Plot Synopsis

Narrated by Dougray Scott, this three-part series explores Alaska's spring, summer and winter, discovering the unique species that have learned to thrive in these harsh conditions. Alaska has its head in the Arctic Circle, so the whole land has been shaped by ice-sheets and glaciers, which have made huge rivers and vast lakes. And surrounded on three sides by the sea, it has great coastal storms to the south and a frozen ocean to the north. All this has created a land of great variety and extremes -- but also a wilderness full of life. All across its face, animals -- and people -- have adapted to the land, under the influence of the most extreme seasonal variation on earth. As spring lights up the land, Alaska faces the greatest transformation on earth. Temperatures soar, and as the sun hits the snow and ice, water, light and warmth return. Alaska's transition to spring may look magical, but for those animals emerging from a winter's sleep, it's a time of intense competition. Then, the few short weeks of an Alaskan summer must sustain the abundant wildlife for the whole year. There is a predictable wealth of riches -- but there is so little time to master the art of survival. And no matter how hot it gets, winter is always just around the corner, and there is so much to do before the sun sets again. Summer is a time of madness, and is not all easy living -- forest fires, a Sahara in the Arctic Circle and the very speed of seasonal change. Finally, one of the most extreme winters on the planet is delivered by the vast mountains, the surrounding oceans and the northerly latitude. Preparation is everything as winter tightens its grip. BBC America aired the U.S. premiere of this series on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT.