David Attenborough travels from France to Syria to explore the Mediterranean. The opener charts the creation of the sea's basin and surveys the area's wildlife, including chameleons, porcupines, flamingos, spoonbills, storks and monkeys.

How pollution and exploitation, including oil spills and sewage dumping, have endangered wildlife and the Mediterranean terrain. Also: visits to areas where animals still live safely, such as the coasts of Majorca and Tunisia.