four. Assign each group one section of the Eco-Explorer to investigate.

Group One: Map It
Group Two: Terra Zone
Group Three: Wildlife
Group Four: Florascope
Group Five: People
Group Six: Eco-Alert

3. Give each group a copy of the graphic organizer provided on the Organizers page to collect, record, and categorize information from the Web site section it has been assigned. A graphic organizer is a visual/spatial representation of information. It helps students explore new information and show interrelationships among concepts. Tell the students to use the Kalahari Desert Graphic Organizer as a model, modifying it by adding additional shapes and text to show connections between the facts they collect.

Activity Two

The purpose of this activity is for students to learn about the animals of the Kalahari Desert.

1. Tell the students to choose one of the following animals:

African bullfrog
Crocodile
Eagle
Elephant
Flamingo
Pangolin
Sandgrouse
Termite
Wildebeest
Zebra

After each student has selected his or her animal, send them to the site.

2. Provide each student with a 4×6 index card. Ask each student to draw a picture of the animal he or she has chosen on the front of the card, and to write a minimum of six facts on the back of the card.

3. After the students have created their animal cards, provide time for them to exchange cards with their classmates.

4. Create a classroom display of the students’ cards. Encourage the students to create more cards to add to the display if possible.

Extension Activities

Activity One

Have the students send a NATURE postcard to a friend by visiting the following section of the NATURE Web site.

Activity Two

Have the students visit the Puzzles & Games section of the NATURE Web site and explore the varied interactive activities.

Activity Three

Ask the students to browse the Wild Net Africa Web site at http://wildnetafrica.com/wildlife/wildlife.html and find a topic that is of interest to them. Have the students write a script for a television commercial that will interest readers in finding out more about the selected topic.

Kalahari: Production Credits: The Flooded Desert

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2003 16:03:33 +0000

Kalahari: The Great Thirstland

Television Credits

Narrated by
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

Director
TIM LIVERSEDGE

Producer
KATYA SHIROKOW

Director of Cinematography
TIM LIVERSEDGE

Additional Cinematography
RICHARD JONES
ANDRE SLADE
MIKE HOLDING
DAVE HAMMON
DAVID PRYCE

Original Music
HAL LINDES

Editor
DAVID DICKIE

Assistant Editor
MICHAEL BANGS

Writer
KATE YOUNGDAHL

Production Manager
JUNE LIVERSEDGE

Production Crew
CRAIG BIGGS
GREG THOMPSON
DAVID PRYCE
TSHIMOLOGO MATITHITHI
OBAKWE KELESITSE
OTHUSITSWE MOLATHIWA
MIRIAM SIMON
ALEXANDER LOUDEN

High Definition Post-Production Manager
KATYA SHIROKOW

Map Animation
Livewire Productions

Digital Effects Supervisor
SCOTT SIMMONS

Digital Effects Producer
KRISTEN SIMMONS

Compositing Artist
KEVIN TUXFORD

Background Painting Artist
LUKE JONGBLOED

Satellite Maps
WorldSat International, Inc.

Title Graphics
Tim Sassoon Film Design
CHIE YOSHII
JASON JUE

Sound Recordist
JUNE LIVERSEDGE

Sound Studio
Wounded Buffalo Studios

Dubbing Mixer
NEIL HIPKISS

Dubbing Editors
TIM OWENS
MAX BYGROVE

On line Editor
JASON FRANK,
Riot

Colorist
TONY OSBOURNE,
Films at 59

Still Photography
JUNE LIVERSEDGE

Helicopter Pilots
MULLER MAAS
PETER PERLSTEIN

Special Thanks to:
The Government of Botswana
Botswana Department of Wildlife & National Parks Air Botswana
Elaine and Barry Pryce, Shakawe Lodge
Namaseri Lodge
Suzie Lumsden
Peter Lamberti

Executive Producers
TIM LIVERSEDGE
KATYA SHIROKOW

For NATURE

Series Editor
JANET HESS

Supervising Producer
JANICE YOUNG

Producers
JILL CLARKE
PATTY JACOBSON

Associate Producers
GIANNA SAVOIE
IRENE TEJARATCHI

Production Secretary
KELLY LAFFERTY

Manager
EILEEN FRAHER

Production Manager
JULIE SCHAPIRO THORMAN

Offline Editor
PATRICK GAMBUTI, JR.

