Giants of the Polar Deep

Under the ice of the Arctic and Antarctic, there lies a hidden world of giant creatures. The phenomenon of polar gigantism means that many of the invertebrates found at the poles grow to immense sizes. The deep ocean around Antarctica is a unique place. The weight of the ice sheets has pushed down the submerged continental shelf to be deeper than most places. Usually, the continental shelf is found between 100 and 200 metres down. But here, we must sink to 600 metres before the edge looms out of the darkness, and a gaping void opens up beneath. DEEP SEA HUB: 00:00 - Introduction 01:12 - Chapter 1: A Land of Ice - The Polar Environment 02:19 - Chapter 1: A Land of Ice - Life on the Icy Desert 03:29 - Chapter 2: Beneath the Ice - The Food Web 04:51 - Chapter 2: Beneath the Ice - The Hidden Arctic 05:36 - Chapter 2: Beneath the Ice - Concealed Cavities 06:30 - Chapter 3: The Antarctic Deep - A Hidden World 07:44 - Chapter 3: The Antarctic Deep - Life-Giving Waters