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National Geographic Explorer Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
126 Episodes 1985 - 1985
Episode 1
Underwater Photography
Sun, Apr 7, 1985
Explorer visits Japan's Izu Oceanic Park with photographer and diver David Doubilet.
Episode 2
Iceland Breakthrough
Sun, Apr 7, 1985
A daring team of twelve men run a wild Icelandic river, the Jökulsá á Fjöllum, from its source in a huge glacier to its mouth at the Arctic Ocean.
Episode 3
Pantanal
Sun, Apr 7, 1985
The Pantanal region in Brazil is the home of howler monkeys, jaguars, anteaters, birds, and even web-footed deer.
Episode 4
Denali Wilderness
Sun, Apr 7, 1985
Alaska's Denali also known as Mount McKinley towers over one of the most diverse wildernesses in the world. It contains grizzly bears, wolves, and caribou.
Episode 5
Human Powered Vehicles
Sun, Apr 7, 1985
Explorer goes to England in order to look at some novel bicycle designs.
Episode 6
Cajun Carver
Sun, Apr 14, 1985
Explorer profiles Andrew "Tan" Brunet a Cajun decoy carver and poet.
Episode 7
Elusive Depths of Mexico
Sun, Apr 14, 1985
An international team of spelunkers explore the limestone caves of Chiapas Mexico.
Episode 8
Herculaneum: Voices from the Past
Sun, Apr 14, 1985
Explorer examines the ruins of the Roman city of Herculaneum which was destroyed along with Pompeii in 79 A.D. by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Episode 9
Beyond the Wall
Sun, Apr 14, 1985
Explorer examines the ancient way of life practiced by China's Mongolian people.
Episode 10
Amateur Naturalist: Upstream, Downstream
Sun, Apr 14, 1985
Self-trained naturalist Gerald Durrell explores the River Wye in Wales and examines its creatures.
Episode 11
Merlin's Bats
Sun, Apr 14, 1985
Explorer profiles Dr. Merlin Tuttle who is investigating bats deep in the caves of Texas.
Episode 12
Holy Stone
Sat, Apr 20, 1985
Explorer goes to the heart of Italy's marble country with American artist Helaine Blumenfeld and discovers a sculptor's paradise in the village of Pietrasanta.
Episode 13
Arctic Paradise
Sat, Apr 20, 1985
A family of modern pioneers create a living built of self-sufficiency in Canada's Yukon.
Episode 14
Water, Birth, the Planet Earth
Sat, Apr 20, 1985
Explorer looks at the intimate connection between life and water by examining water's role in evolution.
Episode 15
Bite for Survival
Sat, Apr 20, 1985
Explorer looks at the life cycle of the mosquito the insect responsible for more human deaths than any other.
Episode 16
Mid-Ocean Dive
Sat, Apr 20, 1985
Explorer follows Emory Kristof and his high-tech crew as they probe the ocean depths off of Bermuda and look at the bizarre, fluorescent underwater lifeforms.
Episode 17
Puppets of Palmero
Sun, Apr 28, 1985
Explorer profiles the Cutticchio family who carry on a four generation tradition of the small theaters of Palmero, Italy.
Episode 18
In Pursuit of the Boar
Sun, Apr 28, 1985
Explorer looks at the feral pigs of French countryside and the men who hunt them for sport.
Episode 19
Irving Johnson, High Seas Adventurer
Sun, Apr 28, 1985
Explorer profiles Irving Johnson who has traveled the oceans for more than six decades and has recorded many of his adventures on film.
Episode 20
Siberia: The Endless Horizon
Sun, Apr 28, 1985
Explorer takes the Trans-Siberian Express across the frozen frontier of the Soviet Union.
Episode 21
Elegant Craftsman
Sun, Apr 28, 1985
Explorer profiles George Nakashima a 79-year-old furniture builder whose views his craftsmanship as spiritual work.
Episode 22
Voodoo in Haiti
Sun, May 5, 1985
Explorer follows a group of pilgrims who are hiking to a sacred waterfall in Haiti for ritual cleansing. Their rites combine both Roman Catholicism and Voodoo.
