World's Last Great Places

Hidden in the extraordinary Sonoran Desert of the American southwest is a world of wonders. Far from a desolate wasteland, the Sonoran's spectacular landscape and varied climate support a diverse community of plant and animal life. This is a showcase for some of nature's most unusual creations - towering above them all is the mighty Saguaro cactus, weighing as much as eight tons and hoarding almost 2,000 gallons of water against the relentless drought. All Sonoran creatures, from the nectar bat to the Gila monster, display their own unique adaptations that spell survival.

Dragons still walk the Earth in the remote islands of the Galapagos. This is the only place where iguanas - fascinating prehistoric reptiles - swarm both land and sea. Witness the incredible journey of a land iguana compelled to climb into the crater of an active volcano to lay her eggs. Dive in the rough Pacific Ocean with marine iguanas foraging for food - along with hungry pelicans, penguins, and dolphins. They must evade a cast of predators as stealthy as the Galapagos snake and as swift as the Galapagos hawk. These volcanic islands showcase creatures and behaviors seen nowhere else on Earth. Marvel at the unique strategies for survival that could only have been created in the Galapagos.

Just off the East coast of Africa, Madagascar is an island unique in all the world. Separated from the mainland some 165 million years ago, Madagascar's flora and fauna have evolved in near isolation. Join a team of naturalists as they trek to the island's isolated Ankarana plateau to study the exotic animals of this forbidding wildlife oasis. Through enormous underground passages, you'll hike to a sunken forest, sighting unique creatures such as the crowned lemur, the leaf-tailed gecko, and the souimanga sunbird in Africa: Wilds of Madagascar.

Journey into a tropical jungle of staggering beauty. Here, torrential rains annually transform the dry forest floor into a watery world where some of the most extraordinary and uncommon wildlife flourish. In waters 50 feet deep, you'll encounter graceful river dolphins navigating through flooded treetops and the usually lethargic three-toed sloth swimming agilely among the branches. Watch an arrowhana fish leap through the air to grab a beetle perched on a tree trunk, and meet two masterful hunters - the electric eel and the notorious piranha. In AMAZON: LAND OF THE FLOODED FOREST you'll witness the wonders of nature in what has been called "the greatest evolutionary theater in the world."

Venture beyond the dense green curtain, into a pristine rain forest that thrives in splendid isolation on a Panamanian island, sustained by the complex partnership of plant and animal. Climb a colossal tree, from shadowy forest floor to leafy canopy, marvel at the exotic species that live, feed, breed, and die here. Ponder the interactions among them - both predatory and peaceful - that continually enrich the forest's vitality. For the few researchers privileged to set foot here, this refuge yields tantalizing clues to the secrets of the rain forest and unforgettable glimpses of the natural harmony and magnificence of this natural heaven.

When a young coyote is cast out by his pack, he must learn to survive in a wilderness both beautiful and treacherous... Yellowstone National Park. As Cain the coyote's journey unfolds, he'll encounter a large cast of wildlife characters in what has been called America's own Serengeti. Set against the natural beauty of Yellowstone's changing seasons, from the steamy geysers in winter to the raging fires of summer, Cain's year-long adventure of hardship and triumph will culminate in a final life-or-death confrontation with his original pack. In this remarkable film from National Geographic, you'll experience nature as never before.