0:00:03 > 0:00:05It's not just raining, it's pouring!
0:00:05 > 0:00:08And if you think you know rain, then think again,
0:00:08 > 0:00:13because here we have extreme, epic, record-breaking rain!
0:00:14 > 0:00:16It's pouring it down!
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Because this week on Fierce Earth, we've travelled to...
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Yeah, you've got it!
0:00:21 > 0:00:24The wettest place in the world!
0:00:24 > 0:00:27We've journeyed over 2,000 miles through the country of India
0:00:27 > 0:00:29to get to this place.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33And we're going to take you on that soaking wet journey!
0:00:33 > 0:00:36So when the heavens open, you're going to see...
0:00:36 > 0:00:39'I'll fly my way into the world's wettest place.'
0:00:39 > 0:00:41We just took off! Let's go!
0:00:42 > 0:00:45'I'll discover the true power of water.'
0:00:45 > 0:00:49We're witnessing an incredible journey!
0:00:49 > 0:00:52'And I'll meet the people who battle the torrential rain.'
0:00:52 > 0:00:55We've caught up with the monsoon rain!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57And it's pouring it down!
0:00:57 > 0:01:01- Let's roll! It's going to be wet...- And wild!
0:01:03 > 0:01:07What happens when the ground shakes, the seas rise up,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09and the air tears itself apart?
0:01:09 > 0:01:11The Fierce Earth team move in,
0:01:11 > 0:01:15taking on the most powerful forces on the planet.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35Get ready for Fierce Earth - the Earth and how to survive it.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45This is the Indian province of Meghalaya.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Battered by rain and storm clouds,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52this is the wettest place in the world.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59This soggy but spectacular area in north-east India
0:01:59 > 0:02:03receives more rain than anywhere else on the planet.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06On average, almost 12 metres a year!
0:02:08 > 0:02:09The record-breaking rain that falls
0:02:09 > 0:02:14is all down to a mighty weather phenomenon called the monsoon
0:02:14 > 0:02:17that sweeps through the huge country of India.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21- LEAH:- And this week on Fierce Earth, we're going on an epic journey
0:02:21 > 0:02:23to show you just what the monsoon is,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26and how it gets to the world's wettest place.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32And it all starts here - on the southwest coast of India.
0:02:37 > 0:02:43The power of the monsoon rain is down to a simple property of water.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Water takes more energy and heats much more slowly
0:02:47 > 0:02:50than the ground at my feet. I'll show you what I mean.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Let's take this sand as an example.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56You would've seen this when you've been on holiday at the beach.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58And if you feel it, it's quite warm
0:02:58 > 0:03:02and that's the sun's heat heating up this area.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05But if you just dig a little bit underneath,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07just a few inches really,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10underneath here, it feels much more cooler.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12'But the sea is different!'
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Now, the sun doesn't just heat up
0:03:15 > 0:03:17the thin layer at the top of the sea,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21it has to warm all of it, because the water mixes
0:03:21 > 0:03:25and muddles up together, spreading the heat more evenly.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27And over the long, hot Indian summer,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30the difference between land and sea temperature
0:03:30 > 0:03:32gets bigger and bigger.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35And this difference produces the monsoon.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Here's how it works the sun quickly warms the land
0:03:42 > 0:03:45all across India and that land heats the air above it.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49The warmer air is less dense, so it rises.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53As the rising air draws cooler ocean air onto the land,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56it creates something called the monsoon wind
0:03:56 > 0:04:00and that wind brings with it huge rain clouds.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07And this massive system of wind and rain rushes inland.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09'That is the monsoon!
0:04:09 > 0:04:12'The rain starts like flicking on a light switch
0:04:12 > 0:04:17'and lasts for about three months as the storm clouds move across India.'
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Come with me, the monsoon has started and we're chasing it,
0:04:21 > 0:04:251,500 miles north in that direction.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28'After being born in the ocean,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32'the monsoon then sweeps up the Indian mainland.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35'And I am doing the same.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39'Because about 80% of India's rain falls during the monsoon,
0:04:39 > 0:04:44'celebrations kick off as the first showers arrive.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48'And the monsoon rains are most important in the countryside,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51'where people do a lot of farming and fishing.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53'I'm in an area just like that now
0:04:53 > 0:04:56'and it looks like it's about to pour down!'
