The Grand Canyon | Planet Earth

Duration: 1'42''

Synopsis

For five million years, the Colorado River has carved its way through the landscape, creating the Grand Canyon.

Further Information

More clips from Planet Earth

3: Freshwater | Planet Earth

3: Freshwater | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 58'50''

Documentary series which celebrates earth in all its glory. This edition follows the descent of the planet's mightiest rivers from their mountai...

Mountain streams | Planet Earth

Mountain streams | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 1'49''

The early stages of a mountain stream and the wildlife that lives there.

Tepuis of Venezuela | Planet Earth

Tepuis of Venezuela | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 1'53''

How rain has shaped the Tepuis of Venezuela.

3: Freshwater | Planet Earth

3: Freshwater | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 58'50''

Documentary series which celebrates earth in all its glory. This edition follows the descent of the planet's mightiest rivers from their mountai...

Mountain streams | Planet Earth

Mountain streams | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 1'49''

The early stages of a mountain stream and the wildlife that lives there.

Tepuis of Venezuela | Planet Earth

Tepuis of Venezuela | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 1'53''

How rain has shaped the Tepuis of Venezuela.

More resources about River ecosystems

S1E1: Amazon | Earth's Great Rivers

S1E1: Amazon | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'58''

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

S1E2: Nile | Earth's Great Rivers

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BBC Two | 2019 | 59'00''

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

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.

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.

S2E1: Zambezi | Earth's Great Rivers II

S2E1: 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 wi...

Industrialised Mississippi river | Earth's Great Rivers

Industrialised Mississippi river | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 4'44''

In the central stretch of the Mississippi, barges transport millions of tonnes of the nation's produce up and down th...

S1E3: Mississippi | Earth's Great Rivers

S1E3: 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 Mississi...

S2E2: Danube | Earth's Great Rivers II

S2E2: 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 waterfalls...

Tepuis of Venezuela | Planet Earth

Tepuis of Venezuela | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 1'53''

How rain has shaped the Tepuis of Venezuela.

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...

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...

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.

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 ...

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.

Episode 3 | The River Wye with Will Millard

Episode 3 | The River Wye with Will Millard

BBC One Wales | 2018 | 29'00''

Writer and angler Will Millard embarks on the final leg of his journey down the River Wye, from Ross-on-Wye to Chepstow, where th...

Flooded forest | Earth's Great Rivers

Flooded forest | Earth's Great Rivers

BBC Two | 2019 | 4'24''

Wildlife thrives in the Amazon during the wet season.

Freshwater | Wild Isles

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.

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.

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.

Mountain streams | Planet Earth

Mountain streams | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 1'49''

The early stages of a mountain stream and the wildlife that lives there.

More from Sir David Attenborough

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2: Ocean | Planet Earth III

BBC One | 2023 | 58'32''

A groundbreaking journey from tropical shallow seas to the mysterious depths. Sir David Attenborough reveals extraordinary new worlds and unique ...

The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II

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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.

3: Jungles | Planet Earth II

3: 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...

7: Great Plains | Planet Earth

7: Great Plains | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 58'56''

Documentary series which celebrates Earth in its natural glory. A look at the great plains - wildernesses which support the greatest gathering...

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...

Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

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 species ...

2: Water Worlds | The Green Planet

2: Water Worlds | The Green Planet

BBC One | 2022 | 58'13''

A look at the beautiful, bizarre worlds created by water plants. Flowers smother rivers and lakes. Plants fight and hunt. A river bubbles ...

David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

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BBC One | 2022 | 1'32''

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

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.

COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts

COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts

BBC One | 2021 | 3'06''

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

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

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BBC One | 2021 | 1'15''

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

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...

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...

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.

Biodiversity loss | Extinction: The Facts

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BBC One | 2020 | 4'12''

An exploration of the devastating impacts of the loss of insect and plant biodiversity.

David, The Ruler | Dynasties

David, The Ruler | Dynasties

BBC One | 2018 | 1'37''

One strong and determined leader, David, rules the land, but can trust no one.

Marine predators and scavengers | The Blue Planet

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BBC Two | 2017 | 10'13''

The scavengers of the deep ocean rely on predators at the surface to provide their nutrition.