National Geographic People & Places

Secrets of the Tsangpo

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Deep in the Himalaya of Tibet exists an area shrouded in myth and mystery. National Geographic follows a remarkable journey to one of the last undiscovered places of the 20th century in the Tsangpo Gorges. It takes tenacious explorers to dare this trek. The Tsangpo Gorges are widely regarded as the deepest on earth -- in places three times deeper than the Grand Canyon. Explorers Ian Baker and Ken Storm are in search of a legend. Stories passed on from an old Tibetan lama speak of a paradise in the wilderness, and of a great waterfall. Starting in Lhasa, Tibet's capital, it takes the team three full days to cover 300 miles by truck. Roads are buried in mud or cut off by landslides. Once they reach the Pemako region where the Tsangpo Gorges are located, their journey will take them another seventeen days on foot, guided by local hunters through forbidding territory filled with tangled vegetation, old bridges, and sheer cliffs. Earlier adventurers have been turned back by the dangerous landscape and harrowing conditions. Join National Geographic's team of modern-day adventurers on an unforgettable expedition into a hidden paradise.

Treasure Seekers: China's Frozen Desert

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

As commerce flourished along the Silk Road, Central Asia became a melting pot of cultures. Here on the edges of the Taklimakan Desert, an exotic blend of Indian, Mongol, Chinese, and European influences fueled an astonishing cultural Renaissance. In the 7th century, a Chinese monk, Xuanzang, plunged into the desert while on a Buddhist pilgrimage to India leaving behind descriptions of the oasis-cities he encountered. More than a thousand years later, 20th century archeologist Sir Aurel Stein took on the deadly Taklimakan to prove his own theories about Western China's lost civilization. Again and again Xuanzang's writings led him to archeological treasure - once-thriving cities now buried in the sand.

The Filmmakers

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

They swim with sharks, confront venomous snakes, and stalk hungry lions. They're National Geographic filmmakers, and for these remarkable adventurers, capturing unforgettable footage in the wild is not just a job, it's a way of life. Join a cinematographer in the rain forest canopy as he goes to incredible lengths, and heights, to film the world's most powerful bird of prey. Witness the frustration of a filmmaker who just misses the scene-stealing shot of jackal pups greeting their mother in the Serengeti, and feel the exhilaration when he finally captures the event to perfection. Meet the talented professionals who go behind the camera every day and sometimes risk their lives to bring us extraordinary images of nature's most amazing creatures.

New Orleans Brass

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

New Orleans has always been a town driven by music and now a new generation of brass bands playing both traditional and new material is blowing life back into neighborhood parties, jazz funerals, and jazz itself. Danny Barker, age 80 and still playing, is the father of this brass resurgence. Before he came on the scene, New Orleans' brass bands were dying out, victims of a tourist business that commercialized the music and musicians who failed to pass on the tradition. Barker began organizing young boys into marching bands at the Fairview Baptist Church in the late 1960s, teaching them the old music. Greg Davis and Dr. Michael White both started out with Barker and continued the tradition. Davis heads the high-powered and controversial Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Dr. White is a member of the old-line Young Tuxedo. Parades and jazz funerals are back, too, as part of the city's great parading tradition. Local clubs sponsor these lively processions that weave in and out of neighborhood streets--and in and out of local bars--in a festival of swirling color and sound. National Geographic joins Barker on the Creole Queen riverboat to hear his version of New Orleans' shining brass past, and takes part in a boisterous trek through town with two of the Big Easy's best known bands, the Dirty Dozen and the Young Tuxedo, for a picture of that tradition today.

Dragons of the Galapagos

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

This spectacular natural history special tells the story of the incredible struggle for survival of the dragons of the Galapagos archipelago. The lives of these giant lizards, called land iguanas, are intimately linked with the archipelagos most active volcano. On the island of Fernandina, filmmakers David and Liz Parer will follow the annual migration of the land iguanas up the steep slopes of the volcano and into the steaming caldera where they lay their eggs. Off the coast, we will follow the worlds only sea going iguana as it makes its way into the most exciting marine environment on earth- a world of sperm whales and sharks, huge balls of baitfish and masses of seals, dolphins and penguins... an epic story on the scale of Arctic Kingdom.

Cameramen Who Dared

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Behind each thrilling film scene there is always a cameraman unseen by viewers and often exposed to mortal danger. Cameramen Who Dared will take you behind the lens with the incredible documentary filmmakers who will risk their lives to get the perfect shot. Follow these fearless professionals as they dive with deadly sharks, come nose to nose with polar bears, record shocking scenes from Vietnam, and climb Mt. Everest to its summit. Discover what drives these people to pioneer with their cameras where limits are unknown.

30 Years of National Geographic Specials

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

For three decades, National Geographic has set the standard for spellbinding television documentaries of exploration and discovery. From the first American expedition to summit Everest, to undersea worlds of danger and beauty with Jacques Ives Cousteau, to the historic discovery of fossils of our earliest ancestors with Louis and Mary Leakey, witness as National Geographic filmmakers capture the mystery and wonder of life around the world. From the delicate rhythms of the natural world to the many faces of human culture, 30 Years of National Geographic Specials chronicles a visual saga of humankind's quest for knowledge.

Skin

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Obsessed with its beauty, humbled by it flaws, humans are covered by a unique ultra-thin shield that instantly defines and shapes the body living inside it. Now, National Geographic invites you on an in-depth adventure revealing not just the science but the vital cultural meanings we attach to this largest of all human organs. A trip back in time explores the evolution of human skin and the rainbow diversity of skin color today. Cutting-edge research unveils the role skin plays in human sexual attraction. And we go beyond biology to trace the influence of skin on our perceptions of race, our skittishness about nudity and the intriguing riddle of personal identity.

The Photographers

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Find out what it's like to travel, explore and ''get the shot'' on assignment with the celebrated photographers of National Geographic. You'll hear the secrets of these remarkable men and women-the dangers they face, and the lives they lead for the love of their craft. And discover the remarkable talent required to take pictures that make history, as you gain a fascinating new perspective on the world through the eyes of The Photographers.

Baghdad Bound: Devil Dog Diaries

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Join National Geographic to experience the full force of coalition forces in Iraq and live life on the frontlines. The Devil Dog Diaries provides a rare, inside look at life in wartime from the perspective of the young men in a batallion of the 1st Marine Expeditionarry Force. With veteran filmmaker Gary Scurka in tow, the marines encounter ambushes and fire fights, engage in dangerous missions in cities along the way, endure sniper fire and sandstorms and lead the charge into Baghdad. Yet despite their feats, most of these Marines are young cadets straight out of high school, shipped to a far off desert to engage in a war for reasons they may not fully understand.

Baja: Mexico's Cactus Forest

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Only the fiercest hunters and most ingenious adapters survive Mexico's Baja Peninsula, where years may pass without a drop of rain. Towering above them all is the ten-ton giant cactus, the cardon, centerpiece of this community of strange and wonderful life-forms. From the deadly scorpions lurking in the sand to the lowly cactus mouse making a home in the thorns, each creature has specially adapted to this harsh place. Baja's rhythms of life also unfold in the neighboring Sea of Cortes, where manta rays and sea turtles glide past islands that are splendidly isolated from the mainland. Join National Geographic as we unlock the key to survival in this alien Mexican landscape.

Basketball Diplomacy: From Mao to Yao

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

National Geographic host Lisa Ling journeys to Houston, where she gets to know NBA star, Yao Ming, the affable, intelligent 22-year-old known as The Great Wall. Then she travels to Shanghai to better understand the unique blend of globalization and cultural exchange that brought this talented center to American basketball and American basketball to the Chinese people.

Bali: Masterpiece of the Gods

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Travel to Bali, a tiny enchanting island in the Indonesian archipelago that many revere as Heaven on Earth. Born of fiery volcanic eruptions, this isolated paradise is made up of two thousand square miles of spectacular mountains, enticing beaches and flourishing rice terraces. This distant land is home to an extraordinary culture where artistic expression serves to please the gods and placate the demons. Experience the intensity of religious beliefs through haunting music, exotic dance and mysterious rituals that animate every aspect of Balinese life. Join National Geographic for a feast that will fill your senses in Bali: Masterpiece of the Gods.

China's Lost Girls

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

National Geographic Ultimate Explorer host Lisa Ling examines the consequences of China's two-decade-old, ''one-child policy'' designed to curb the country's exploding population. Due to cultural, social and economic factors, traditional preference leans toward boys, so girls are often hidden, aborted, or abandoned. As a result, tens of thousands of girls end up in orphanages across China. Today, more than one quarter of all babies adopted from abroad by American families come from China - and nearly all are girls. Ling joins some of these families as they travel to China to meet their new daughters for the first time. Along this emotional journey, she shares in the joy of these growing families and also witnesses firsthand China's gender gap, its roots, and its possible repercussions.

Through the Lens

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

The thrill of adventure, it's a mix of adrenaline, danger, excitement, and action. But trying to capture that thrill in an eye-catching image is never easy, especially when the photographer braves infernos, dangles from cliffs or skydives from 13,000 feet above the ground. Learn the stories behind the lens where split-second timing can spell the difference between exhilarating success and devastating failure.

