An underwater view of the Olympic swimming pool at the Aquatic Centre in the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford, London, England (@ GEOFF CADDICK/epa/Corbis)

An underwater view of the Olympic swimming pool at the Aquatic Centre in the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford, London, England (@ GEOFF CADDICK/epa/Corbis)

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• One of the big favourites in these waters is Michael Phelps aka ‘The Flying Fish\.""But has he heard of Eric ‘The Eel\?
• Looking to find out the latest on what\s happening around here?""Don\t worry - there\s no need to hold your breath
• There\s a handful of events at London 2012 in which only women compete.""Which one is \"like running a mile and holding your breath for half of it?\"
• Who was an Olympic gold medallist and swimming trunk model before becoming king of the jungle?""He made a very impressive leap

Agile gibbon walking on liana, Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo, Indonesia (@ Thomas Marent/Corbis)

Agile gibbon walking on liana, Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo, Indonesia (@ Thomas Marent/Corbis)

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• Hylobates agilis certainly has impressive agility.""But have you heard it sing?
• Could this display be enough to earn a last-minute call-up to today\s artistic team all-round Olympics gymnastics final?""We must be out of our tree
• It\s a long way from the middle of the jungle to the world\s number one concert venue.""Do you think this gibbon has got a map?
• We\re not sure such foolhardy animal antics are recommended - this species is endangered.""You\ll find them misbehaving on the third largest island in the world

Matthew Mitcham on the diving platform at Aquatic Centre at the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford, London, England (@ ANDY RAIN/epa/Corbis)

Matthew Mitcham on the diving platform at Aquatic Centre at the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford, London, England (@ ANDY RAIN/epa/Corbis)

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• Approach, flight and entry are all crucial when it comes to success in this sport.""Do you lose points for splashing?
• This is Matthew Mitcham, who took home gold in 2008 with the highest single-dive score in Olympic history.""Want to see how he did it?
• We know what you\re thinking - this looks dangerous.""Not as dangerous as this!
• A lot of people are taking a dive in this venue over the coming days and weeks.""Which teenager hopes to set a gold standard for Team GB?

Targets during archery training for the Beijing 2008 Olympics at Olympic Green Archery Field on August 6, 2008 in Beijing, China. (@ Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Targets during archery training for the Beijing 2008 Olympics at Olympic Green Archery Field on August 6, 2008 in Beijing, China. (@ Michael Steele/Getty Images)

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• The rules of this game are pretty simple.""But how is it actually scored?
• The power of a bow and arrow has been dramatically brought to life by literary and cinema smash The Hunger Games.""Would any of the characters be able to compete with this arch outlaw?
• Basketball and archery are both firmly established as Olympic sports in their own right.""But what if the two were combined?
• The world\s best archers will hope to be on target at London 2012 today - there\s a gold medal at stake.""In which city did these arrows hit the spot four years ago?

Pied avocets in Texel, Netherlands (@ Winfried Wisniewski/Corbis)

Pied avocets in Texel, Netherlands (@ Winfried Wisniewski/Corbis)

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• Recurvirostra avosetta is a large black and white wader in the avocet and stilt family.""Do you think blue leggings clash with their look?
• When was the last time you took such pleasure in a massive bill?""They\re great for scratching those hard-to-reach spots
• These birds may have the right moves but they\ll never get away with those outfits.""Not if they want to compete at the highest level
• This duelling duo have been caught doing battle on an island municipality in the Netherlands.""A bird\s eye view of their habitat seems fitting

Olympic Park Stadium, ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower and Aquatics Centre in London (@ Charles Bowman/eStock Photo)

Olympic Park Stadium, ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower and Aquatics Centre in London (@ Charles Bowman/eStock Photo)

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• This twisting tower is now the tallest public sculpture in the UK.""Are you ready to go into orbit?
• There\s no roof on this formidable creation of concrete and steel.""All the better to hear the roar of the crowd
• The place we\re featuring today is expecting a huge influx of excitable visitors this summer.""What else does the city have to offer?
• After months of anticipation, the wait is finally over for the greatest show on Earth.""Let the games begin

