Discovery Atlas
Encyclopedia
Discovery Atlas is a documentary television series on the Discovery Channel
and Discovery HD Theater
which focuses on the cultural
, sociological
, and natural
aspects of various countries by exploring their different peoples, traditions, and lands. The documentary follows the lives and individual struggles of locals, while taking in-depth looks at the countries' history and culture. There have been a total of eight episodes to air as of yet on the Discovery Channel: the first episode, Discovery Atlas: China Revealed aired October 1, 2006, and was followed by Discovery Atlas: Italy Revealed, Brazil Revealed, and Australia Revealed. Most recently France, Japan, Egypt and Russia have been featured .
According to the Miami Herald, the series will be shown over five years and focus on a total of 20 countries, with the possibility of more. Four countries will be featured each year. Other sources, including the Australian Discovery Channel and Discovery Communications Inc websites, have said that the series will focus on thirty countries.
** Not shown on Discovery Channel in America until October 1, 2009.
in modern times, and also introduced several Chinese cities (Shanghai
, Beijing
, Hong Kong
), the improvement of rural communities (Longshen, Taizhou
) and the lives of various ordinary Chinese people (a rice farmer, a Shaolin monk and his students, a Mongolian
horseman
, a gymnast who is an Olympic
hopeful, an Imperial bowmaker, an architectural millionaire, a window washer, a girl tempted by cosmetic surgery and a policewoman). Traditions of ethnic minorities (Mongolians) were also mentioned. The film uses both exciting western music as well as traditional Chinese music.This episode of the Atlas is narrated by actor James Spader
, including a jockey participating in a traditional palio
, to a former fisherman setting a free-diving record off Sicily
's coast, to the Missoni family's fashion world and a Venetian
gondolier's attempt to keep his family in his native city.
's citizens, as well as giving insight into the history and culture of the country. Among the people followed include a female soccer player struggling to play in what is considered a man's sport, a helicopter
pilot in São Paulo
, a rancher taking part in his first rodeo, and a dancer in preparation for Carnival
.
's oldest indigenous
populations, as well as the country's modern achievements. Some of the subjects of the documentary include an Aboriginal
man trying to follow his ancestors' old ways, a professional swimmer, a jackaroo
(or cowhand), and a fence builder working on the continent's longest single fence. It is narrated by Australian actor Russell Crowe
.
is a country sustained by ritual and tradition. Mexico Revealed follows La Quebradra cliff divers
, a masked wrestler
named Hombre sin Nombre, and chef Martha Ortiz Chapa. The show also looks at religion in Mexico with a segment on All Saints Day and All Souls Day
. Mariachi
is featured throughout the show.
after years of internal struggle. Profiled is a young Zulu schoolgirl and her teacher, a man working thousands of feet underground in the world's deepest gold mine, a zoologist and her team working to preserve South Africa's unique wildlife, the Khoisan
bushmen battling to keep their traditional way of life, a young colored woman in a leadership role in the South African Army
, and an ambulance driver in Johannesburg
, one of the world's most violent cities.
. India
has the world’s second fastest growing major economy and a sixth of the world’s population. The show follows an upscale wedding planner
, a young man attending a gurukul
to become a Brahmin
. Dharavi
, a large slum in Mumbai, is featured during the Festival of Lights
. It is narrated by Mira Nair
.
is changing the world. From sports like free running
and urban climbing, to unexploded munitions removal, to more traditional events like eating and watching fireworks, the French are setting new trends in many different aspects of life.
between the seasons and life, and keeping old traditions alive in a modern world. The episode follows the lives of a geisha
in training, a tuna fisherman, a group of Ama divers
, two trend setting schoolgirls, a family competing in robotics fighting
, and a tattoo artist. It is narrated by Masi Oka
.
. Stories include a 17-year old bread delivery boy in Cairo
, a Bedouin
herbal healer in the Sinai hoping to pass on his secrets to a new generation before he dies, a man who left his Cairo
home to become a Coptic Christian monk, and the conservative lifestyle of women in the oasis
town of Siwa
in contrast to a successful businesswoman and founder of a women's magazine in Cairo
.
