Discovery Channel Documentaries

Drain the Ocean (2004x1)

Air date: Aug 09, 2009

Discovery Channel Embarks On a Virtual Expedition to DRAIN THE OCEAN For an Unprecedented View of What Lies Beneath Digital ocean mapping and CGI technology vividly illustrate the mountains,plains, canyons and creatures of the deep as never seen before,revealing a world of almost unimaginable scale right here on Earth - The oceans cover three-quarters of our planet, hiding a whole other world beneath the waves. If we could pull an imaginary plug at the bottom of the sea and, layer by layer, expose the majesty and mystery of what lies beneath, we would be astounded. Narrated by Avery Brooks (STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE) and combining the latest scientific data with state-of-the-art CGI computer hardware plus specially written software, this innovative and visually striking special drains the water from the oceans to reveal the mountains, canyons, plains and volcanoes that are more dramatic than anything visible on dry land. The ocean is the last frontier and images of the deep are only glimpsed in the lights of a submarine or ROVs (remotely operated vehicles), with most of this undersea world having never known the light of the sun. Leading international scientists and institutes in the field of oceanography and marine science join in this quest to lay bare the landscapes of the deep and share their experiences and ideas about what this mysterious world might look like. Deep water corals that rival an urban skyline in size, a submerged canyon that is bigger than the Grand Canyon, a mountain range that runs for 65,000km - all these features have only been known in recent decades and while exploring these fascinating landscapes, scientists have discovered life forms that they had no idea existed - or could exist - in these bizarre, hostile environments. Combining CGI with cutting-edge digital ocean-mapping technology, leading oceanographers and geologists re-create the spectacular formations growing and shifting below the waves of the world's oceans. T