Hawaii: Strangers in Paradise

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Explore the Hawaiian Islands, an archipelago born of volcanic eruptions tens of millions of years ago. Fertile for evolution and protected by the immense Pacific Ocean, this isolated tropical haven produced an explosion of wildlife found nowhere else on earth. Once able to flourish, exquisite creatures such as the ancient green sea turtle, the playful monk seal, and the Hawaiian honeycreeper now exist in fragile habitats. Since the arrival of man 2,000 years ago, 70% of all native species have disappeared. Watch as conservation heroes dangle from the cliffs of Moloka'i, risking their lives to hand-pollinate endangered flowers. Ironically, Hawaii's plants and animals must now rely on man's intervention in order to survive. Join National Geographic and discover a land of precious and threatened life forms in HAWAII: STRANGERS IN PARADISE.

Treasure Seekers: Edge of the Orient

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Early in the 19th century, the fog that long had shrouded Mesopotamia began to lift, in large part due to French-born Austen Henry Layard. Join National Geographic as we journey to the upper Tigris valley, where Layard gained the right to excavate along the banks of the river, and discovered the most fantastic artwork and architectural remains found anywhere outside of Egypt.

Treasure Seekers: In The Shadow of Ancient Rome

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Wealthier and more powerful than any other ancient civilization, the Roman Empire enjoyed a long period of prosperity. But perhaps the greatest treasure of this period was not its riches, but its myth. Join National Geographic and relive the glories of the Roman Empire and see why it has inspired dreamers and dictators throughout the ages.

Inside Mecca

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

National Geographic presents an intimate and three-dimensional documentation of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and sheds light on the universal principles of Islam during the days of the Hajj. Learn the historical significance of the city to Muslim and non-Muslim populations alike. And, experience the epic journey of a lifetime, the Hajj, as we witness the personal stories of the pilgrims and the mental preparation, physical strain and spiritual ecstasy they encounter on their life-altering pilgrimage of faith.

Russia's Last Tsar

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

National Geographic presents the wrenching story of the collapse of the Romanov dynasty. Nicholas II had absolute power over his vast realm, yet he was helpless in the face of his son's hemophilia. Enter Rasputin, a wild-living Siberian "holy man" whose apparent ability to heal the heir won him the loyalty of Empress Alexandra...to the dismay of almost everyone else. The backdrop for this family melodrama was a nation under stress: military disasters, poverty, political unrest, and the spread of Bolshevism. Russia erupted in 1917, and the fierce revolution cost the lives of many...including Nicholas and his family. For decades no one knew where the royal family lay buried. A few determined souls searched doggedly—and discreetly. Only after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s could they reveal the resting place of Russia's last tsar.

Afghanistan Revealed

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Take a harrowing journey with author Sebastian Junger and photographer Reza deep into Afghanistan for the last interview with the assassinated resistance leader, Ahmed Shah Massoud. With never-before-seen footage, National Geographic's Afghanistan Revealed explores this war-torn country and the lives of its people as they struggle against the Taliban.

Jerusalem: Within These Walls

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

Sacred to three religions - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - Jerusalem's Old City lives in uneasy peace in a region wrought with conflict. Within this walled enclave, people of disparate cultures live side by side and millions of pilgrims come to celebrate their religious beliefs in a city whose rich history goes back 3,000 years. Join National Geographic as we pass through the gates of Jerusalem's Old City.

Diamonds of War: Africa's Blood Diamond

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

They are symbols of affection - widely thought to be as pure as love itself - and the vast majority are legal stones that are mined, exported and sold in the clear light of day. But for years, some diamonds have been sold illegally - with devastating results linking to war, blood and brutality. In the diamond-rich West African nation of Sierra Leone, rebels have used the precious gems to bankroll a violent ten-year insurrection, leaving a terrorized population and a ravaged landscape in its wake. Join National Geographic from Europe to Africa to uncover the truth about the dark side of the diamond trade.

Australia's Aborigines

2008-09-03T01:23:01Z

In a spectacularly beautiful and remote corner of northern Australia, a handful of people are living in the twilight of their culture. After 40,000 years, the Gandiu Aborigines are transferring the knowledge of their mysterious culture to what may be their last generation. Travel to their distant land to meet the tribal elders, explore the ancient myths of the Dreamtime, and see the extraordinary wildlife that inspires their sacred rock paintings. Join National Geographic for a moving and memorable portrait of Australia's Aborigines.