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There's a special place in the heart of the Amazon rainforest with ecosystems so unique and biodiversity so rich the UN have declared it a World Heritage Site. But the threats of climate change are looming. If nobody takes action this pristine wilderness could dry up in as little as 20 years and the effects would be devastating, not only here but across the planet. Now a team of four courageous people have devoted their lives to the protection of this corner of rainforest. Braving an unforgiving jungle and extreme weather, they give us 360° access into the challenges, the setbacks and the successes of their everyday work.
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Could the Taj Mahal, one of the World's Seven Wonders, be in imminent danger? It is one of the grandest works of architecture on the planet. But these days, it has plenty of critics. They insist that this monument to undying love is at risk of collapsing into the river that runs beside it. The conservators who know it best dispute the claims. We follow the controversy as two scientific groups examine the Taj's stability. The 360-year-old monument is under serious pressure from the effects of climate change, pollution and mass tourism. After the Mumbai attacks, security is also a serious concern. But could the Taj collapse?
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A threat looms over Kyoto, Japan's cultural center and a city with one of the most World Heritage sites in the world. Rapid modernization has decimated its traditional cityscape and threatens age-old cultural practices. Now, a team of warriors from various walks of life battle to preserve Kyoto's essence in the face of inevitable change. Gain 360° access to the world behind the monuments, where the traditional and modern come head to head and less-than-orthodox methods are being tested in the effort to safeguard Kyoto's traditional identity.
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A gift to the United States from France and now a World Heritage Site, the Statue of Liberty is an international emblem of freedom and liberty. But over the past decade she's been off-limits, considered unsafe in a post-9/11 world. U-S Park Service and construction crews are now laboring to re-open this iconic statue. They are renovating her interior so people can get out quickly if there's an attack. But with the clock ticking to opening day, it's a massive undertaking. Learning from the World Trade Center attacks, they have to ensure no harm can come to her visitors and that one of America's greatest symbols continues to stand tall over New York harbor.
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In Tanzania, East Africa, one of the world's most iconic mountains is on the verge of catastrophe. Mount Kilimanjaro is losing the iconic white cap that has crowned its peak for millennia. Its glaciers are disappearing at an astonishing pace while its rivers and forests are drying up. Is it global warming, or a problem much closer to home? A passionate team of Tanzanians brave savannah, mountain and skies in a mission to uncover the mystery behind the demise of this national treasure and try to prevent it.
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In a remote part of Central Turkey sits an alien landscape six times the size of New York City that may soon disappear. The World Heritage site of Cappadocia attracts more than 2 million visitors a year who come here not just for the beauty of the terrain, but also for the thousand year old cultural treasures hidden in its caves. We follow the Director of Museums of Cappadocia as he battles both man-made and natural erosion to protect this geological wonderland.
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The battle is on to beat back the furies of nature and man that threaten to destroy Indonesia's most visited monument: Borobudur. This ancient temple and UNESCO World Heritage site sits on the ring of fire, with earthquakes erupting below and an active volcano spewing ash just 27 kilometers away. A holy site for Buddhists, Borobudur has even been attacked by Muslim radicals, who set off bombs inside its sacred stupas. On the front line in the battle: a man who has rescued the temple from the bombs AND the volcano. He works tirelessly today to protect it from nature's onslaught. With National Geographic cameras following him, he restores one of Borobudur's priceless stone statues, a 1200-year-old image of Buddha.
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The Palace of Versailles, built for the God-like kings of France, is a World Heritage-listed masterpiece of architecture and craftsmanship. Beneath the lavish embroidery, gleaming gold, and priceless works of art, there's a constant battle against the ravages of time and tourism. Gain 360-degree access behind the sumptuous façade and meet the artisans, curators and security experts who maintain this French jewel according to the highest standards of King Louis XIV himself. They must ensure this symbol of France retains its brilliance for future generations, whatever the cost.
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Off the far northeastern coast of Australia lies the world's largest living specimen, the Great Barrier Reef. It is the only living thing on earth viewable from space and famed for being home to one of the largest diversities of marine species on the planet. But years of ocean warming, pollution, and shipping have begun to take its toll on the health of the reef, and a new culprit, port development, is adding to this multitude of woes. A passionate team of marine conservationists gives 360-degree access to their efforts to save the beauty and life of the reef. Are they too late?
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