In Celebration of Earth Day 2010 Discovery En Espanol Presents 'South Pacific'

MIAMI, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Earth Day 2010 and starting at 8 pm ET/ 9 pm PT on April 22nd, Discovery en Espanol will transport its viewers to a "South Pacific" few would imagine.  This four-hour long special offers viewers a look at one of the most remote island groups on earth.  Well beyond the stereotypic palm trees and sandy beaches, the Pacific is an ocean and land of extremes, from clear tropical waters and birds of paradise to icebergs, penguins and raging storms.

"We felt that the airing of 'South Pacific' would be an excellent way to celebrate our planet and its wonders as it demonstrates not only the beauty of our world but also how nature and man adapt under extreme isolation.  Although we at Discovery en Espanol endeavor to celebrate the Earth each and every day, this airing is special because it is sure to rekindle viewers' amazement in our wondrous planet as they discover new truths and come face to face with some long held mistaken assumptions," said Bilai Joa Silar, VP and Channel Director, Discovery U.S. Hispanic Networks.

"South Pacific" tells the story of the constant volcanic eruptions that formed the 10,000 Pacific islands, lagoons and reefs -- and the resilient survivors who somehow managed to find their way across a vast, mostly empty ocean and adapt to a life of extreme isolation in bizarre and surprising ways -- from forest penguins and carnivorous caterpillars to the great diversity of fish that call the coral reefs and kelp forests home.  And it is the story of the people that live there, the Pacific voyagers, who colonized, survived and adapted in much the same way.

This is a landmark programming marathon that explores the unimaginably vast Pacific and the thousands of islands, the limitless ocean, and diversity of landmasses that comprises it.  

Earth Day Marathon 2010 "South Pacific" Episode Guide – Thursday, 4/22 from 8:00 PM ET / 9 PM PT:

Endless Blue

Larger than all the world's land masses combined, the Pacific is the vastest ocean on Earth. This seemingly endless blue water is a remote wilderness, home to the deepest point on the planet, and containing half the world's water.  Like a vast marine desert, much of these waters lack the basic nutrients needed to fuel life. Many animals living here must go to extraordinary lengths to eat and mate.  The stories of these animals and their incredible lives are irrevocably intertwined with the story of the ocean itself.

Ocean of Volcanoes

This episode captures the birth, growth and death of an island in the greatest ocean on Earth. Millions of years are condensed into an hour revealing unforgettable images of an erupting underwater volcano; rivers of lava exploding below the waves; roads and houses buried by molten rivers of rock. From these violent beginnings emerge coral reefs of unparalleled richness, supporting large groups of grey reef sharks and giant manta rays.

Strange Islands

Carnivorous caterpillars and tree kangaroos are just two of the unlikely animals that have evolved on and around the islands in the vast Pacific. These isolated specks of land have become home to creatures of bizarre shapes, sizes and behaviors.

Fragile Paradise

We think of the Pacific as a paradise of tropical islands.  But it is a fragile paradise.  The always precarious balance of life is further threatened by climate change, overfishing, and man's increasing influence. These remote atolls are no longer out of sight or out of mind: an upsurge in tourism is a double-edged sword.  As the Pacific is the first to feel the heat of environmental disaster, it's also a hotbed for innovations most likely to avert a global catastrophe.

For Discovery en Espanol programming information, interactive games and more, viewers may log onto discoveryenespanol.com.    

About Discovery en Espanol

Discovery en Espanol is the Spanish-language voice of Discovery. It is the premiere network dedicated to offering the finest in quality programming in the areas of science and technology, world culture and history, nature and wildlife as well as real-life drama. The network creates an indelibly enriching experience by collecting the best of what Discovery's networks have to offer in combination with its own original Spanish-language content. Created by the world's most trusted media brand, Discovery en Espanol translates not just the words, but the feeling of Discovery, educating and engaging audiences nationwide with fascinating glimpses into the incredible world they inhabit. For more information, visit discoveryenespanol.com.    

SOURCE Discovery en Espanol