The Andes in a Day
In The Andes in a Day, narrator Sir David Attenborough marvels at the longest mountain chain on the planet! Enjoy soaring views of the jagged peaks, and meet the hardy guanaco that endures unpredictable weather. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: Describe the Andes mountains range.
A: It's the longest mountain chain in the world; it’s made up of volcanoes; it’s in South America; it’s 5,000 miles long, stretching from the Equator to Antarctica; it formed when the floor of the Pacific Ocean slipped under the South American continent.
Q: Do you think many people live in the Andes Mountains? Why or why not?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may say no because they are steep and jagged, there are active volcanoes, and/or the weather is unpredictable.
Q: How do you think guanacos are adapted to live in Patagonia?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may mention that they can eat the sparse vegetation or that they can survive blizzards because of their warm fur and long eyelashes.
More Like This
In Rising Temperatures and the World's Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the impact of rising temperatures on the world's most iconic mountain ranges — the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, and the Himalayas. As climate change accelerates, glaciers are melting, snowlines are rising, and ecosystems are shifting. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How the Andes Shaped Life in South America, narrator Iain Stewart explains how the Andes have shaped South America in incredible ways, creating the Amazon River and its rainforest. One of the Andes’ most amazing residents is the llama, built for high-altitude life. But llamas didn’t originate in South America — they came from North America and crossed over millions of years ago when the continents connected. Today, just like the llamas once did, people bring new foods, technology, and ideas to the Andes, showing the world is more connected than ever! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Rise of the Continents, which uncovers how Earth’s continents formed and shaped life over millions of years.
In The World’s Harshest Flamingo Colony, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows how flamingos survive in extreme environments. These flamingos live in the High Andes, where freezing temperatures, high altitudes, and intense UV radiation challenge their survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Creation of the Andes, learn how the Andes were created by forces deep in the Earth's crust. The subduction of the ocean floor causes molten rock to rise, creating volcanoes — almost 200 of them along the west of the continent. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Rising Temperatures and the World's Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the impact of rising temperatures on the world's most iconic mountain ranges — the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, and the Himalayas. As climate change accelerates, glaciers are melting, snowlines are rising, and ecosystems are shifting. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How the Andes Shaped Life in South America, narrator Iain Stewart explains how the Andes have shaped South America in incredible ways, creating the Amazon River and its rainforest. One of the Andes’ most amazing residents is the llama, built for high-altitude life. But llamas didn’t originate in South America — they came from North America and crossed over millions of years ago when the continents connected. Today, just like the llamas once did, people bring new foods, technology, and ideas to the Andes, showing the world is more connected than ever! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Rise of the Continents, which uncovers how Earth’s continents formed and shaped life over millions of years.
In The World’s Harshest Flamingo Colony, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows how flamingos survive in extreme environments. These flamingos live in the High Andes, where freezing temperatures, high altitudes, and intense UV radiation challenge their survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Creation of the Andes, learn how the Andes were created by forces deep in the Earth's crust. The subduction of the ocean floor causes molten rock to rise, creating volcanoes — almost 200 of them along the west of the continent. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.