Online Editor
BRIAN LONGENECKER

Sound Mixer
ED CAMPBELL

Series Producer
BILL MURPHY

Executive In Charge
WILLIAM GRANT

Executive Producer
FRED KAUFMAN

A Co-Production of Wild Logic, Thirteen/WNET New York and NHK

This program was produced by Thirteen/WNET New York, which is solely responsible for its content.

Web Credits

PRODUCER
DANIEL B. GREENBERG

DESIGNER
MICHAEL DIMAURO

PAGEBUILDING
BRIAN SANTALONE

WRITER
ELIZABETH OWEN

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
BRIAN LEE

Thirteen Online is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York’s Kravis Multimedia Education Center in New York City. Anthony Chapman, Director of Interactive & Broadband. Bob Adleman, Business Manager. Tamara E. Robinson, Vice President & Director, Programming

Kalahari: Production Credits: The Great Thirstland

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2003 15:46:52 +0000

Kalahari: The Great Thirstland

Television Credits

Narrated by
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

Director
TIM LIVERSEDGE

Producer
KATYA SHIROKOW

Cinematography
TIM LIVERSEDGE
RICHARD JONES

Additional Cinematography
JUNE LIVERSEDGE
GAVIN McCRARY

Original Music
HAL LINDES

Editor
DAVID DICKIE

Assistant Editor
MICHAEL BANGS

Writer
KATE YOUNGDAHL

Production Manager
JUNE LIVERSEDGE

Location Manager
CRAIG BIGGS

Field Assistants
TSHIMOLOGO MATITHITHI
OBAKAWE KELESITSE
OTHUSITSWE MOLATHIWA
MIRIAM SIMON

Sound Recordist
DAVID BENADE

High Definition Post-Production Manager
KATYA SHIROKOW

Map Graphics
SCOTT SIMMONS,
Livewire Productions

Title Graphics
TIM SASSOON,
Tim Sassoon Film Design

Sound Design and Mixing
Wounded Buffalo Studios

On line Editor
JASON FRANK, Riot

Still Photography
JUNE LIVERSEDGE

Helicopter Pilots
MULLER MAAS
PETER PERLSTEIN,
Okavango Helicopters

Special Thanks to:
The Government of Botswana
Botswana Department of Wildlife &
National Parks
Air Botswana
Le Roo Le Tau Lodge
Nata Lodge
Botswana Soda Ash Co.

Executive Producers
TIM LIVERSEDGE
KATYA SHIROKOW

For NATURE

Series Editor
JANET HESS

Supervising Producer
JANICE YOUNG

Producers
JILL CLARKE
PATTY JACOBSON

Associate Producers
GIANNA SAVOIE
IRENE TEJARATCHI

Production Secretary
KELLY LAFFERTY

Manager
EILEEN FRAHER

Production Manager
JULIE SCHAPIRO THORMAN

Offline Editor
PATRICK GAMBUTI, JR.

Online Editor
BARRY GLINER
BRIAN LONGENECKER

Sound Mixer
ED CAMPBELL

Series Producer
BILL MURPHY

Executive In Charge
WILLIAM GRANT

Executive Producer
FRED KAUFMAN

A Co-Production of Wild Logic,
Thirteen/WNET New York and NHK

This program was produced by Thirteen/WNET New York, which is solely responsible for its content.

Web Credits

PRODUCER
DANIEL B. GREENBERG

DESIGNER
MICHAEL DIMAURO

PAGEBUILDING
BRIAN SANTALONE

WRITER
ELIZABETH OWEN

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
BRIAN LEE