Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall

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Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Steve Backshall sets out to explore the mighty Baliem River, in the island of New Guinea.

Adventurer and naturalist Steve Backshall sets out to explore one of the wildest rivers in the world, the mighty Baliem River in the island of New Guinea, just north of Australia.

Series 1

BBC Four

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Steve Backshall

Aldo Kane

Jordy Searle

Alexis Girardet

Ingrid Kvale

Jonathan Renouf

Raewyn Dickson

Kassi Jones

Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall: Series 1: Episode 2

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Episode 2

BBC Two - Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall, Series 1, Episode 2

Steve and his crew kayak one of the most extreme stretches of white water on the planet.

Steve and his crew explore the mighty Baliem River in New Guinea, kayaking down Baliem's lower gorge, one of the most extreme stretches of white water on the planet.

Adventurer and naturalist Steve Backshall sets out to explore one of the wildest rivers in the world, the mighty Baliem River in the island of New Guinea, just north of Australia. He is on a mission to discover the ancient tribes that live along its banks, explore unknown caves and meet the dangerous animals lurking in the river and surrounding jungle. But the only way to discover these hidden worlds is to travel the river from source to sea - a feat that has never been achieved before.

In this second episode, Steve and his crew kayak Baliem's lower gorge, one of the most extreme stretches of white water on the planet. With jagged rock walls looming overhead and crashing currents bearing down on the kayaks, the risk of capsizing is constant. Battling wild weather and dense jungle, Steve's explorations of the surrounding valley prove equally as challenging. Steve encounters large spiders, fierce wasp nests and a local tribe who have little contact with the outside world.

Finally entering the tidal reaches of the Baliem River, Steve has to reconcile his passionate belief in conservation with a local tribe's determination to hunt crocodiles in the region.

Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall: Series 1

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Steve Backshall sets out to explore the mighty Baliem River in the island of New Guinea.

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Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall

Series 1

Episode 2

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