0:05:02 > 0:05:07This is the Sundarbans, 1,400 miles north of Kerala,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11and, as you can see, we've caught up with the monsoon rains!
0:05:11 > 0:05:13And it's pouring it down!
0:05:16 > 0:05:21'The Sundarbans stretches across the countries of Bangladesh and India.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24'It sits within the world's biggest delta
0:05:24 > 0:05:28'an area where rivers meet and head out to sea.'
0:05:28 > 0:05:32All around me is a mix of fresh water and salt water.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35That's because we're so close to the sea,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37but what the locals really need is the fresh water
0:05:37 > 0:05:41that falls from the sky, and they're getting loads of it now!
0:05:41 > 0:05:43It's pouring down!
0:05:45 > 0:05:47The rain droplets are so big,
0:05:47 > 0:05:51and the wind pushes it all into your face, you can hardly open your eyes!
0:05:56 > 0:05:58'The rain that's falling right now
0:05:58 > 0:06:00'is really important to the people who live here,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03'as they need it to grow rice and other crops.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06'But you can have too much of a good thing.'
0:06:06 > 0:06:09When you see this much rain falling from the sky
0:06:09 > 0:06:11in such a short space of time,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14you can really see how it would be a big problem for the locals here.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Every year, a battle takes place between man and water,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23and I'm going to meet the people that are fighting that battle.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27This is Sushanta and his three children.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Sushanta is a rice farmer here in the Sundarbans,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33and, when the annual monsoon rains arrive,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36it nearly always spells trouble for them.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Can you tell us what happened here?
0:06:38 > 0:06:43TRANSLATION: It all got flooded. You can see a church here
0:06:43 > 0:06:46and we all used to get together on a Sunday with our kids.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48And right there are the houses of our friends.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51This area was full of people and their homes.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55But when the water came, everyone had to move away.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57And how do you feel about the monsoons?
0:06:57 > 0:07:02Without the rain, we cannot live. We cannot grow our rice.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06But when it rains hard, gradually the ground on which we're standing
0:07:06 > 0:07:09melts away and the water can flood over the land here.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14I've learnt from Sushanta and his family just how powerful
0:07:14 > 0:07:17the monsoon can be. The monsoon rains can be a blessing,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20because it brings life and their crops can grow,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23but it's also a curse, because it can cause destruction,
0:07:23 > 0:07:24just like this.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30We've just seen how huge the impact of the monsoon rains is
0:07:30 > 0:07:32on a place like the Sundarbans,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35but as we continue our journey north to the world's wettest place,
0:07:35 > 0:07:39you'll find an Indian megacity called Kolkata.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41And when millions of people come face to face
0:07:41 > 0:07:46with millions of litres of monsoon rains, it really shakes things up.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Dougal, over to you.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Welcome to the metropolis of Kolkata.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Now, this city is home to 15 million people
0:07:56 > 0:07:59and, when it rains, it really buckets down!
0:07:59 > 0:08:01The monsoon has started.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02Go, go, go!
0:08:04 > 0:08:05HORNS BLARE
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Now Kolkata is 200 miles from the Sundarbans
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and it's India's third largest city.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Now it's super-charged at the best of times,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21but when the monsoon hits, it's absolute chaos!
0:08:23 > 0:08:27The rain that's coming down here is absolutely immense.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30It literally turned on like a light switch.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32From sunny skies to rain in seconds.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35There's people just getting on with it.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38It's really funny, but people actually love the rain here,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41they've been waiting for it all summer. It's absolutely incredible.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46But when you mix heavy rain with a big city like this,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50you need to think seriously about where all the water is going to go.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56There are parts of this city that always get flooded, just like here.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59But the city has to be kept moving and that means the authorities
0:08:59 > 0:09:02need to get this water off the streets.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06There's only place for that go and that's down!
0:09:07 > 0:09:12And it's into these tunnels that it travels, deep under the busy city.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Believe it or not, but Kolkata was one of the first cities
0:09:17 > 0:09:18to get an underground sewage system,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22built over 150 years ago to help with the heavy rains.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Now look at this, as the city has grown,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28that underground network of sewers and piping
0:09:28 > 0:09:31has grown to a whopping 180km.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33When the heavy rains hit,
0:09:33 > 0:09:39this piping network moves the water far and far away, about 37km.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42But this huge network of sewer tunnels is now old
0:09:42 > 0:09:43and in need of repair.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45I'm going to see the men in charge
0:09:45 > 0:09:49and Kolkata is so busy during the day, they have to work in the dark.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54To understand the sheer scale of the operation,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57the authorities are having to fit liners like this -
0:09:57 > 0:10:00they're nearly three metres in diameter -
0:10:00 > 0:10:04into a network that's over 150 years old.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Wow!
