Africa
Geologist Prof Iain Stewart shows how the continent of Africa was formed from the wreckage of a long lost supercontinent.
Geologist Prof Iain Stewart shows how the continent of Africa was formed from the wreckage of a long-lost supercontinent. He discovers clues in its spectacular landmarks, mineral wealth and iconic wildlife, that help piece together the story of Africa’s formation. He also shows how this deep history has left its mark on the modern-day Africa and the world.
Iain starts at Victoria Falls, with a truly spectacular leap into the water right on the lip of the 100m waterfall. Hidden within this vast cliff-face is evidence that the falls were created by vast volcanic eruptions 180 million years ago. These eruptions marked the moment when Africa was carved from the supercontinent of Pangaea and began its journey as a separate continent.
The creation of Africa had a surprising impact on evolution. Scrambling up the sides of the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Iain finds small marine creatures that reveal that this part of Africa was once a shallow sea that formed when Africa was created. And within the arid Western Desert, he reveals 17m long skeletons of early whales buried in the sand. These skeletons reveal how land-dwelling mammals were lured back into the shallow seas created by the birth of the Africa continent, leading to the evolution of whales.
Going back even further in time, Iain visits the diamond mines of Sierra Leone. These vast gravel pits once fuelled the devastating civil war here. Their diamonds reveal not just the very earliest origins of the land that today makes up Africa, but how the very first continents came into existence, billions of years ago.
Finally, Iain travels to the Serengeti Plains, where he discovers how the spectacular wildebeest migration is fuelled by a process that will eventually lead to Africa’s destruction. Every year the wildebeest return to give birth in an area of unusually nutrient-rich grass. This grass grows on fertile volcanic soil and studying ash and lava from the nearby volcano reveals that beneath Africa there lies a vast mantle plume of molten rock. This volcanic upwelling is so strong that scientists predict it will one day tear the ancient continent of Africa in two.
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Clips
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Diamond mine
Duration: 03:18
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Marine fossils in the Pyramids of Giza
Duration: 03:03
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The Victoria Falls
Duration: 01:24
Music Played
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Rob Dougan
Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Variation)
About Iain Stewart
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Iain Stewart |
Series Producer | Zoe Heron |
Executive Producer | Jonathan Renouf |
Producer | Peter Oxley |
Director | Peter Oxley |
Broadcasts
- Sun 9 Jun 2013 21:00Â鶹Éç Two except Northern Ireland
- Sun 9 Jun 2013 22:00Â鶹Éç Two Northern Ireland
- Mon 17 Jun 2013 23:20Â鶹Éç Two except Northern Ireland & Wales
- Mon 17 Jun 2013 23:50Â鶹Éç Two Wales & Northern Ireland only
- Tue 24 Jun 2014 20:00
- Wed 25 Jun 2014 00:50
- Fri 27 Jun 2014 00:30
- Tue 3 Mar 2015 23:55
- Mon 6 Jun 2016 23:00
- Mon 13 Jun 2016 02:10
- Mon 15 May 2017 16:15
- Thu 17 May 2018 23:00
- Mon 16 Jul 2018 23:00
- Mon 25 Feb 2019 15:15
- Sat 22 Aug 2020 09:00Â鶹Éç Two except Scotland
- Mon 12 Jul 2021 14:15Â鶹Éç Two except Scotland
- Wed 13 Jul 2022 20:00
- Thu 14 Jul 2022 01:50
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