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Brazil's Land of Sand

Brazil's Land of Sand

Season 3 Episode 305
26:46
Pernambuco - Brazil's Other Carnival

Pernambuco - Brazil's Other Carnival

Season 3 Episode 308
26:46
Alaska - The Wilderness of the Volcanoes

Alaska - The Wilderness of the Volcanoes

Season 3 Episode 310
26:46
Popolocas and Their Heritage in Mexico

Popolocas and Their Heritage in Mexico

Season 11 Episode 1103
26:46
Turquoise in the Southwest

Turquoise in the Southwest

Season 11 Episode 1105
26:46
Puerto Rico: The Colony and its Emergence

Puerto Rico: The Colony and its Emergence

Season 11 Episode 1106
26:46
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In the Americas with David Yetman

Sierra Nevada and the Making of California

Season 3 Episode 304

The Sierra Nevada is our most important mountain range. It influences much of California’s weather and produces most if its water. It was once the greatest barrier to transcontinental transportation and communication. It is a symbol of earthquakes, which created it. Tectonic geologist Eldridge Moores helps host David Yetman decipher the mysteries of the range’s origins and importance.

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Brazil's Salvador: Preserver Of African-Brazilian Patrimony
26:46
Today, afro-brazillian culture and spirituality thrive, after centuries of brutal subjugation.
The Estrada Real  ̶  Brazil's Highway Of Gold
26:46
A centuries-old, Portuguese-built highway reminds us of Brazil's complicated colonial past.
Oaxaca's Indigenous Guardians Of The High Forests
26:46
Oaxaca's traditional forest management practices set a global example for sustainability.
The Cascade Mountains Of Washington: Gifts Of The Volcanoes
26:45
The Cascade Range, born from volcanoes, reveals a stunning variety of landscapes and towns.
Oaxaca's People Of The Sea And The Seaside
26:47
Oaxaca's extraordinary diversity is evident in both its Pacific waters and its local communities.
Brazilian Agriculture: From Industrial Megafarms To Intimate Minifarms
26:46
Local farmers resist the onslaught of megafarms through traditional agricultural practices.
The Lacandones Of Chiapas: Guardians Of The Ancient Mayas
26:46
In the forests of Chiapas, archaeologists are uncovering the millenia-old works of the Lacandones.
Ketchikan And Alaska's Panhandle Forests And Sea
26:46
Ketchikan is home to temperate rainforests and Misty Fjords accessible only by boat and air.
Imperiled Refuges: Islets in the Sea of Cortés
26:46
Islands of Mexico's Sea of Cortés are a refuge for sea creatures in a time of climate change.
The Mississippi River Program
26:46
At New Orleans on the Mississippi River the Army Corps of Engineers meets an epic challenge.
Kraho: Enduring People of Brazil’s Plateau
26:46
Brazil's Krahó survive on their traditional lands, protecting their culture and ancient ways.
Brasilia and Chapada Dos Veadeiros
26:46
Brasilia, Brazil sits on a plateau home to cliffs, waterfalls, indigenous folk, and pioneers.
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