Discovery Atlas

Australia is one of the youngest nations on earth, but it is also home to one of its oldest indigenous populations. The country is a captivating mix of desolation and riches, from the harsh life of the outback to the welcoming, fertile lands of its coastline. Australians are survivors, deeply rooted to the land that offers them so much and so little. Discovery Atlas: Australia Revealed tells the stories of its spirited people, including Aboriginal performers who trace their ancestry back to the land, a lifesaver who can't imagine an existence without the ocean, and a jillaroo who could never be fenced in. This is their country, through their eyes.

Brazil is an exhilarating country of contradictions and possibilities. Where else do paupers become princes at the world's biggest party? Discovery Atlas: Brazil Revealed showcases one of the most ethnically diverse nations on earth, exploring the stories of its people. Spontaneous, enthusiastic and high-spirited, Brazilians of all backgrounds tend to live for the here and now. From a government worker who dreams of performing the samba at Carnaval, to a young man whose life is capoeira, to a river trader whose livelihood depends on the Amazon, and a maid determined to win the biggest amateur soccer tournament in the world, meet some of the individuals who personify the energy and intensity of this tropical South American paradise. This is their country, through their eyes.

Italy is a place of spectacular contrasts: a land stretching from the snowcapped peaks of the Alps to the sunbaked beaches of Sicily. It is a nation that captivates the senses, from the simple pleasures of its food to the enchanting music of its great composers. Discovery Atlas: Italy Revealed takes the viewer on a journey through the heart of Italy via the lives and loves, trials and tribulations, and hopes and dreams of its people. From a jockey participating in the world's fastest horse race, to a former fisherman setting a free-diving record off Sicily's coast, to the Missoni family's fashion world and a Venetian gondolier's attempt to keep his family in his native city, inhale and enjoy the spectacle and beauty that is Italy. This is their country, through their eyes.

In one of the few times in its 5,000-year history, the oldest, most populous nation on earth has opened its doors to the rest of the world. Coupling insightful storytelling with spectacular and groundbreaking photographic techniques, Discovery Atlas: China Revealed brings to life the fascinating and complex contemporary life of this extraordinary country. This is their country, through their eyes.

This episode focuses on how the people of the new Russia are once again embracing their past following the fall of the Soviet Union. We follow the lives of nomadic reindeer herders in Siberia, a family of carpet-makers in the Caucasus Mountains, a fashion magazine executive in Moscow, a volcanologist in the Kamchatka Peninsula and a 17-year old aspiring circus performer in Kazan. Interspersed with these stories is footage of breathtaking scenery from around Russia, including Lake Baikal and St. Petersburg during summer twilight.

This episode follows the lives of six individuals throughout Egypt. Stories include a 17-year old bread delivery boy in Cairo, a Bedouin herbal healer in the Sinai hoping to pass on his secrets to a new generation before he dies, a man who left his Cairo home to become a Coptic Christian monk, and the conservative lifestyle of women in the oasis town of Siwa in contrast to a successful businesswoman and founder of a women's magazine in Cairo.

Japan Revealed focuses on the unique balance in Japan between the seasons and life, and keeping old traditions alive in a modern world. The episode follows the lives of a geisha in training, a tuna fisherman, a group of Ama divers, two trend setting schoolgirls, a family competing in robotics fighting, and a tattoo artist. Their country, through their eyes.

This episode spotlights the radical new ways in which France is changing the world. From sports like free running and urban climbing, to unexploded munitions removal, to more traditional events like eating and watching fireworks, the French are setting new trends in many different aspects of life.

India Revealed shows life in the land of the Gods. India has the world’s second fastest growing major economy and a sixth of the world’s population. The show follows an upscale wedding planner, a young man attending a gurukul to become a Brahmin. Dharavi, a large slum in Mumbai, is featured during the Festival of Lights.

South Africa Revealed explores the lives of several individuals and how they contribute in their own way to the new South Africa after years of internal struggle. Profiled is a young Zulu schoolgirl and her teacher, a man working thousands of feet underground in the world's deepest gold mine, a zoologist and her team working to preserve South Africa's unique wildlife, the Khoisan bushmen battling to keep their traditional way of life, a young colored woman in a leadership role in the South African Army, and an ambulance driver in Johannesburg, one of the world's most violent cities.

Mexico is a country sustained by ritual and tradition. Mexico Revealed follows La Quebradra cliff divers, a masked wrestler named Hombre sin Nombre, and chef Martha Ortiz Chapa. The show also looks at religion in Mexico with a segment on All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Mariachi is featured throughout the show.