A view to Little Orne from Llandudno, Wales (@ Roy Shakespeare / Loop Images)

A view to Little Orne from Llandudno, Wales (@ Roy Shakespeare / Loop Images)

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• This isn\t the only ace view around here - locals like to check out the town from the end of the 700m-long pier.""On a clear day, you can see which epic peak?
• The region we\re featuring today boasts one of only three cable-operated street tramways still in existence.""The others are in San Francisco and Lisbon
• This place looks like it comes alive at night - but what\s going on before it gets dark?""It\s the last day of the national annual show
• It\s no wonder this stretch of coastline is glittering with golden light.""How else would it earn the nickname Queen of the Welsh resorts?

Sea otter grooming in Prince William Sound, Alaska (@ Donald M. Jones/Minden Pictures/Corbis)

Sea otter grooming in Prince William Sound, Alaska (@ Donald M. Jones/Minden Pictures/Corbis)

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• Is this furry friend calling for rescue?""The species it belongs to is endangered, after all
• These guys spend so much time in the water that taking a nap can be an occupational hazard.""How does kelp help?
• A study is tracking the reproductive cycles of these wild marine animals to restore “decimated” populations.""To be honest, it\s dirty work
• Although these creatures can walk on land, they live mostly in the ocean.""This spot looks like a particularly sound place to be

Still image of time-lapsed night sky and lights in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah (@ Duncan Frazier/Getty Images)

Still image of time-lapsed night sky and lights in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah (@ Duncan Frazier/Getty Images)

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• Deep within the Navajo land, American history has a profound pull around here.""You can take a tour on horseback or with a mouse
• Native Americans christened this region valley of the rocks - for obvious reasons.""The tallest sandstone butte is 300m high
• This iconic landscape served as the backdrop for many of Hollywood\s greatest Westerns.""Which director made it a star of the silver screen?
• We\re in the heart of the American West, an area recreated as a place of revolution in a smash video game.""Where can you get redemption?

Overflow from Lower Nihotupu Reservoir near Auckland, New Zealand (@ Robin Bush/Getty Images)

Overflow from Lower Nihotupu Reservoir near Auckland, New Zealand (@ Robin Bush/Getty Images)

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• You might think this looks like a weird visitation from space but the facts are rather more down to earth.""We\re overflowing with info
• This is the result of a serious downpour, dumped here by tropical cyclone Fina.""Did you bring waterproofs?
• A new trail along this range is named after local mountaineer Edmund Hillary, who famously scaled the world\s highest peak.""It looks rather more relaxing than Everest, don\t you think?
• You\ll find this wet wonder close to a capital city settled by Māori around 1350.""They call it Tāmaki Makaurau or Ākarana - how do we know it?

View of the University of East London from a train on the Docklands Light Railway at Beckton, England (@ Ricky Leaver/Corbis)

View of the University of East London from a train on the Docklands Light Railway at Beckton, England (@ Ricky Leaver/Corbis)

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• Work on this train network began in 1987, to rejuvenate a part of London that looked like “a desert.”""Which Canadian city acted as the inspiration?
• Is it just us or do these colourful buildings have a strange symmetry with the Olympic rings?""They\re in great shape to welcome this weekend\s special guest
• Serious construction has been going on across this city for years in preparation for some special fun and games.""There\s even been a bit of ‘light\ work
• Trundling along these lines is rarely dull - particularly at night.""Have you looked out of the window?

