08: Sweet Fresh Water | The Living Planet

Duration: 54'09''

Synopsis

David Attenborough follows the river Amazon from the Andes to the sea, exploring the life in and around it as it changes from cold torrents to a vast warm delta.

Further Information

More clips from The Living Planet

01: The Building of the Earth | The Living Planet

01: The Building of the Earth | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'30''

David Attenborough examines the colossal forces that shape the earth's surface. He visits the deepest gorge in the world - ...

02: The Frozen World | The Living Planet

02: The Frozen World | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'35''

From the mountains of Africa to the glaciers of Antarctica and the Arctic, David Attenborough explores the ways animals adapt to sur...

03: The Northern Forests | The Living Planet

03: The Northern Forests | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'29''

From the Arctic to the southern USA stretches the largest forest in the world. David Attenborough roams from north to south thro...

04: Jungle | The Living Planet

04: Jungle | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'49''

David Attenborough explores the Amazon jungle, from the tops of the huge trees to the undergrowth which lies at their roots.

05: Seas of Grass | The Living Planet

05: Seas of Grass | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'05''

David Attenborough explores the grasslands of the Americas, Eurasia and Africa, and encounters the rare maned wolf, a giant anteater, b...

06: The Baking Deserts | The Living Planet

06: The Baking Deserts | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'41''

David Attenborough visits the hottest and driest places on earth. In the Mojave desert he finds a plant that has been growing ther...

07: The Sky Above | The Living Planet

07: The Sky Above | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'03''

David Attenborough shows that without gravity the world would be a chaotic place. But some species like spiders, birds and bats have ov...

09: The Margins of the Land | The Living Planet

09: The Margins of the Land | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'21''

David Attenborough examines the borders between land and water and the life that thrives there, from an English estuary to tr...

10: Worlds Apart | The Living Planet

10: Worlds Apart | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'13''

David Attenborough explores the isolated islands which are a haven for ancient species as well as the cradle of new ones.

11: The Open Ocean | The Living Planet

11: The Open Ocean | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 52'37''

David Attenborough explores the ocean, which covers 70 per cent of the Earth's surface. It contains creatures like the leafy sea drago...

12: New Worlds | The Living Planet

12: New Worlds | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 54'01''

David Attenborough looks at the damage we are causing far away from our centres of population - to the oceans, the atmosphere and the trop...

Heights of diversity | The Living Planet

Heights of diversity | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 2'36''

David Attenborough discusses the rainforest climate and explains where earth's rainforests are located.

Hidden in plain sight | The Living Planet

Hidden in plain sight | The Living Planet

BBC Two | 1984 | 2'03''

In the seaweed forest of southern Australia, the leafy sea dragon is so well camouflaged that other fish swim amongst its finery as...

More resources about River ecosystems

S01E01: Amazon | Earth's Great Rivers

S01E01: Amazon | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'02''

Documentary revealing the animals, landscapes and people of the greatest river on earth. From transparent lagoons to pink dolphins, the...

S01E03: Mississippi | Earth's Great Rivers

S01E03: Mississippi | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'07''

The surprising story of the Mississippi, a river that unites the USA. From frozen waterfalls to time-travelling barges, the Missis...

S01E02: Nile | Earth's Great Rivers

S01E02: Nile | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'02''

A look at the astonishing wildlife, landscapes and people of the Nile. From elephants and leopards to ancient wonders, its great length i...

S02E01: Zambezi | Earth's Great Rivers II

S02E01: Zambezi | Earth's Great Rivers II

BBC Two | 2022 | 59'01''

From elephants and wildebeest to Victoria Falls, the largest curtain of water on earth. This is the story of the Zambezi, Africa's ...

S02E02: Danube | Earth's Great Rivers II

S02E02: Danube | Earth's Great Rivers II

BBC Two | 2022 | 59'01''

The extraordinary story of the Danube, the world's most international river. It reveals magical wonders, from crystal-clear waterfal...

S02E03: Yukon | Earth's Great Rivers II

S02E03: Yukon | Earth's Great Rivers II

BBC Two | 2022 | 58'58''

The Yukon is a river of wild extremes. Home to bears, moose and huge salmon, the riches of North America's frozen river have sustaine...

Drinking Our Rivers Dry? | Panorama

Drinking Our Rivers Dry? | Panorama

BBC One | 2011 | 28'51''

As concerns rise over Britain's water supply, Simon Boazman investigates whether the water industry and its regulators are doing enough t...

Episode 1 | The River Wye with Will Millard

Episode 1 | The River Wye with Will Millard

BBC One Wales | 2018 | 28'58''

Writer and angler Will Millard travels along the River Wye. He begins his journey in the mountains of Mid Wales, going in search ...

S03E06: New Zealand | Ray Mears' Extreme Survival

S03E06: New Zealand | Ray Mears' Extreme Survival

BBC Two | 2002 | 59'06''

Facing New Zealand's notoriously unpredictable weather, Ray investigates mountain, river and bush survival techniques used ...

The Amazon Basin | Earth's Great Rivers

The Amazon Basin | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 4'14''

In the Amazon Basin the tributaries meet and the grow larger and stronger. The water is mixed with a variety of different sediments a...

Episode 2 | The River Wye with Will Millard

Episode 2 | The River Wye with Will Millard

BBC One Wales | 2018 | 29'07''

Writer and angler Will Millard is on the second leg of his journey down the River Wye, taking in Glasbury, Hay-on-Wye and Hereford.