0:10:06 > 0:10:08So with such an old sewer system,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10what are its main challenges in the modern world?
0:10:10 > 0:10:15We have very strong and intense monsoon. We have...
0:10:15 > 0:10:17so many people living in this city.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19They're to be served for their sanitation.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Without these sewers, the city cannot survive.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25'To work on the pipes, the men here
0:10:25 > 0:10:29'have to dig these access holes in the city streets.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33'And I'm going to get lowered into one, so I can take a look around.'
0:10:34 > 0:10:36I'm not looking forward to this.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40'Yuck! That's a mixture of poop and pee mixed with rainwater!'
0:10:40 > 0:10:42I can already smell it from here.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45We are now airborne!
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Just on cue, the monsoon rains are chucking down,
0:10:49 > 0:10:51and I'm being lowered over a sewer.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54'It's a bit smelly, but it's great to get this close
0:10:54 > 0:10:58'to the original sewer, built over 150 years ago.'
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Now this gives us a really unique vantage point,
0:11:02 > 0:11:08because we can see the old brickwork of the original Victorian...
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
0:11:10 > 0:11:15Cor, we're just dangling just below the sewage water!
0:11:15 > 0:11:19'This access hole quickly becomes a dangerous place to be.'
0:11:19 > 0:11:23We've had to call this short. The monsoon rains are so unpredictable,
0:11:23 > 0:11:27that, even in the middle of night, it comes pouring down.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30They're starting to breach the dam here. Just look at that water!
0:11:33 > 0:11:36That was incredibly exhilarating, but scary.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38This rain water that's coming down now
0:11:38 > 0:11:42so instantly changes the dynamic in the sewer system.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47The water starts building up and the sewer defences just can't cope.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51'We've been taught a lesson by this rain.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54'Even one of the world's biggest sewer systems can't handle it
0:11:54 > 0:11:56'when the monsoon comes to town.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00'It took just five minutes for the sewer and that access hole to flood.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Now that really was a close shave, but if you think that
0:12:05 > 0:12:09it's really wet here in Kolkata, you ain't seen anything yet!
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Because we're continuing our monsoon journey
0:12:12 > 0:12:15into a mountainous area around the town of Shillong.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17We're moving further north,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21where Mike and the monsoon are building up a head of steam.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27That's right, Dougal, because we're about to get airborne!
0:12:27 > 0:12:30What we will see will show us why the monsoon rains
0:12:30 > 0:12:34make the world's wettest place their final and most fierce stop of all.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35Let's roll!
0:12:38 > 0:12:42The engines are on, the rotors are turning, we've just took off.
0:12:42 > 0:12:43Let's go!
0:12:50 > 0:12:53We're passing over flat land here, just like so much
0:12:53 > 0:12:56of the country of India that we have travelled through.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59But if you look up ahead at that mountainous area,
0:12:59 > 0:13:00that's called the Khasi Hills.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03It's those hills that are responsible
0:13:03 > 0:13:07for record-breaking rains that fall in the world's wettest place.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10'After forming off the coastline of Kerala,
0:13:10 > 0:13:15'the monsoon clouds travel over the flat planes of the Indian mainland.'
0:13:15 > 0:13:19But when the clouds hit the tall mountains, bam!
0:13:19 > 0:13:23What happens is the clouds get pushed upwards into the cooler air
0:13:23 > 0:13:26and the water vapour becomes water droplets,
0:13:26 > 0:13:30then it falls from the sky as giant raindrops to the land below.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38It's raining really heavy outside. We must be getting close.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Just like the rain, we're coming in to land.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Now it's time to join Leah on the final leg on this journey,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49and reach the world's wettest place.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55After a soaking wet journey that has followed the monsoon
0:13:55 > 0:13:59over 2,000 miles, from Kerala in the south of India,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03through the Sundarbans, Kolkata and Shillong,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06we've all made it to the world's wettest place.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10This area is called Meghalaya
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and it's home to waterfalls, raging rivers,
0:14:13 > 0:14:17and, of course, record-breaking amounts of rain.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20And as we arrive, it is, of course, pouring down.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23We are now in the world's wettest place.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26This is the north-eastern province of Meghalaya and look at it!
