Andes, the dragon's back: With glaciers, volcanoes, snow-capped peaks, enormous deserts, tropical rainforests, caustic salt pans, and cloud forests, the Andes are an extraordinary world of diverse terrains, extreme temperatures, and a staggering array of wildlife. Five thousand miles long and extending over seven countries, this high mountain range boasts some of the highest, saltiest, wettest and driest terrains on the planet.

Life in Death Valley: It is the hottest, driest place in North America. But this is no typical desert. Nowhere else is a land so exquisite in its beauty, yet brutal in its extremes. Here, the rule is simple - adapt or perish. Witness how fascinating desert dwellers ingeniously outwit Mother Nature in their quest to survive.