National Geographic Polar Explorations

Overview

Course No. 3502

Journey beyond the Arctic and Antarctic circles with National Geographic experts in this comprehensive exploration of Earth’s polar regions – from their dramatic landscapes and wildlife to their scientific importance and photographic wonders.

Key Discoveries:

• Polar Extremes: Contrast the Arctic’s frozen ocean with Antarctica’s icy continent.

• Wildlife Wonders: From polar bears to penguins, explore fragile ecosystems.

• Human Stories: Indigenous cultures, heroic explorers, and modern science.

• Global Impact: How polar regions regulate Earth’s climate.

Video Lectures

01: Passion for the Poles (32 min)

Discover what draws explorers and scientists to these extremes, from Shackleton’s epic survival to modern research.

02: Seasons at the Poles (29 min)

Why do the poles experience six months of daylight/night? Unravel the astronomy behind polar seasons.

03: Connections between the Poles (33 min)

Compare the geology, ice dynamics, and cosmic relationships of the Arctic and Antarctic.

04: The Saga of Arctic Exploration (31 min)

Trace deadly quests through the Northwest Passage and to the North Pole by Hudson, Franklin, and Amundsen.

05: The Icy Heart of Polar Seas (28 min)

How sea ice shapes marine life, from phytoplankton to whales – and what happens as it disappears.

06: Geology of the Arctic Circle (32 min)

Tour the Arctic’s unique geology: ocean-atmosphere interactions and ancient landscape transformations.

07: Science and Spirits of the Arctic Sky (29 min)

Inuit celestial navigation meets modern explanations of the aurora borealis.

08: Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic (31 min)

Meet the Nenets, Inuit, and other communities adapting to industrialization’s impact on traditional life.

09: Greenland and Arctic Islands (31 min)

Explore Iceland’s volcanoes, Greenland’s ice sheet, and Svalbard’s Global Seed Vault.

10: Terrestrial Mammals in the Changing Arctic (31 min)

Can polar bears survive ice loss? Examine Arctic foxes, lemmings, and climate adaptation.

11: Seabirds of the Arctic and Antarctic (30 min)

Witness albatrosses, skuas, and Arctic terns – the champion migrant flying 50,000 miles yearly.

12: Marine Mammals, from Whales to Walruses (29 min)

Belugas, leopard seals, and orcas: how these sophisticated predators thrive in polar waters.

13: The Race for the South Pole (31 min)

Relive Amundsen and Scott’s deadly 1911 competition to conquer Antarctica.

14: Geological Features of Antarctica (28 min)

Unearth Antarctica’s hidden past – from ancient jungles to subglacial lakes.

15: Antarctica’s Window on the Universe (31 min)

Why the South Pole offers astronomers unparalleled views of cosmic phenomena.

16: Diving under Polar Ice (26 min)

Marine biologist Sylvia Earle reveals technologies for exploring icy underwater worlds.

17: Resource Development in Polar Seas (25 min)

The consequences of krill harvesting, fossil fuels, and ocean acidification on fragile ecosystems.

18: South Georgia and Macquarie (29 min)

How sealers and whalers devastated – then conservation revived – these sub-Antarctic islands.

19: Living among the Penguins (29 min)

The evolution and survival strategies of Adélie, emperor, and chinstrap penguins.

20: Antarctica – A Continent for Science (34 min)

From penguin egg studies to modern glaciology: how polar research advanced global science.

21: Basics of Polar Photography (31 min)

National Geographic’s Ralph Lee Hopkins teaches camera settings for white landscapes and wildlife.

22: Photographing Polar Landscapes (39 min)

Master composition, lighting, and storytelling for breathtaking Arctic/Antarctic imagery.