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The Americas: A Unified Natural Wonder

While North and South America are often perceived as distinct continents separated by the Isthmus of Panama, they actually form one expansive supercontinent that stretches from the frigid Canadian Arctic to the picturesque fjords of Patagonia. This vastness allows for an extraordinary array of biodiversity, showcasing unique flora and fauna across all 12 of the world’s major biomes.

This rich tapestry of wildlife is highlighted in the new nature docuseries The Americas, which airs on NBC and is narrated by acclaimed actor Tom Hanks. The series, airing on Sundays at 8/7c, features ten episodes, each focusing on a different subregion of this colossal landmass, exploring environments ranging from the Atacama Desert in South America to the suburban expanses of the eastern United States. In a conversation with Mike Gunton, the executive producer, he shares insights on his experience as a British documentarian delving into the diverse realms of the Americas, and discusses the intersection of nature and travel in our evolving world.

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) chasing across the Sea of Cortez, Baja Sur, Mexico

What motivated you to explore the Americas as a singular project?

The answer lies in the very essence of this remarkable area. I was inspired to create a comprehensive documentary that encompasses this strikingly diverse region—one that is frequently considered in fragments rather than as a cohesive whole. Following my work on Planet Earth II and while developing another series, Dynasties, which focused on individual animal narratives, I pondered how to merge both storytelling techniques. I initially thought of capturing the essence of Africa, but that has been extensively documented. North America is also well-covered. Then it struck me—if we consider the perspective of wildlife, North America, Central America, and South America exist as a continuum. Animals are unaware of human-imposed borders or political boundaries. Has anyone ever tried to explore this vast landscape as one interconnected entity? Bringing this concept to NBC, I proposed the title The Americas. The response was incredibly positive, as they embraced the title, emphasizing NBC’s identity as the voice of the Americas.

With a broad national audience in mind, we aimed to craft something that felt less like a traditional encyclopedia and more like an exclusive exploration. Imagine embarking on an ultimate safari that spans from the Arctic to the Antarctic, straddling two oceans and traversing different climates and geographic features. This was our guiding question: What would this journey look like? Where would it take us? And how could we present it? Our mission was to identify ten quintessential locations that exemplified the essence of this supercontinent. Each episode would spotlight one such place, revealing its unique character, history, geography, geology, climate, and of course, the wildlife that thrives there. We also wanted to explore how these creatures adapt to the challenges presented by their environments. For this ultimate safari experience, we enlisted the perfect guide—Tom Hanks, a figure who brings warmth and curiosity to our journey.

Source
www.cntraveler.com