In 2013, Discovery Channel kicked off its annual Shark Week with a two-hour broadcast titled Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives .
As entertainment, these videos offer a fun look at a "what if" scenario. However, the true story of Otodus megalodon is rooted firmly in the ancient past. It was an extraordinary creature that ruled the prehistoric oceans, but its reign ended millions of years ago—leaving the modern seas safe for whales, and for us.