. We follow the lives of nomadic reindeer
herders in Siberia
, a family of carpet-makers in the Caucasus Mountains
, a fashion magazine executive in Moscow
, a volcanologist
in the Kamchatka Peninsula
and a 17-year old aspiring circus
performer in Kazan
. Interspersed with these stories is footage of breathtaking scenery from around Russia, including Lake Baikal
and St. Petersburg during summer twilight.
in high-definition
on 30 January 2007. Each episode is sold separately and as a 4-disc box set.
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
and Discovery HD Theater
Discovery HD Theater
Velocity is an American high-definition, commercial-based, cable- and satellite-television channel owned by Discovery Communications...
which focuses on the cultural
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, sociological
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, and natural
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
aspects of various countries by exploring their different peoples, traditions, and lands. The documentary follows the lives and individual struggles of locals, while taking in-depth looks at the countries' history and culture. There have been a total of eight episodes to air as of yet on the Discovery Channel: the first episode, Discovery Atlas: China Revealed aired October 1, 2006, and was followed by Discovery Atlas: Italy Revealed, Brazil Revealed, and Australia Revealed. Most recently France, Japan, Egypt and Russia have been featured .
According to the Miami Herald, the series will be shown over five years and focus on a total of 20 countries, with the possibility of more. Four countries will be featured each year. Other sources, including the Australian Discovery Channel and Discovery Communications Inc websites, have said that the series will focus on thirty countries.
Season 1 (2006)
| # | Airdate | Title | Country | Narrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 1, 2006 | China Revealed | China People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... |
James Spader James Spader James Todd Spader is an American actor best known for his eccentric roles in movies such as Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Crash, Stargate, and Secretary... |
| 2 | October 8, 2006 | Italy Revealed | Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Isabella Rossellini Isabella Rossellini Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini is an Italian actress, filmmaker, author, philanthropist, and model. Rossellini is noted for her 14-year tenure as a Lancôme model, and for her roles in films such as Blue Velvet and Death Becomes Her.-Background and early life:Rossellini is a... |
| 3 | October 15, 2006 | Brazil Revealed | Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... |
Sela Ward Sela Ward Sela Ann Ward is an American movie and television actress, perhaps best known for her television roles as Teddy Reed on the American TV series Sisters and as Lily Manning on Once and Again... |
| 4 | October 22, 2006 | Australia Revealed | Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Russell Crowe Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a... |
Season 2 (2007)
| # | Airdate | Title | Country | Narrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 4, 2007 | Mexico Revealed | Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos is an American actor and director. Among his most memorable roles are William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Lt... |
| 2 | November 11, 2007 ** | South Africa Revealed | South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... |
Andre Braugher Andre Braugher Andre Braugher is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Thomas Searles in the film Glory, as the fiery detective Frank Pembleton on Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993 to 1998 and again in the 2000 made-for-TV film Homicide: Life on the Street, and as Owen Thoreau Jr... |
| 3 | November 18, 2007 | India Revealed | India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... |
Mira Nair Mira Nair Mira Nair is an Indian film director and producer based in New York. Her production company is Mirabai Films.She was educated at Delhi University and Harvard University. Her debut feature film, Salaam Bombay! , won the Golden Camera award at the Cannes Film Festival and also earned the nomination... |
Season 3 (2008)
| # | Airdate | Title | Country | Narrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 8, 2008 | France Revealed | France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Candice Bergen Candice Bergen Candice Patricia Bergen is an American actress and former fashion model.She is known for starring in two TV series, as the title character on the situation comedy Murphy Brown , for which she won five Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards; and as Shirley Schmidt on the comedy-drama Boston Legal... |
| 2 | May 8, 2008 | Japan Revealed | Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
Masi Oka Masi Oka Masayori "Masi" Oka is a Japanese-American actor and digital effects artist.He has performed in numerous feature films and TV series, most prominently as Hiro Nakamura in the NBC TV series Heroes from 2006 until its cancellation in May 2010. He resides in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:Oka... |
| 3 | Nov 23, 2008 (Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... ) |
Egypt Revealed | Egypt Egypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... |
Omar Metwally Omar Metwally Omar Metwally is an American actor.Metwally was born in Queens, New York to an Egyptian father and a Dutch mother, and moved with the family to Orange County, California at age three where he was raised... |
| 4 | Nov 30, 2008 (Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... ) |
Russia Revealed | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
Tatyana Yassukovich |
China Revealed
This episode focused on the rapid development of the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in modern times, and also introduced several Chinese cities (Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
), the improvement of rural communities (Longshen, Taizhou
Taizhou, Jiangsu
Taizhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu province of eastern China. Situated on the north bank of the Yangtze River, it borders Nantong to the east, Yancheng to the north and Yangzhou to the west....