Introduction to the Amazon river | Earth's Great Rivers

Introduction to the Amazon river | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'33''

An introduction to the river Amazon, including it's source in Peruvian glaciers.

Mississippi floodplain | Earth's Great Rivers

Mississippi floodplain | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'46''

In the last 1,000 miles of its journey, the Mississippi flows out into a vast natural floodplain.

Crocodiles vs monitor lizard | Earth's Great Rivers

Crocodiles vs monitor lizard | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2021 | 2'07''

A mother crocodile has buried her eggs in the sand, but their scent attracts in hungry mouths. Nile monitor lizards try t...

Introduction to the Mississippi river | Earth's Great Rivers

Introduction to the Mississippi river | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'21''

An introduction to the Mississippi river, including it's source in the Rockies.

When the Amazon reaches the sea | Earth's Great Rivers

When the Amazon reaches the sea | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 4'27''

The meeting of the Amazon and the Atlantic ocean produces an extraordinary ecosystem.

04: Freshwater | Wild Isles

04: Freshwater | Wild Isles

BBC One | 2023 | 57'56''

David Attenborough takes us on a journey from source to sea, following the course of our fresh water to reveal a host of astonishing wildlife.

Baby Alligators in Atchafalaya Swamp | Earth's Great Rivers

Baby Alligators in Atchafalaya Swamp | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 1'47''

Baby alligators - so small that they could easily become a meal for some here in the largest swamp in the USA. Bu...

Building on the Atchafalaya | Earth's Great Rivers

Building on the Atchafalaya | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'25''

The city of New Orleans was built on the Mississippi floodplain and is constantly fighting to hold the river back.

Disappearing Mississippi wetlands | Earth's Great Rivers

Disappearing Mississippi wetlands | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 4'38''

The Mississippi wetlands are disappearing due to human interventions in the landscape.

More from Sir David Attenborough

04: Freshwater | Planet Earth III

04: Freshwater | Planet Earth III

BBC One | 2023 | 58'26''

Fresh water is the lifeblood of planet Earth, where incredible animal dramas play out. From death-feigning fish to frogs that glide, each d...

The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II

The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 3'08''

Nutrients from the deep provide sustenance for a large gathering of sea life.

Ants vs Cows | Natural World

Ants vs Cows | Natural World

BBC Two | 2017 | 2'09''

The super colony unites in a spectacular attack to defend their nest from curious cows.

03: Jungles | Planet Earth II

03: Jungles | Planet Earth II

BBC One | 2016 | 58'00'''

Jungles provide the richest habitats on the planet - mysterious worlds of high drama where extraordinary animals attempt to survive in the most...

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

BBC Two | 2014 | 3'53''

Wall lizards take advantage of foul-smelling dead-horse arums.

How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? | Horizon

How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? | Horizon

BBC Two | 2009 | 58'22''

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world faces a population crisis and if it is the duty of indiv...

10: Seasonal Forests | Planet Earth

10: Seasonal Forests | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 58'44''

Documentary series which celebrates our planet in all its glory. David Attenborough reveals the greatest woodlands on earth, from the nor...

Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer

Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer

BBC Two | 1993 | 3'04''

With a wingspan of over 3m, the wandering albatross has the biggest feeding range of any bird. Throughout the winter they remain in n...

David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth

David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth

BBC One | 2026 | 1'31'15''

A 90-minute special, broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall, London, celebrating Sir David Attenborough's groundbreaking career ...

01: Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

01: Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

BBC One | 2023 | 57'14''

David Attenborough celebrates the rich variety of habitats in our wild isles, the existence of which is critical for the survival of spec...

07: Worlds of Wonder | Frozen Planet II

07: Worlds of Wonder | Frozen Planet II

BBC One | 2023 | 58'06''

A journey through the world’s coldest realms with the most-loved animals from the series, including emperor penguins and one of the l...

David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

BBC One | 2022 | 1'32''

David Attenborough speaks about the environment. Also, includes footage of the drones that turn into animals.

01: Tropical Worlds | The Green Planet

01: Tropical Worlds | The Green Planet

BBC One | 2022 | 58'43''

Tropical rainforests are plant battlegrounds. New filming techniques allow us to enter the world of plants to see it from their perspe...

Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

BBC One | 2021 | 3'39''

Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough discuss their hopes for the future of the planet.

The People v Climate Change

The People v Climate Change

BBC Two | 2021 | 1'03'06''

Meet the 108 ordinary Brits who Sir David Attenborough says we should listen to. This warm and honest documentary reveals how everyday people fee...

Views on COP26 | Climate Change: The Facts

Views on COP26 | Climate Change: The Facts

BBC One | 2021 | 3'06''

COP26 delegates and climate scientist Hannah Cloke discuss their hopes for the COP26 conference.

Leopard seal vs penguin | Seven Worlds, One Planet

Leopard seal vs penguin | Seven Worlds, One Planet

BBC One | 2021 | 2'46''

Glaciers crumbling more quickly, due to climate change, give the advantage to leopard seals hunting penguins.

Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour

Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour

BBC One | 2021 | 1'15''

A poison dart frog fights off a contender until he's sufficiently warned off.

Self-sacrificing fish | Life

Self-sacrificing fish | Life

BBC Two | 2021 | 3'32''

Flying fish can leave the water and soar great distances on their elongated fins to escape from predators below the waves. But finding a place t...

Extinction: The Facts

Extinction: The Facts

BBC One | 2020 | 58'01''

With a million species at risk of extinction, David Attenborough explores how this crisis of biodiversity has consequences for us all, including puttin...