Part two
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Planet Earth returns to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE later in the year to continue the ultimate portrait of our planet. The following six episodes complete the series...
Polar
It is not the cold so much as the lack of accessible fresh water which makes life hard in the frozen regions of the world, from the mountain tops to the poles. Trapped in their frozen wastes is 80 per cent of the world's supply of freshwater.
In Antarctica, winter temperatures plummet to minus 50 degrees C, making it officially the coldest place on earth.
These extremes put unique requirements on the life there. As a result the poles are home to one of the most remarkably adapted creatures on the planet - the emperor penguin.
Land mammals are able to survive Arctic winters, although by the end of it they are severely weakened.
Walrus welcome the arrival of spring as a chance to stock up on their depleted fat reserves and as the sea ice melts, polar bears lose their winter hunting ground for seals. Stranded on land they are forced to tackle more unusual prey.
Plains
The great plains are the largest land habitat on Earth. They cover more than a quarter of our Planet. Vast open spaces, they are often mistakenly thought of as empty, but they are one of the world's most productive habitats, home to the largest groups of animals found anywhere on Earth.
Planet Earth reveals the most spectacular migrations, and dramatic predations that take place on the great plains.
Forests
These are the seasonal forests and this is a story of plant survival.
Forests cover vast tracts of the temperate regions and remain largely unexplored. From the endless forests of Siberia to the heart of Tasmania there is so much new ground to cover.
Forests are also home to some of the most elusive creatures, from the snub-nosed monkey to the Amur leopards of the Russian broadleaf forests.
Jungles
Rainforests are the power plants of the natural world generating enough energy to supply 2,000 cities the size of New York.
Conditions are perfect for life to flourish, but surviving in the jungle is far from easy.
Beautiful floating aerials introduce the world's most spectacular forest vistas and high definition cameras enable unprecedented views of the species who live on the dark jungle floor.
The Shallow Seas
Where land and sea collide the forces of nature create huge opportunities for huge numbers and a vast diversity of life.
Shallow seas receive gifts from the depths as cold, nutrient-rich water wells up from the deep ocean.
Life-giving sunlight reaching the shallow sea bed encourages an explosion of life. All these factors combined make the Shallow Seas the richest of the world's oceans.
Massive shoals of fish act like magnets for the predators, and great white sharks chase fur seals.
Stunning footage follows a humpback whale and her newborn calf as they traverse the crystal-clear waters of the tropical shallow seas.
Ocean Deep, Ocean Wide
Sixty per cent of our planet is covered by ocean more than a mile deep. This is by far the largest habitat on our planet and it remains almost entirely unexplored.
After The Blue Planet, there are still many spectacles to see in the Deep Ocean. This programme looks at some of the amazing species that inhabit the oceans.
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