Episode 23
Amateur Naturalist: Matchbox Menagerie
Sun, May 5, 1985
Naturalist Gerald Durrell returns to Greece and recaptures his childhood interest in small creatures.
Episode 24
Life by the Fingertips
Sun, May 5, 1985
A french free climber attempts to scale a sheer wall of rock with only his fingertips and toes.
Episode 25
The Land that Devours Ships
Sun, May 5, 1985
Explorer follows an expedition of divers who are using a revolutionary submarine suit to explore the remains of the Breadalbane a British ship lost in the arctic ocean.
Episode 26
Garden of Eden
Sun, May 5, 1985
Explorer looks at the threat of extinction that is facing wildlife.
Episode 27
Cape Disappointment
Sun, May 5, 1985
Explorer follows a group of Coast Guard trainees as they hone their skills by guiding ships through rough seas at the National Motor Lifeboat School in Washington State.
Episode 28
Kodo: Japanese Drummers
Sun, May 12, 1985
Explorer visits the island of Sato where communal musicians preserve the ancient Japanese art of drum-beating.
Episode 29
Lanzarote: Land of Parched Earth
Sun, May 12, 1985
Explorer goes to the volcanic island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands where its people cultivate an almost lunar landscape.
Episode 30
On Angel's Wings
Sun, May 12, 1985
A trio of daredevils travel to Angel Falls. Two of them hang glide from the top of the falls while the third attempts a parachute jump.
Episode 31
The Incredible Heap
Sun, May 12, 1985
Explorers looks at the work of mice, spiders, lice, and snakes when it examines the art of making compost.
Episode 32
Patagonia Penguins
Sun, May 12, 1985
Explorer travels to the desert of southern Argentina where volunteers capture penguins for a study focusing on their conservation.
Episode 33
Avalanche Institute
Sun, May 19, 1985
Explorer goes to the Swiss Alps where scientists study the causes of avalanches.
Episode 34
The Little World of Dietmar Fill
Sun, May 19, 1985
Explorer watches as the camera of wildlife photographer Dietmar Fill reveals microscopic life in an Australian Lake.
Episode 35
Masters of Murano
Sun, May 19, 1985
Explorer looks at the artisans of Murano, Italy who make masterworks of Venetian glass.
Episode 36
Alyeska - Arctic Wilderness
Sun, May 19, 1985
Explorer goes to Alaska and observes the cycle of the seasons and its effects of wildlife.
Episode 37
Angels of War
Sun, May 19, 1985
Residents of Papua New Guinea recall the horrors of military occupation during World War II.
Episode 38
Mohawks High Up
Sun, May 26, 1985
Explorer follows a group of death-defying Mohawk Indians as they tread the narrow steel girders of an under construction Manhattan skyscraper.
Episode 39
Signatures of the Soul
Sun, May 26, 1985
Explorer looks at the history of tattooing, both primitive and modern, and discussing its use as an ornament, badge, and personal statement.
Episode 40
Drought
Sun, May 26, 1985
Explorer looks at the powerful effects of a drought in Australia.
Episode 41
The Superliners: Twilight of an Era
Sun, May 26, 1985
Explorer looks at the first half of the 20th century when magnificent ocean liners ruled the sea.
Episode 42
Shooting Africa
Sun, Jun 2, 1985
Wildlife photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand goes on a photo safari in Kenya's Masai Mara Natural Reserve.
Episode 43
Our God Is a Woman
Sun, Jun 2, 1985
Explorer visits an island off the coast of West Africa where women are in complete control.
Episode 44
God's Acre
Sun, Jun 2, 1985
Explorer looks at the insect and animal life teeming at a thousand year old parish in the heart of the New Forest in Hampshire.
Episode 45
Las Fallas Festival
Sun, Jun 9, 1985
The festival of Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain, celebrates the working class with music, fireworks, and giant sculptures.
Episode 46
Stranded
Sun, Jun 9, 1985
Explorer investigates why some whales fling themselves onto beaches and die. Is it confusion or suicide?
Episode 47
Amateur Naturalist: The Other New Yorkers
Sun, Jun 9, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell discover a complex ecosystem in the middle of New York City. It includes feral dogs, rats, and migratory birds.
