The municipality of Villavieja and the Desierto de La Tatacoa in Huila become key locations for the documentary Amazon Extremes, a production for PBS's NOVA series exploring the Amazon's history across Peru, Brazil, and Colombia.
The documentary Amazon Extremes, directed by anthropologist and filmmaker Graham Townsley, traces the Amazon rainforest's formation from an asteroid impact 66 million years ago to the Andes uplift and the Amazon River's creation. Before arriving in Colombia, the team filmed in Peru at sites like Cusco and Puerto Maldonado, and in Brazil, including Brasília and the ATTO station near Manaus. In Huila, the Desierto de La Tatacoa uncovers a past linked to the ancient Amazon.
Townsley explains that 15 million years ago, La Tatacoa was part of the Amazonian jungle and, after the Andes rose 10 million years ago, became isolated, preserving fossils from 20 million years back. "This is a treasure from Huila for humanity," the director states. Paleontologist Carlos Jaramillo from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute highlights the fossils discovered, such as tree trunks over 20 meters long and giant crocodiles and turtles up to six meters. "There are few sites in the world with such paleontological richness," Jaramillo notes, linking the area to the ancient Amazon system.
Filming involved the Museo de La Tatacoa in La Victoria, where administrator Andrés Felipe Vanegas emphasizes community involvement. "We are the ones who live in the territory," he says. The project aims to boost scientific tourism and protect the fragile ecosystem.