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Absolutely soaking!
0:14:28 > 0:14:30These waterproofs me and Mike are wearing -
0:14:30 > 0:14:34no use whatsoever! We're soaked right the way through already!
0:14:34 > 0:14:37It's not just raining cats and dogs!
0:14:37 > 0:14:40It's raining elephants and tigers!
0:14:40 > 0:14:43For three months of the year, it doesn't just rain a little here,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45it rains a lot!
0:14:46 > 0:14:50'In fact, over the course of a single year,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54'ten times more water falls from the sky here than in rainy Britain.'
0:14:54 > 0:14:57I've chased lots of hurricanes in my life
0:14:57 > 0:14:59and, let me tell you, this is very similar.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Pouring, pouring blinding rain!
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Wind blowing the rain into your face.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05It's just like being in a hurricane.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08The rain just keeps coming. It's relentless.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13You think it's going to stop, then the next wave comes along.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15It's like a rain juggernaut, it really is.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21'On average, Britain gets just over one metre of rain annually,
0:15:21 > 0:15:27'but here, one record-breaking year saw over 25 metres of rain!'
0:15:27 > 0:15:30That might sound like a lot of rain and it is!
0:15:30 > 0:15:32That's over five times the height of this building.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Now that's a lot of rain!
0:15:37 > 0:15:39'The huge amount of rain that falls
0:15:39 > 0:15:42'changes the lives of people who live here.'
0:15:42 > 0:15:45When it's raining this hard all day,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48the locals have no choice but to head inside
0:15:48 > 0:15:50and, when the monsoon rains are really heavy,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52they can be trapped inside for weeks!
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Do you know what? I don't really blame them. This is crazy!
0:15:58 > 0:16:01'All the locals are staying in the dry,
0:16:01 > 0:16:05'but now we've reached this soaking wet place, we've got a job to do.'
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Now we've shown you how the monsoon is created, and its journey
0:16:08 > 0:16:12through India to this area, the world's wettest place.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13'Next, we're going to find out
0:16:13 > 0:16:16'what all this water does to the land here.'
0:16:16 > 0:16:19We'll show you how the people here deal with these torrential rains.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23'And I'll discover the true force of water.' Woo!
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Get ready - it's going to be a rough ride.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31'When the monsoon rains arrive in Meghalaya, everything changes.'
0:16:31 > 0:16:34But there's one thing that doesn't change -
0:16:34 > 0:16:37and that's water always falls downhill.
0:16:37 > 0:16:43Now, in the world's wettest place, that has created some amazing sights
0:16:43 > 0:16:44and beautiful rivers like this,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47but all of a sudden, they come to a complete stop.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51When you get as much rainfall as you do here,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53you only get one thing, and that's waterfalls
0:16:53 > 0:16:55and I'm going to go over one.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59'Don't even think about going near such big drops
0:16:59 > 0:17:02'or trying this at home, because, to get down from here,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06'I need expert help and some special safety kit.'
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Right, helmet, hammer and harness - the three Hs. I'm ready to go!
0:17:12 > 0:17:15I'm going to see what sort of journey this water takes down to the plains,
0:17:15 > 0:17:17and, more importantly,
0:17:17 > 0:17:21I'm going to see what these massive vertical cliffs are made of.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22Wish me luck!
0:17:23 > 0:17:27'The power of the water is enough to take your breath away,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29'and it's difficult to keep grip.' Woo!
0:17:29 > 0:17:32'I'm in the middle of an amazing cycle of water
0:17:32 > 0:17:35'that has carved and shaped the land of Meghalaya.'
0:17:37 > 0:17:40We're witnessing an incredible journey.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44The water from this waterfall
0:17:44 > 0:17:49has fallen from the skies in the wettest place in the earth
0:17:49 > 0:17:52and it's on its journey down to the flood plains.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Have a safe journey!
0:17:54 > 0:17:57'Being this close up to the cliffs, and to the waterfall,
0:17:57 > 0:17:59'reveals something else to me.'