Perigee moon rises over Mt Eden in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland (@ Huang Xingwei/Corbis)

Perigee moon rises over Mt Eden in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland (@ Huang Xingwei/Corbis)

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• Something happened 43 years ago today…""That was out of this world
• “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”""Which earthling uttered these famous words?
• Behold a supermoon, shot in May at its brightest, rising over Mt Eden in New Zealand.""All nations are free to explore it for peaceful purposes - will you join this mission?
• Journeying closer to this distant celestial body became possible in 2004, with the first privately funded human spaceflight.""Climb aboard SpaceShipOne

Colorful children's paddling pool in Watford, Hertfordshire, England (@ Jason Hawkes/Corbis)

Colorful children's paddling pool in Watford, Hertfordshire, England (@ Jason Hawkes/Corbis)

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• Hurrah - it looks like the British summer has finally arrived!""What happens when the sun puts his hat on around here?
• A close proximity to numerous film and TV studios gives this part of the UK a rich cinematic heritage.""Nearby Whippendell Woods starred in which intergalactic blockbuster?
• This photographer\s either got his own helicopter or a very tall ladder.""How high will people go for a great shot?
• Recent Sherlock Holmes, James Bond and Harry Potter adventures have all been filmed at the nearby Leavesden media complex.""It sits on the site of which iconic British brand\s former factory?

Elephant trails bisect the green grasses of Amboseli National Park, Kenya (@ George Steinmetz/Corbis)

Elephant trails bisect the green grasses of Amboseli National Park, Kenya (@ George Steinmetz/Corbis)

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• This national park is considered one of the world\s finest places to view wildlife.""It benefits from very low rainfall, experiencing just 350mm per year on average
• The family Elephantidae includes the largest land mammals on Earth.""They\re hard to miss - let\s see if we can find some more
• Elephant speak brings new meanings to the term language barrier.""Who claims to understand their “secret dictionary”?
• In which country will you find this herd\s equatorial home?""The capital, Nairobi, is known as ‘the green city in the sun\

Whitemargin unicornfish (@ Chris Hellier/Corbis)

Whitemargin unicornfish (@ Chris Hellier/Corbis)

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• Amazingly, you\re not looking at a mythical creature, a plastic model or a manipulated photo.""It\s just a fish - with a really big nose
• Worried about getting poked in the eye by that ample appendage?""Look on in safety right here
• This bizarre blue beast definitely has something in common with a much-loved fictional children\s character.""You think we\re lying?
• At an average size of one metre, this marine animal is unlikely to be found in many aquariums.""Why not take a dip in one of their neighbourhoods instead?

The snow-capped La Sal Mountains behind sandstone pinnacles at Devils Garden in Arches National Park, Utah, USA (@ Christian Kober/Aurora Photos)

The snow-capped La Sal Mountains behind sandstone pinnacles at Devils Garden in Arches National Park, Utah, USA (@ Christian Kober/Aurora Photos)

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• This place is home to a collection of unique geological resources and formations.""Where else can you see more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches?
• What\s more dangerous - the climb to this extraordinary summit""Or the death-defying jump down?
• Wow, what an amazing view!""There are many more across this destination\s 31,031 hectares
• You\ll find this national park in a US state named after the Ute tribe.""Their title translates as ‘people of the mountains\

Aerial view of Old Town (Stare Miasto) in Gdańsk, Poland (@ Filip Warulik/Alamy)

Aerial view of Old Town (Stare Miasto) in Gdańsk, Poland (@ Filip Warulik/Alamy)

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• The port, canals and rivers in this European destination offer a way to escape traffic congestion.""You can also take in the view
• The old town featured today sits on an island within the historic Pomerania region.""Do you think these animals are their official mascot?
• In the 1980s, a shipyard electrician galvanised thousands to strike for workers\ rights in these parts.""Their solidarity eventually helped knock the Soviets\ bloc off and won him a Nobel Peace Prize
• This city recently had a starring role in the Euro 2012 football tournament.""World champions Spain played all their group matches here

Heather on Headon Warren overlooking The Needles, Isle of Wight (@ Available Light Photography / Alamy)

Heather on Headon Warren overlooking The Needles, Isle of Wight (@ Available Light Photography / Alamy)

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• Can you see what is perhaps this island\s most celebrated landmark in the distance?""Here\s what all the fuss is about
• A famous torch will be making the journey here from the mainland today.""What\s the occasion?
• This stretch of coastline is famous for the three stacks of chalk that rise up out of the sea.""But also for the night watchman who looks out for them
• It might all look pretty peaceful now but this place likes to rock out at least once a year.""Why do you think 600,000 people descended here in 1970?

