Review by Adam Stephen Kelly
Written by Brian Armstrong | UK Cert E | UK RRP £7.99 | Runtime 52 mins | Narrated by Robert Wilson Seymone
Calling Yellowstone a "park" almost seems unjust given its sheer size. North America's greatest nature reserve is big enough to be its own state, and it's even larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Covering two million acres over three states, Yellowstone National Park is just about one of the most mysterious and secretive natural locations on Earth, and this documentary explains why.
An episode from National Geographic's Into the Wilderness series, 2007's Secret Yellowstone explores the vast landscapes of the park and the rife wildlife that reside within. It does a fine job of showing off the diversity and enormity of Yellowstone, from its cloud-lapping, snow-peaked mountaintops and grand grassy plains, to the ticking time bomb that lurks underground in the form of a very active volcano, and one that hasn't erupted in almost 700,000 years, but that doesn't stop the cauldron of magma from bubbling and breaking through the surface in burning hot geysers and vents.
Secret Yellowstone is an educational experience for those who aren't too familiar with the national park, but audiences with a keen and trained interest will have great difficulty in extracting anything they don't already know. It's an interesting watch, but barely scratches the surface. The reserve is just so huge that it needs its own series rather than an hour-long dive.
EXTRAS None.
• Read my reviews of National Geographic's Baby Tales, Africa's Lost Eden and Extreme Universe