Episode 48
Bate's Car
Sun, Jun 16, 1985
Harold Bate has developed a car that runs on methane.
Episode 49
Over Ice
Sun, Jun 16, 1985
A team of Frenchmen give a dramatic and unnarrated glimpse into the world of ice climbing.
Episode 50
The Sky's the Limit
Sun, Jun 16, 1985
National Geographic celebrates the bicentennial of hot-air ballooning. It follows a balloon safari in East Africa, observes a recreation of the first balloon flight by the Montgolfier brothers, and goes to Paris for the Gordon Bennett Race.
Episode 51
The Sharks
Sun, Jun 16, 1985
National Geographic looks at sharks and follows a particular close encounter with a Great White in a shark cage.
Episode 52
Koalas: Out on a Limb
Sun, Jun 23, 1985
Scientists work to cure a contagious disease that threatens Australia's beloved koalas.
Episode 53
The Samurai from Twickenham
Sun, Jun 23, 1985
A 35-year old pilot from England becomes the first foreigner to participate in Japan's ancient Soma Festival.
Episode 54
Korup: An African Rain Forest
Sun, Jun 23, 1985
Explorer visits Korup a rain forest on the coast of Cameroon.
Episode 55
Cuna Initiative
Sun, Jun 30, 1985
On Panama's northeast coast the Cuna Indians protect their heritage and help preserve 5000 acres of tropical rain forest.
Episode 56
African Hunters
Sun, Jun 30, 1985
Explorer examines a stunning paradox of African wildlife conservation: animals are sacrificed to the big-game hunting industry in order to raise revenue for the preservation of national parks.
Episode 57
Birth of a Ship
Sun, Jun 30, 1985
A French marine carpenter works with lumberjacks and sail-makers in the construction of a 19th century vessel.
Episode 58
The Lady and the Owl
Sun, Jul 7, 1985
Explorer goes to Ontario to visit a woman who has dedicated her life to the care and rehabilitation of injured owls.
Episode 59
Amateur Naturalist: Jam Jar Jungle
Sun, Jul 7, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell unveil a hidden world lurking in a tranquil pond in Kent, England.
Episode 60
Salim Ali's India
Sun, Jul 14, 1985
Explorer profiles 87-yeard old Dr. Salim Ali who is considered to be the "grand old man of Indian ornithology".
Episode 61
Bile for Survival
Sun, Jul 14, 1985
Explorer examines the life cycle of the mosquito which is responsible for more human deaths than any other creature.
Episode 62
Thoroughbred
Sun, Jul 14, 1985
Explorer looks at the breeding, training, racing, and trading of Thoroughbreds.
Episode 63
Dolphin Touch
Sun, Jul 14, 198548 mins
In Shark Bay along the Australian coast a group of wild dolphins makes direct contact with local inhabitants.
Episode 64
Saudi Camel Race
Sun, Jul 21, 1985
In Saudi Arabia, over two thousand camels hurtle through the desert sand in a nineteen kilometer race to win first prize from the king.
Episode 65
The Brendan Voyage
Sun, Jul 21, 1985
A five man crew braves the North Atlantic Ocean in an effort to recreate the legendary voyage of Saint Brendan.
Episode 66
Ethiopia: the Hidden Empire
Sun, Jul 21, 1985
National Geographic surveys the African land once known as Abyssinia. It visits monasteries, castles, deserts, and the fertile highlands.
Episode 67
Alaskan Grizzlies
Sun, Jul 28, 1985
Explorer takes a close-up look at the Alaskan grizzly bear.
Episode 68
Over Sand
Sun, Jul 28, 1985
Stunning sand formations in Algeria serve as a backdrop to breathtaking scenes of rock-climbing.
Episode 69
Amateur Naturalist: Creatures of the Sun
Sun, Jul 28, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell go to Arizona's beautiful Sonoran Desert and examine how indigenous creatures have adapted to the severe heat.
Episode 70
Conquest
Sun, Jul 28, 1985
The United States and Soviet Union jockey for predominance in the conquest of space.
