Skip to main content

Up Next

Episode 5: The Calling

The Calling

Season 4 Episode 5
53:05
When Whales Could Walk

When Whales Could Walk

Season 51 Episode 1
53:35
Back to Show
Overview

Why Does This Swamp Keep Catching Fire?

Season 3 Episode 5

In 2011, a fire in the Great Dismal Swamp burned for 111 days. Even a foot of rain from Hurricane Irene failed to extinguish it. The reason was hidden underground in layers of peat, one of Earth's most important carbon stores. What started this fire reveals a surprising story about climate change, America's complicated history, and one of the continent's most remarkable landscapes.

Support Provided By
Season
Who Made These Giant Desert Figures... and Why?
7:19
Who made this mysterious collection of rock paintings carved into the earth?
Climbers’ Paradise is the Last Refuge for an Ancient Species
8:00
Red River Gorge is a haven for rare species and a place of many surprises.
Unlocking the Mysteries of Autumn Leaves
7:13
What causes that brilliant fall color show that people adore?
Wild Horses: America's Most Beloved Invasive Species?
7:25
How can we respect these horses and keep them wild while protecting the islands?
Meet the Fire Lookout of Big Sky Country
7:51
Are real-life fire lookouts becoming obsolete with modern technology?
How the Blue Ridge Mountains (Almost) Lost Their Blue
6:53
The hazy blue was disappearing from the horizon, but it wasn’t just the trees' fault.
Active loading indicator