0:17:59 > 0:18:01There's layers and layers of sediment,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04probably laid down millions of years ago,
0:18:04 > 0:18:08it's a mixture of sandstones, but more importantly limestones.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12And when I see limestones, and I see this amount of water,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14that can only mean one thing...
0:18:14 > 0:18:18that there's a lot more secrets that these rocks are going to show us.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22And I'll find out all about them as soon as I get off this cliff.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31That is the mighty power of water.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Now let's go and see what more it can do.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39I've just seen a lot of water and a lot of limestone.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43And as a geologist I know that when you put those two things together...
0:18:43 > 0:18:45you get these - caves.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52I'm going into one with a cave explorer, Brian.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57No-one knows the underworld of Meghalaya better than him.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Let's see what the water has carved and created.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06We're following the water from
0:19:06 > 0:19:09the world's wettest place, deep underground.
0:19:09 > 0:19:14Limestone is not the same as other rocks and over thousands of years,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16water can actually wash it away.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Tiny bits are worn down and dissolved by the rivers and by the rain
0:19:20 > 0:19:23until you get these cavernous spaces.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25If you could get a car down here,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28the longest caves would take you about 20 minutes to drive through!
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Yeah, you can just see now there's debris here,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36there's even sand on the ground.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37The river has come through here,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40it's made its way across the layers within the rock
0:19:40 > 0:19:43and broken through further and further into the mountain.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Let's go see how far it's got.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50It's amazing to imagine, now for thousands of years
0:19:50 > 0:19:53the monsoon has helped carve this cave and hundreds,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55even thousands of caves around Meghalaya.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00The awesome force of the monsoon.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03So many caves have been created
0:20:03 > 0:20:06that even seasoned explorers like Brian lose count.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10What does it feel like when you actually discover
0:20:10 > 0:20:12a cave for the first time?
0:20:12 > 0:20:16It's a very thrilling experience to discover, to find a cave.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19And then to explore it for the first time knowing that
0:20:19 > 0:20:21you are the first one inside.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24When the monsoon rains are at their fullest extent,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27how much of this would actually be filled up with water?
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Up to the ceiling.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32In fact, further down 25m, it's all flooded.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34A 25m cave would be completely filled with water,
0:20:34 > 0:20:36right above our heads here.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37All this would be flooded.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42Well, before the next monsoon hits, let's get out of here.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Because the power of water here can carve these cave systems
0:20:48 > 0:20:51out of solid rock, you'd think there was nothing we humans
0:20:51 > 0:20:54could create that would stand up to it.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58But Leah's going to see something that's totally amazing
0:20:58 > 0:20:59that'll prove that wrong.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09This is Harley and his niece Juliana.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12They live in the small village of Siej,
0:21:12 > 0:21:16and when it rains heavily here the water runs downhill.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Trickles or water turn into streams
0:21:18 > 0:21:22and streams turn into angry, raging rivers.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25They're taking me to see something amazing that helps them
0:21:25 > 0:21:28get across those fierce torrents.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Wow, is this it?
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Guys, check this out.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37This is the living root bridge of Meghalaya. It's incredible.
0:21:40 > 0:21:4350 years ago, Harley planted this fig tree on the river's edge.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50And today it's part of this - one of the living bridges of Meghalaya.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Wow, what's really cool about this
0:21:53 > 0:21:58is that this entire bridge is basically a growing, live tree
0:21:58 > 0:22:02and all the branches are intertwined making it really, really strong.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04This is absolutely incredible.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07I've never seen anything like this in my life, but now Harley
0:22:07 > 0:22:11and Juliana are going to show me how these root bridges are built.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15This bridge is still growing and Harley
0:22:15 > 0:22:18and Juliana visit nearly every day to care for it.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22They take the tiny roots of the tree and weave them together.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24It's a bit like plaiting your hair.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28As the roots grow the bridge becomes stronger and bigger.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31So at the moment we've got a few gaps in the base of the bridge
0:22:31 > 0:22:33and Juliana is just making sure that we're covering that
0:22:33 > 0:22:36and making sure it's safe because lots of people use this bridge.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38The whole village will need to use this.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41The small roots don't look very strong
0:22:41 > 0:22:43but actually when they're tied together
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and wrapped up it's really quite a secure base.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52And in the world's wettest place, this bridge needs to be strong
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Because when it rains the stream below here can turn into
0:22:57 > 0:22:59an angry, fierce river.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Only a bridge like this
0:23:01 > 0:23:04that is a living part of the river bank could hold on.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Harley, during the monsoon rains, when they're really heavy,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11how does this bridge stay stable?
