The World About Us

Haroun Tazieff, a leading vulcanologist, risked injury and death to make this spectacular and justly celebrated film. Every notable recent volcanic eruption has been covered-frequently from the brink of the crater. For nine years Tazieff reconnoitered and studied the Italian volcano Stromboli, and the film he brought back was his unique reward. He says: "We saw worlds being created and destroyed at the same time... one could stand at a distance of six yards from the lava flow. At four yards one's eyebrows begin to scorch which does not smell very nice. Another step and radiant heat would produce serious burns."

Julian Pettifer reports on Antarctic exploration today. Fifty-six years after the discovery of the South Pole, the Antarctic is being opened up by a new kind of exploration, made possible by modern technology. By far the biggest and most expensive research programme is the Americans. They call it "Operation Deep Freeze".

The rainforests and the mangrove swamps of Trinidad are home to a great variety of wildlife from the giant anaconda to the charming tree porcupine. The island teems with exotically plumed birds and is one of the last refuges for the dazzling scarlet ibis.

This year marks the centenary of this 49th State of America which was bought for $7,200,000 from Russia in 1867: a land of contrasts, its capital warmed by Pacific currents and Inland temperatures plunging to 70* below zero.