Secrets of the Earth / Tajemnice Ziemi (2008)

"Secrets of the Earth" explores our planet with the same sense of awe and wonder normally reserved for alien worlds. Computer graphics, visual analogies and a recurring cast of expert scientists combine to reveal new aspects of the world you think you know.

Surviving the Drought
The Ruaha National Park in the south of Tanzania used to be a true paradise for wildlife gathered around the rich Ruaha river.

Reindeer Police
In the Lapland region of northern Norway, the Sami people have been raising reindeer for many generations. In this vast land, over 200.000 reindeer are shared among a few hundred breeders, and sometime tensions rise among breeders.

Becoming a Woman in Zanskar
Two adolescents in the Himalayas: one kidnapped by her future husband, the other head shaved as she enters the convent forever. Two ordeals for the same goal… to become women!

Baby catchers of the Amazon
In Brazil, it is said that a pregnant woman has one foot in her grave. Young mothers depend on traditional midwives who accompany them through the storm of birth giving thanks to their ancestral knowledge which they humbly describe as a "gift from god".

Jaglavak, Prince of insects
In northern Cameroon, in the Mandaras Mountains, the Mofu live a unique relationship with insects, sharing with them their homes and cultivations. This year however, a terrible draught hits the region and the termites, usually a precious ally to the Mofu, have left the fields and invaded the huts and granaries.

The Black Samurai
In "Black Samurai", we're thrust into the lives of the Surma people, one of the fiercest tribes of southwestern Ethiopia, where war ravages the land.

The Great Desert Turf
In Niger, in the Sahel region, dromedary races are extremely popular among the nomadic communities. Djouri Bigue,chief of the Peul Woodabe village, participates in races all year round. This year, Djouri and the villagers have decided to organize the grand yearly final in Belil Tanfirgan.

Becoming a Man in Siberia
"Becoming a Man in Siberia" follows the epic ordeals of young men who live in different countries of the giant Siberia.
Each will face a grueling initiation quest to make the difficult passage to manhood. If they fail, they will remain children forever.

Prehistoric Astronomers
For the last 20 years, Chantal Jegues-Wolkiewiez, an independent astronomer and ethnologist, has lead a rigorous investigation to prove a theory about the origins of astronomy.

Guarani, the people of the selva
Penty and his family are members of the Guarani tribe from the community of Bameno in the heart of the Amazon forest. They live in the selva, in a region that has been preserved from modern influence for many centuries Today however, as modern civilization is penetrating the forest to exploit its wealth, Guarani culture is fading. For the past decades, large industrial groups have threatening the flora and fauna.

Meteor dinosaurs
25 years ago, some discovery shook the world. Meteor strike caused the extinction of the dinosaurs on Earth's surface. Today, the latest breakthrough research put before us further, perhaps much more controversial question. Did a meteor strike could create dinosaurs? The impact that clashed with the earth's surface 99.9% of all living beings, while paving the way for dinosaurs. They would become the rulers of the earth. But where did this meteor hit? What would happen when he strikes again?

Return of big hurricanes
Scientists warn that we are in the middle of cycles of increased Atlantic hurricane activity, and racing to understand why this is so, their research uncovers ancient traces of extreme hurricane cycles in places many of us would not have expected.

Storm planetary
Deep inside our solar system, there is evidence of the largest massive bombardment … of asteroids that hit Earth many years ago. A mysterious phenomenon of cosmic proportions caused millions of asteroids to fall out of their orbits and bomb our planet. Nobody knows why something like this happened. No one knows if this will happen again …

Ring of fire
Deep beneath the Pacific lies the killer - a giant geological fault that holds nearly 90% of all volcanoes in the world. About 80% of all earthquake areas and nearly 1/3 of the population in the world. On average, an earthquake or volcanic eruption happens here once an hour. This is the ring of fire. Now, new evidence suggests it is 3 times more active than ever before …