Prehistoric

The land that today forms Washington DC, now the capital, was once traversed by massive dinosaurs weighing up to 36 tonnes. The ancient seas hosted roughly thirty distinct shark breeds, including the mighty megalodon, the largest of which dominated the prehistoric waters.

Washington DC is a programme presented as a single episode that takes viewers back to a time when the capital’s present‑day streets were anything but urban. The format is straightforward, focusing on a particular slice of natural history rather than following a narrative arc or featuring recurring characters. The episode highlights that, long before any monuments were erected, the land now occupied by Washington DC was once home to colossal dinosaurs weighing around 36 tons. These massive reptiles roamed the region, shaping the landscape long before humans set foot there. Their sheer size is underscored by the striking figure of thirty‑six tonnes, giving a clear sense of the scale involved. Equally impressive is the episode’s coverage of the ancient seas that once covered the area. It notes that about thirty different shark species inhabited those waters, among them the formidable megalodon. By naming the megalodon alongside the broader diversity of sharks, the programme conveys just how varied and powerful the marine life was in those prehistoric oceans. In sum, the episode juxtaposes the gigantic land‑dwelling dinosaurs with the equally massive marine predators, painting a picture of a region that was once dominated by both towering reptiles and fearsome sharks. It offers a concise yet vivid snapshot of the prehistoric world that once lay beneath what is now the nation’s capital.