Nat Geo gives you a kaleidoscopic view into the history of planet Earth

Media News

New Delhi, April 20, 2011

Humanity experienced nature's wrath in form of the recent Tsunami and series of Earthquakes, but very few of us truly know the deep history of our planet's evolution. To salute this journey spread across decades, National Geographic Channel brings to you a special seven hour series titled 'Earth Day Special' on 22nd April, which is celebrated as the “World Earth Day", from 12PM- 7PM.

Earth Day series will take you on a voyage in thirst for Knowledge about our very own existence on the face of Earth. So get ready to feast your eyes on this inquisitive extravaganza. The series will showcase how the evolution of oceans occurred and how we, as human beings impact the world's oceans. Also, for the first time viewers would be able to perceive the incredible stories of our planet unfold in one single, seamless camera move.

Speaking about 'Earth Day', - Ramon Chibb, VP- Content, National Geographic Network & Fox International Channels said “At National Geographic Channel, it is our endeavor to give our curious viewers an unparalleled access into a world of interesting information. On the special occasion of World Earth Day, Nat Geo has lined up a special 7 hours series that will take our audience through the history and evolution of our planet and unravel the mysteries behind the current geography of planet Earth."

Plastiki: - Adventurer David Rothschild and a handpicked crew are going to sail 8000 miles across the Pacific in a boat called the Plastiki, 21st century homage to Thor Heyerdahl's iconic Konica. They'll use their months at sea to investigate and record the impact we, as a species, are having on the World's oceans. It will be both a journey of scientific discovery and an audacious adventure.

Birth of The Ocean: - Birth of an Ocean (aka A Sea of Change) In "The Birth of an Ocean", episode one of the four part series "One Ocean", we travel back to ancient times, telling the story of the ocean's turbulent beginnings and its successive incarnations. In a remote part of Western Australia, we venture to the stunning, crystal blue waters that harbour the descendants of the first life on earth. These formations once covered the ancient seabed, and today they give scientists a remarkable window back in time. Traveling forward, we discover that almost 99.9% of species that ever lived on this planet are now extinct. On the lush and diverse Osprey Reef, we swim alongside scientists to learn why one remarkable creature - the nautilus - has survived, for millions of years, what countless other species could not.

Coastal Threats: - Coastal Threats (aka Footprints in the Sand) In episode two of "One Ocean", "Coastal Threats", we take measure of humanity's impact on the sea since we first settled along its coasts. We travel to the Mediterranean Sea with local Spanish fishermen in search of the magnificent bluefin tuna, one of the most prized fish in the ocean. The Mediterranean is also one of the most overfished seas in the world. As fishermen try to maintain their centuries-old method of fishing, conservation scientists are desperate to find hard evidence to support their side in the heated debate over fishing quotas. Human activity through history - overfishing, over-development of the world's coastlines, and the continuing pollution that we pour into the sea - have had unexpected consequences. But as "Coastal Threats" reveals, marine protected areas can have a huge impact on an ecosystem's ability to recover.

Deep Mysteries: - Episode Three of the series One Ocean reveals the Deep Mysteries of our vast oceans and takes us to the most beguiling parts of the sea, the very depths that we know so little about. As we improve our technological prowess, we are venturing deeper and deeper into the planet's last frontier. What scientists are discovering is beyond our wildest imaginings. We join a team of scientists on an international expedition as they return to the Mariana Arc on the Pacific Rim of Fire. As their submersible ROV plumbs the depths of the ocean, the thrill and excitement of peering into these extreme environments is palpable. Each day they make new discoveries about the outlandish deep-sea dwellers they find here. But at the same time that we begin to unravel their mysteries we're also mining the sea of many species. Finally Deep Mysteries asks the question: can cutting-edge technologies allow us to truly experience, for the first time, the three-dimensional world of the deep ocean?

The Changing Sea: - In our final episode, of the series One Ocean - The Changing Sea, we discover that the ocean is sending us clear signals. Off the rugged and beautiful coast of British Columbia we meet scientists and fishermen who are shocked at the recent arrival of a voracious new creature - the Humboldt squid. This monster-sized squid native to Mexico has moved north and ushered in a cascade of changes to the ecosystem. Their arrival is part of a disturbing pattern that is emerging with species movement being tracked around the world. In The Changing Sea we illustrate how the ocean's chemistry and systems are being compromised by increased acidity, less oxygen and warming temperatures. The changes to the timeless rhythms of birth and renewal are being felt everywhere - even on coral reefs. In the idyllic waters of the Bay of Naples, we get a glimpse of our future ocean, thanks to the mythic Mount Vesuvius. As scientists swim through lush green seagrass beds, they collect creatures whose shells are dissolving, and we discover that this amazing place has a terrible secret. It has been naturally acidified for millennia - could this be our ocean's future?

Earth: Making of A Planet (Part 1 & 2):- Imagine cameras had been around since the creation of Earth to record every major event and you have 'Earth: The Making of a Planet'. A photo-real CGI epic that takes the viewer on a journey thorough time from the violent birth of our planet four and a half billion years ago, through ice-ages, massive volcanic eruptions and the dinosaurs' reign to the first humans. For the first time, viewers can see the incredible story of our planet unfold in one single, seamless camera move.

For further information, please contact:

Genesis Burson-Marsteller

Rakhi Aurora

Mobile: +919711773885

Email: rakhi.aurora@bm.com