Episode
Nature: Braving Iraq
Overview
As recently as the 1980’s, Iraq’s Mesopotamian Marshes were reminiscent of the Garden of Eden – indeed, many biblical scholars believe they are one and the same. Fed by the combined waters of the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, this enormous marshland of over 6,000 square miles dominated southern Iraq. For more than 7,000 years, these wetlands provided a bountiful home for both wildlife and humans. A large population of indigenous people, the Ma’dan Tribes known as Marsh Arabs, had thrived there for centuries. But in the 1990’s, due to political conflict, Saddam Hussein attempted to eradicate them – not through systematic extermination, but by destroying the marshes on which they depended for survival. Massive canals were dug, diverting river water away from the wetlands and towards the Persian Gulf. Huge embankments were built to prevent water from entering the marshes. What had been a green paradise twice the size of the Everglades shrank to less than 10% of its original size. Most of it was transformed into a parched, lifeless desert. The wildlife and the people were forced to leave.
Details
- Series
- Nature
- Season
- Season 29
- Episode
- Episode 4
- Air date
- 2010-11-07
- Runtime
- 53 min
Episode context
Braving Iraq is Episode 4 in Season 29 of Nature. It aired on 2010-11-07. The runtime is 53 min.
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Episode 3: A Murder of Crows
Although cultures around the world may regard the crow as a scavenger, bad omen, or simply a nuisance, this bad reputation might overshadow what could be regarded as the crow’s most striking characteristic – its intelligence. New research indicates that crows are among the brightest animals in the world. NATURE’s A Murder of Crows brings you these so-called feathered apes, as you have never seen them before.
Episode 5: Wolverine: Chasing the Phantom
Wolverines are among the most elusive creatures on the planet. They seek out the toughest terrain – the most rugged, remote and fiercely raw – and they’ve always been scarce to begin with.
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Episode 6: Revealing the Leopard
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Episode 1: Cuba: The Accidental Eden
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Episode 7: Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story
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Episode 9: The Himalayas
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Episode 10: Broken Tail: A Tiger's Last Journey
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Episode 11: Outback Pelicans
The Australian pelican is built for long-distance travel. With a light skeleton and a wingspan of over eight feet, it can be airborne all day and deep into the night. But what exactly triggers their journey? How do they find their way? NATURE looks for answers to questions researchers are only now beginning to unravel.
Episode 12: Survivors of the Firestorm
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