0:23:13 > 0:23:16TRANSLATION: Even in heavy monsoon rains this bridge is rock solid.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20Because the roots of this tree go down into the soil of the bank,
0:23:20 > 0:23:21they hold on tight.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24That means this bridge has no problems in heavy rain
0:23:24 > 0:23:26and when there's lots of water.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30What is it that you love so much about this bridge?
0:23:34 > 0:23:37I love this bridge because it was built by my family.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40When I have my own children and even grandchildren
0:23:40 > 0:23:43I'll also teach them to love this bridge as much as I do.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Harley, someone sold London Bridge in England,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51would you ever consider selling your bridge?
0:23:56 > 0:23:59No way! I will never sell this bridge.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01As long as this bridge lives, it will be ours!
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Juliana and Harley will be looking the bridge for years to come
0:24:07 > 0:24:12and they'll be helped by even the youngest of their village friends.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16As the bridge grows it will become part of a larger network of paths
0:24:16 > 0:24:20through Meghalaya's rainy forests, one of the dozens of
0:24:20 > 0:24:24other living bridges that help the people here get from A to B.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27There's not much in the world that would survive
0:24:27 > 0:24:29the drenching of the monsoon rains.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32But with the work Harley and Juliana are doing
0:24:32 > 0:24:34this place will be here for years to come.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46There's no arguing that Meghalaya is the world's wettest area.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49But an argument that's been going on for a long time,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51is which of two little settlements
0:24:51 > 0:24:54is officially the world's wettest town.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Two small towns called Mawsynram and Cherrapunjee
0:24:57 > 0:25:00that are just 32 miles apart have been fighting over
0:25:00 > 0:25:03the title of world's wettest town for decades.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06It's just as well the Fierce Earth team is here
0:25:06 > 0:25:09so we can settle this argument once and for all.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12We're with the men who measure the rain at Mawsynram
0:25:12 > 0:25:16and Cherrapunjee's weather stations and a five round contest will
0:25:16 > 0:25:20decide who is Fierce Earth's wettest town in the world.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23OK, so we're about to get the results. You're going down, Leah!
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Mike Thiess, you better be ready. We're going to bring you down.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Let's go, Round 1.
0:25:29 > 0:25:3211,414mm.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36You got us that year. See if you can top this.
0:25:36 > 0:25:408,750mm. Let it rain.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Interesting.
0:25:42 > 0:25:459,037mm.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48Oh, sounds like you beat us again in Round 2.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Yes. 2-0.
0:25:50 > 0:25:57Cherrapunjee's figure for Round 3 is 13,473mm.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59You might as well give up.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03We received 11,590mm. You beat us again!
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Well, let's play for pride here. Round 4.
0:26:07 > 0:26:118,960mm.
0:26:11 > 0:26:148,722mm.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Feel the rain, feel the pain.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19- So sorry.- Oh, dear.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23The final figures for the Fierce Earth's wettest town
0:26:23 > 0:26:25in the world is...
0:26:25 > 0:26:3013,364mm.
0:26:30 > 0:26:385,586mm. We lost Round 5 and it sounds like we lost the competition.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40That sign is coming down.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53It's raining again above Cherrapunjee,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55the world's wettest town.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Now our monsoon journey through India,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01to the world's wettest place, is over.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- As the rain has poured from the sky...- We have travelled
0:27:04 > 0:27:08the length of this huge country, just like the monsoon itself.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12You've been with us as we have seen how the people of India
0:27:12 > 0:27:14try and cope with the mighty monsoon rains.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16There's people just getting on with it.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21We have seen why the monsoon makes this its most fierce stop of all.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25When the clouds hit the tall mountains, bam!
0:27:25 > 0:27:28And we have come face to face with the power of water.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31The awesome force of the monsoon.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Watch out, because next time on Fierce Earth,
0:27:34 > 0:27:36we're in avalanche country!
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Join us as we learn how to survive
0:27:38 > 0:27:41the most deadly force on the mountain.