Episode 71
Guardian of the Everglades
Sun, Aug 4, 1985
Environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas champions the cause of the Florida's Everglades.
Episode 72
The Polar Bears
Sun, Aug 4, 1985
Polar bears roam wild on an arctic island.
Episode 73
Water: A Fresh Look
Sun, Aug 4, 1985
Walter Sigl swims among piranhas and walks under ice as he pursues his hobby of freshwater filming.
Episode 74
Taquile on Titicaca
Sun, Aug 11, 1985
Ancient Inca traditions of communal government and handwoven colorful clothing endure on Taquile Island in Peru.
Episode 75
Song Dog
Sun, Aug 11, 1985
A study in Yellowstone National Park presents information on the life cycle of the coyote.
Episode 76
Vidal in Venice
Sun, Aug 11, 1985
Author Gore Vidal presents an affectionate look at the history and people of his native city Venice.
Episode 77
Tornado Alley
Sun, Aug 18, 1985
Storm chasers canvas the Great Plains in search of tornadoes.
Episode 78
Amateur Naturalist: Wetland Wilderness
Sun, Aug 18, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell visit France's Camargue a marshland that is rich in wildlife.
Episode 79
Brooklyn Bridge
Sun, Aug 18, 1985
Explorer examines the dramatic and sometimes tragic history of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Episode 80
Interplast
Sun, Aug 25, 1985
American medics in Peru share technology and expertise with local doctors.
Episode 81
The Shrimp Fisher
Sun, Aug 25, 1985
Explorer offers a lyrical portrait of a Dutch fisherman at work in the Netherlands' Waddenzee.
Episode 82
Shadows in the Forest
Sun, Aug 25, 1985
Man and gorilla learn to coexist in the mountains of Rwanda.
Episode 83
Australia: The Timeless Land
Sun, Aug 25, 1985
National Geographic explores the wonders of down under.
Episode 84
Cameras on the Move
Sun, Sep 1, 1985
Garrett Brown inventor of the Steadicam and Skycam takes his mobile cameras on the road.
Episode 85
Amateur Naturalist: A Monarchy of Trees
Sun, Sep 1, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell explore England's 900-year-old New Forest.
Episode 86
Formula R: Reindeer Racing
Sun, Sep 8, 1985
Laplanders hold a race of reindeer to celebrate the end of winter.
Episode 87
Cloudwalker
Sun, Sep 8, 1985
Renowned climber Jeff Lowe attempts to climb Alaska's fearsome Moose's Tooth mountain.
Episode 88
Polar Bear Alert
Sun, Sep 8, 1985
National Geographic goes to Churchill, Manitoba, to look at the life of polar bears.
Episode 89
Fireworks Maker
Sun, Sep 15, 1985
Marcelo Ramos creates fireworks to light up Mexican fiestas.
Episode 90
Birdsville
Sun, Sep 15, 1985
The inhabitants of a small Australian town play host to thousands at an annual horse race.
Episode 91
Desire of the Moth
Sun, Sep 15, 1985
Explorer looks at the life cycle of the moth from larva to winged creature of the night.
Episode 92
Smoke Jumpers
Sun, Sep 22, 1985
Parachuting firefighters battle to save the nation's forests.
Episode 93
Supercharged
Sun, Sep 22, 1985
Explorer looks at the history of the Grand Prix from 1924 to 1939.
Episode 94
Impressions of Venice
Sun, Sep 22, 1985
A poetic portrait of Venice set to the music of Tomaso Albinoni.
Episode 95
Veterinary Vanguard
Sun, Sep 29, 1985
Animals get first-class care at a high-tech hospital.
Episode 96
Journey to Hainan
Sun, Sep 29, 1985
On China's unspoiled island of Hainan, tropical beauty surrounds village life.
Episode 97
Family of Chimps
Sun, Sep 29, 1985
Chimpanzees in a Dutch zoo have create an interesting social structure.
Episode 98
Amateur Naturalist: Between Ice and Fire
Sun, Sep 29, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell journey to Canada's northern forests.
Episode 99
Camel Man
Sun, Oct 6, 1985
Noel Fullerton steaks across the Australian desert in search of the wild dromedary.