) and the lives of various ordinary Chinese people (a rice farmer, a Shaolin monk and his students, a Mongolian
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
horseman
Horseman
Horseman may refer to:* Horse rider; see Equestrianism* Wrangler , in the United States* Stockman , who works with horses rather than with cattle or sheep* Horseman, a 2003 Croatian film...
, a gymnast who is an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
hopeful, an Imperial bowmaker, an architectural millionaire, a window washer, a girl tempted by cosmetic surgery and a policewoman). Traditions of ethnic minorities (Mongolians) were also mentioned. The film uses both exciting western music as well as traditional Chinese music.This episode of the Atlas is narrated by actor James Spader
James Spader
James Todd Spader is an American actor best known for his eccentric roles in movies such as Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Crash, Stargate, and Secretary...
Italy Revealed
Italy Revealed depicts the passionate culture of Italy as it follows six stories of ItaliansItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, including a jockey participating in a traditional palio
Palio
The oldest extant palio is the Palio di Asti, but the Palio di Siena is better known internationally. There are many other palios that are held throughout the various regions of Italy. Here follows an incomplete list:-Tuscany:...
, to a former fisherman setting a free-diving record off Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
's coast, to the Missoni family's fashion world and a Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
gondolier's attempt to keep his family in his native city.
Brazil Revealed
This episode shows Brazil's celebrative spirit as it follows the stories of some of BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
's citizens, as well as giving insight into the history and culture of the country. Among the people followed include a female soccer player struggling to play in what is considered a man's sport, a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
pilot in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, a rancher taking part in his first rodeo, and a dancer in preparation for Carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
.
Australia Revealed
This episode revealed the young nation's determination and tough nature, while focusing on Australia's marvelous ancient cultures that contain the nation's beat and the traditions of some of AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's oldest indigenous
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
populations, as well as the country's modern achievements. Some of the subjects of the documentary include an Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
man trying to follow his ancestors' old ways, a professional swimmer, a jackaroo
Jackaroo (trainee)
A Jackaroo is a young man working on a sheep or cattle station, to gain practical experience in the skills needed to become an owner, overseer, manager, etc. The word originated in Queensland, Australia in the Nineteenth Century and is still in use in Australia and New Zealand in the twenty-first...
(or cowhand), and a fence builder working on the continent's longest single fence. It is narrated by Australian actor Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
.
Mexico Revealed
MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
is a country sustained by ritual and tradition. Mexico Revealed follows La Quebradra cliff divers
La Quebrada Cliff Divers
The La Quebrada Cliff Divers are a group of professional high divers, based in Acapulco, Mexico. They perform daily shows for the public, which involve diving 35 metres from the cliffs of La Quebrada into the sea below. The depth of water in the "Gulch" can vary from 6 to 16 feet depending on the...
, a masked wrestler
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
named Hombre sin Nombre, and chef Martha Ortiz Chapa. The show also looks at religion in Mexico with a segment on All Saints Day and All Souls Day
All Souls Day
All Souls' Day commemorates the faithful departed. In Western Christianity, this day is observed principally in the Catholic Church, although some churches of Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches also celebrate it. The Eastern Orthodox Church observes several All Souls' Days during the...
. Mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
is featured throughout the show.
South Africa Revealed
South Africa Revealed explores the lives of several individuals and how they contribute in their own way to the new South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
after years of internal struggle. Profiled is a young Zulu schoolgirl and her teacher, a man working thousands of feet underground in the world's deepest gold mine, a zoologist and her team working to preserve South Africa's unique wildlife, the Khoisan
Khoisan
Khoisan is a unifying name for two ethnic groups of Southern Africa, who share physical and putative linguistic characteristics distinct from the Bantu majority of the region. Culturally, the Khoisan are divided into the foraging San and the pastoral Khoi...
bushmen battling to keep their traditional way of life, a young colored woman in a leadership role in the South African Army
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
, and an ambulance driver in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, one of the world's most violent cities.