Minneapolis skyline and Stone Arch Bridge over the Mississippi River, Minnesota, USA (@ Joe Mamer/age fotostock)

Minneapolis skyline and Stone Arch Bridge over the Mississippi River, Minnesota, USA (@ Joe Mamer/age fotostock)

comments,

• It might look calm now but in 1927 this river was involved in the most destructive flood in US history.""The collapse of the Mississippi\s levee system inspired which rock classic?
• Locals in these parts love to tuck into a notorious fish.""It contains traces of the same stuff rat poison is made of!
• This river stretches for more than 3,700 km before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.""Which much-loved American novel was played out on these waters?
• Known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the state featured today takes its name from a Dakota word for ‘sky-tinted water\.""Prince, Winona Ryder, Judy Garland, Vince Vaughn and Bob Dylan all came from here

Alaskan brown bears wait for salmon at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA (@ Tony Campbell/Pond 5)

Alaskan brown bears wait for salmon at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA (@ Tony Campbell/Pond 5)

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• It\s hard enough swimming for hundreds of miles upstream...""Without encountering a hungry welcoming committee
• Salmon will spend up to eight years at sea before returning to fresh water.""How do they make it back to their birth place?
• Just over 100 years ago the Novarupta volcano erupted, filling 100 square kilometres of this land with ash.""Shall we take a trip to The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes?
• The fish don\t stand much of a chance around here - there are at least 2,000 brown bears hunting them down.""Can we trap you with some more grizzly facts?

The crypt at Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England (@ Peter Lewis/Getty Images)

The crypt at Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England (@ Peter Lewis/Getty Images)

comments,

• The basement here seems to have…""A flooding problem
• Created by the artist Antony Gormley, this statue might get a glimpse of the Olympic torch today.""If it can put the book down for five minutes
• One of England\s greatest literary figures died in this city before being buried here.""Do you think the sculpture is reading one of her books?
• This cathedral is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Swithun.""But which rather more humble individual actually saved it from destruction?

Wind turbines near Livermore, California, USA (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

Wind turbines near Livermore, California, USA (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

comments,

• We\ve got the power!""Where is this electrifying sight?
• Shall we shine a light on one of this region\s brightest talents?""It\s a world record-holder, glowing strong since 1901
• There\s something serenely poetic and strangely beautiful about the scene before you.""Step into the breeze?
• Where will you find this blustery, verdant hill?""It\s actually very close to Dublin

Black-browed albatross family on Steeple Jason Island, Falkland Islands (@ Steve Bloom Images/Alamy)

Black-browed albatross family on Steeple Jason Island, Falkland Islands (@ Steve Bloom Images/Alamy)

comments,

• Mollymawks like this are a type of bird that belong to the Diomedeidae family.""Do you know them by a rather different name?
• With wingspans that can reach 2.40m, our feathered friends must find it pretty easy to get airborne.""As long as they hit the ground running
• These big-winged birds thrive on a small island in the South Atlantic ocean.""Their habitat was invaded just over 30 years ago, prompting all-out war
• Imagine having a massive one of these hanging around your neck.""How funny would that be?