Episode 100
The Highly Exalted
Sun, Oct 6, 1985
Cowboys on a northern Nevada cattle ranch tell tales of life on the range.
Episode 101
Gaelic Poet
Sun, Oct 6, 1985
Majestic Scottish landscape frame Sorley MacLean as he evokes his life and reads from his works.
Episode 102
Archaeological Detectives
Sun, Oct 13, 1985
Archaeologists uncover ancient Roman ruins on the island of Cyprus.
Episode 103
Fall Line
Sun, Oct 13, 1985
Daredevil skier Steve Shea descends a near-vertical slope in Wyoming's Tetons.
Episode 104
Tree of Life
Sun, Oct 13, 1985
A giant fig tree in the tropical forest of Belize hosts a myriad of creatures both large and small.
Episode 105
Man of Wheat
Sun, Oct 13, 1985
A teacher turned former recounts forty years of hardship and satisfaction.
Episode 106
The Sherpa of Nepal
Sun, Oct 20, 1985
The future of the Sherpa is uncertain as Western ways encroach on their traditional life-style.
Episode 107
Filming the Impossible
Sun, Oct 20, 1985
Explorer travels the world with Britain's most adventurous cameraman.
Episode 108
Amateur Naturalist: Living on the Edge
Sun, Oct 20, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell explore tidal pools on Jersey and climb the shore cliffs of the Shetland Islands.
Episode 109
Whale Roundup
Sun, Oct 27, 1985
Eskimos on Canada's Churchill River capture beluga whales for aquariums on the East Coast.
Episode 110
Yukon Passage
Sun, Oct 27, 1985
National Geographic follows as four adventurers retrace the path of Klondike gold seekers.
Episode 111
Return of the Bald Eagle
Sun, Oct 27, 1985
Due to one man's efforts, Massachusetts shelters bald eagles.
Episode 112
Old Skull, New Look
Sun, Nov 3, 1985
Top scientists use modern tools to study the ancient Taung skull.
Episode 113
Cradle of Mankind
Sun, Nov 3, 1985
Richard Leakey traces the archaeology of Kenya's Rift Valley.
Episode 114
Kamoya Kimeu Honored
Sun, Nov 3, 1985
National Geographic honors fossil hunter Kamoya Kimeu.
Episode 115
The Edge of Earth and Sky
Sun, Nov 3, 1985
Explorer follows the perilous launching of hot air balloons in the Venezuelan Andes.
Episode 116
Alaska's Big Bears
Sun, Nov 3, 1985
Explorer takes a closeup look at Alaska's brown bears as they hunt, fish and frolic.
Episode 117
The Amish
Sun, Nov 10, 1985
Follow the Amish as they speak for themselves in this portrait of their gentle ways.
Episode 118
Niagara Falls
Sun, Nov 10, 1985
Niagara Falls is an embodiment of power and beauty that has inspired millions.
Episode 119
Amateur Naturalist: Feast of Grass
Sun, Nov 10, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell meet rhinos in the Umfolozi Game Reserve in South Africa.
Episode 120
The Last Place in England
Sun, Nov 17, 1985
Isolated Sennan Cove suffers from the harsh elements and fierce feuds.
Episode 121
Marsupials Down Under
Sun, Nov 17, 1985
Explorer looks at Australia's tiny honey possum, the termite-hungry numbat, and the amazing pygmy glider.
Episode 122
Shiva's Disciples
Sun, Nov 17, 1985
A young buy dances in Kerala, Inda, where Shiva a dancing god is deeply revered.
Episode 123
Backstage at the Beaver Pond
Sun, Nov 24, 1985
Explorer looks at the challenges of the wildlife filmmaker.
Episode 124
Amateur Naturalist: Guardians of the Meadow
Sun, Nov 24, 1985
Gerald and Lee Durrell examine England's hedgerows which are the homes to many creatures.
Episode 125
Morocco's River Rose
Sun, Nov 24, 1985
The Oum Er-Rbia River in Morocco is explored with a kayak.
Episode 126
Triumph of the Nomads
Sun, Nov 24, 1985
Australia aborigines flourished in a harsh world before the Europeans came.