India Revealed
India Revealed shows life in the land of the GodsHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
. India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
has the world’s second fastest growing major economy and a sixth of the world’s population. The show follows an upscale wedding planner
Indian wedding
South Asian weddings are very bright events, filled with ritual and celebration, that continue for several days. They are generally not small affairs, with anywhere between 100 to 10,000 people attending. Often, it is possible that many of the attendees are unknown to the bride and groom themselves...
, a young man attending a gurukul
Gurukul
A gurukul is a type of school in India, residential in nature, with shishyas living in proximity to the guru, often within the same house...
to become a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
. Dharavi
Dharavi
Dharavi is a slum and administrative ward, over parts of Sion, Bandra, Kurla and Kalina suburbs of Mumbai, India. It is sandwiched between Mahim in the west and Sion in the east, and spread over an area of 175 hectares, or...
, a large slum in Mumbai, is featured during the Festival of Lights
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
. It is narrated by Mira Nair
Mira Nair
Mira Nair is an Indian film director and producer based in New York. Her production company is Mirabai Films.She was educated at Delhi University and Harvard University. Her debut feature film, Salaam Bombay! , won the Golden Camera award at the Cannes Film Festival and also earned the nomination...
.
France Revealed
This episode spotlights the radical new ways in which FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
is changing the world. From sports like free running
Free running
Freerunning is a form of urban acrobatics in which participants, known as freerunners , use the city and rural landscape to perform movements through its structures...
and urban climbing, to unexploded munitions removal, to more traditional events like eating and watching fireworks, the French are setting new trends in many different aspects of life.
Japan Revealed
Japan Revealed focuses on the unique balance in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
between the seasons and life, and keeping old traditions alive in a modern world. The episode follows the lives of a geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
in training, a tuna fisherman, a group of Ama divers
Ama divers
, uminchu or kaito are Japanese divers, famous for collecting pearls. The majority of ama are women.- History :...
, two trend setting schoolgirls, a family competing in robotics fighting
Robo One
Robo-One is a robot competition category of bipedal humanoid robots. The first ROBO-ONE contest was held in Japan in 2002 and consisted of an initial judged autonomous "Demonstration" stage, followed by one-on-one matches...
, and a tattoo artist. It is narrated by Masi Oka
Masi Oka
Masayori "Masi" Oka is a Japanese-American actor and digital effects artist.He has performed in numerous feature films and TV series, most prominently as Hiro Nakamura in the NBC TV series Heroes from 2006 until its cancellation in May 2010. He resides in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:Oka...
.
Egypt Revealed
This episode follows the lives of six individuals throughout EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Stories include a 17-year old bread delivery boy in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, a Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
herbal healer in the Sinai hoping to pass on his secrets to a new generation before he dies, a man who left his Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
home to become a Coptic Christian monk, and the conservative lifestyle of women in the oasis
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
town of Siwa
Siwa
Siwa may refer to:* 140 Siwa, an asteroid* Siwa, Indonesian pronunciation of the Hindu god Shiva* Siwa , spider genus in the Araneidae family* Siwa Oasis, an oasis in Egypt* Siwa, Panchthar, a Village Development Committee in Nepal...
in contrast to a successful businesswoman and founder of a women's magazine in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
.
Russia Revealed
This episode focuses on how the people of the new Russia are once again embracing their past following the fall of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. We follow the lives of nomadic reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
herders in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, a family of carpet-makers in the Caucasus Mountains
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....
, a fashion magazine executive in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, a volcanologist
Volcanologist
A volcanologist is a person who studies the formation of volcanoes, and their current and historic eruptions. Volcanologists frequently visit volcanoes, especially active ones, to observe volcanic eruptions, collect eruptive products including tephra , rock and lava samples...
in the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
and a 17-year old aspiring circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
performer in Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
. Interspersed with these stories is footage of breathtaking scenery from around Russia, including Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is the world's oldest at 30 million years old and deepest lake with an average depth of 744.4 metres.Located in the south of the Russian region of Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast, it is the most voluminous freshwater lake in the...
and St. Petersburg during summer twilight.
Home video
The initial four episodes were released on Blu-ray and HD DVDHD DVD
HD DVD is a discontinued high-density optical disc format for storing data and high-definition video.Supported principally by Toshiba, HD DVD was envisioned to be the successor to the standard DVD format...
in high-definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
on 30 January 2007. Each episode is sold separately and as a 4-disc box set.