Yoyo tsuri water balloons in the pool at a neighborhood festival in Japan (@ Hiroyuki Uchiyama/Getty Images)

Yoyo tsuri water balloons in the pool at a neighborhood festival in Japan (@ Hiroyuki Uchiyama/Getty Images)

comments,

• Balls like this could prove a very useful addition to your arsenal...""For the biggest water balloon fight in the world!
• These balloons look quite content bobbing about.""But what would happen if they were popped in space?
• In their native country, children like to fish for these colourful spheres and use them as yo-yos.""Where\s the best place to sling your hook?
• Want to get your hands on one of these?""You\ll have to win it first

Bonfire in Iffeldorf, Bavaria, Germany (@ Konrad Wothe/Getty images)

Bonfire in Iffeldorf, Bavaria, Germany (@ Konrad Wothe/Getty images)

comments,

• It might be summer but that generally means very little in the UK.""Have you considered one of these to warm up?
• There\s something missing from this scene.""What would really top it off?
• Fancy yourself as a modern day caveman, minus the loin cloth?""Take a crash course in building your own bonfire
• These people are celebrating summer in a region more famous for an autumn festival.""An appreciation for beer is recommended

Beach huts in Southend, England (@ Tom McShane / Alamy)

Beach huts in Southend, England (@ Tom McShane / Alamy)

comments,

• This seaside town\s name derives from a location at the south end of a nearby village.""Now a tourist haven, it generates estimated annual revenues of £200 million
• These little houses might be empty now but what\s happening here today that is sure to pull in the crowds?""Let\s hope a famous flame doesn\t get too close
• Look what we found while taking a stroll along the Essex coastline.""How do you get here?
• These colourful huts are looking out to sea towards the longest pleasure pier in the world.""It extends more than two kilometres into the Thames Estuary

Camel caravan through the Sahara Desert near Djanet, Algeria (@ Frans Lemmens/Super Stock)

Camel caravan through the Sahara Desert near Djanet, Algeria (@ Frans Lemmens/Super Stock)

comments,

• This desert stretches across 9,400,000 square kilometres and has a top temperature of 58°C.""This is perhaps the safest way to explore it
• The country featured today declared its independence from France exactly 50 years ago.""Where are people celebrating?
• Amazingly, snow has been known to fall here, while the sand dunes can reach 180m in height.""Shall we make tracks into this terrific terrain?
• The average life expectancy of an even-toed ungulate is 40 to 50 years and they can reach speeds of 65kph.""What other fun facts have we got stored up?

Ocean waves near Ventura, California, USA (@ David Pu’u/Corbis)

Ocean waves near Ventura, California, USA (@ David Pu’u/Corbis)

comments,

• This stunning setting is the backdrop for an important national celebration.""What are people across the US marking today?
• This scene is screaming out for a sun-kissed soundtrack - which recently reformed act spring to mind?""They made their name on the beach
• It\s not just bronzed boys and girls that are hooked when it comes to catching a wave.""In fact, the competition can get pretty ‘ruff\ at times
• You can experience surf like this on the North American coast of San Buenaventura.""Isn\t it about time you dived into the Pacific Ocean?

Storm clouds over the mountains of Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA (@ Ron Niebrugge/CorbisMotion)

Storm clouds over the mountains of Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA (@ Ron Niebrugge/CorbisMotion)

comments,

• One road cuts through six million acres of protected land in these parts.""Cars are banned beyond the first 15 miles, preserving lush scenes like this
• People travel from all over the world to climb ‘The High One\.""What more can we learn about this looming presence?
• You are looking at the highest mountain in all the Americas and the third most prominent peak in the world.""A unique weather system functions at the 6,194-metre summit
• In 1867, the USA bought this barren land from Russia for a paltry $7.2 million.""It\s now one of their richest states - where is this bargain property?

Eastern gray kangaroo in Murramarang National Park, New South Wales, Australia (@ Paul Souders/Corbis)

Eastern gray kangaroo in Murramarang National Park, New South Wales, Australia (@ Paul Souders/Corbis)

comments,

• It\s not very often you see these animals having a little lie down.""Clearly, all that hopping is hard work
• Macropus giganteus is a marsupial found in southern and eastern Australia.""When not lazing about, they stand almost two metres tall
• Sick of urban foxes?""Imagine finding a mob of these rummaging through your dustbin
• Kookaburras, koalas and kangaroos are among the creatures who have made their home here.""Where can you check out all this wildlife?