Episode Information

Mountains define our most spectacular landscapes. As they climb the changing altitude results in a mosaic of dramatic habitats, teaming with incredible wildlife. They’re found on every continent on Earth, literally from pole to pole, covering 22% of the planet’s surface. An incredibly important part of our ecosystem, a quarter of terrestrial animal and plant species, live in mountains and they house an incredible 85% of all amphibians, mammals and birds. From the little auks that breed in inhospitable polar climbs and the guanacos of the boreal Andes highly adapted to conserve water to mountain pygmy possums, expert mountaineers able to hibernate for over half a year to weather the harsh winters of the Australian Alps. It’s no wonder that so many cultures across the world consider mountains sacred places: gateways to the heavens.