The Andes are the biggest mountain range in the world. Peaks of up to 7000 metres in height, do not only offer an imposing view, but also influence the climate by being the drainage and meteorological divide.
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Wide open heaths, windswept and barren in winter, are transformed into wonderful carpets of white, fluffy cotton grass in summer. Large bears and wolves roam alongside delicately fluttering butterflies, the bubbling calls of black grouse and the enchanting trills of the great snipe. Moors, bogs and wetlands can be found all over in Europe. Everyone has at least heard about this habitat but most know little about it. It is an ancient yet largely unknown set of landscapes that is full of enchanting surprises. On a warm spring day, poisonous adders emerge from hiding to perform their impressive mating dance. As dusk falls, snipe gather on traditional leks, leaping and singing to impress the opposite sex. And deep down in the boggy marshes, glittering emeralds of sticky dew lure insects into the deadly arms of meat-eating plants. Magical Moors captures the quiet beauty of a spectacular landscape, and its often elusive wildlife, in stunning detail.
2.000 rivers and streams dig deep into the underground and transport their water into reservoirs or "Germany's Wild Amazon", the Wupper. These forests and rivers, together with heathlands and moors, are home to a diverse fauna. Martens, badgers, wild boars, hares, roe deer, and red deer, even black grouse and hazel deer find shelter in these parts. Wolves also have a dominant presence, not to mention those who live underground, such as lizards, bats, and snakes. Accompany us on a journey where we explore every corner of this rugged land. Climb underground into the Bergisches Land, through the vast hidden cave systems that sprawl far beneath the forests. There is also much to be discovered in the water, dive with us in crystal clear streams and rivers with their diverse flora and fauna.
The Andes are the biggest mountain range in the world. Peaks of up to 7000 metres in height, do not only offer an imposing view, but also influence the climate by being the drainage and meteorological divide.
Sri Lanka stands for colourful diversity in all respects. If it's spirituality or Ayurveda you're looking for, here it is. Adventurers and nature lovers can also satisfy their needs here. No one must travel far to discover exotic worlds on this drop-shaped tropical island. "mareTV" delves into the day to day lives of the is-landers, some of whom pursue the most unusual pro-fessions: Uditha Lakmaal is a palm tree climber. He harvests the sap of the trees, known as palm wine, by climbing to the top of them. Sri Lankan stilt fishermen now actually have very little to do with fish and func-tion more as models receiving payment from tourists for acting the part. Anulawathie runs a small floating hoop business, offering car inner tubes for adults and tuk-tuk tubes for children. Different varieties of tea can be found on Herman Gunaratnes tea plantation. Just four carefully selected women are allowed to harvest the exclusive white tea grown there. Each tea leaf is cut individually from the bush by gloved hands and with golden scissors.
Sweden's Höga Kusten (High Coast) has been rising by almost one centimetre per year since the last ice age 10,000 years ago. This has created a hilly Baltic Sea landscape on the Gulf of Bothnia with small and large islands. Untouched nature, dense forests and energetic, rather idiosyncratic islanders have plenty of room there. Every year at the end of August a biting stench mixes with the fresh Baltic Sea breeze. For weeks the so-called sour herring, Swedish: Surströmming, is fermented in brine. Ruben Madsen is a producer of surströmming and an absolute connoisseur. In his wooden hut on the island of Ulvön he puts the herring in according to a traditional recipe. At the start of the season, the cans are opened for the first time. Lovers of the "stinky fish" then come from all over the world to taste the now world-famous delicacy in cans. Opening the cans of "rotten fish" is considered internationally as a test of courage, people film themselves doing so, the inhabitants of the High Coast can only smile about it.
A scenic expedition through majestic volcanoes, seething geysers, powerful waterfalls, threatening fjords and almighty glaciers. Hardly any other country offers such a variety of spectacular forces of nature! We will give you an insight on how it can be that the people of a small, distant island with only a fraction of sunlight in some months are happier than the people in more sun-blessed countries.
The Dordogne consists of a visible and an invisible system of flowing water. Caves and basins under the earth's surface store the excess water and return it to the river when it is dry. A perfect management of a precious resource, not invented by humans, but by the complex nature itself. The result is an ever life-giving river. (S1 E02)
The Gironde is the largest and most powerful tidal current in Europe. When the Gironde flows into the Atlantic, it is 15 kilometers wide and in the rhythm of the tides, it brings the waters from the Pyrenees and the Massif Central into the ocean. This often pushes its waters far out into the Gironde at high tide.This creates a world of its own that has shaped everything uniquely and intensely for tens of thousands of years. The water surface of the river is so large that the evaporation has created its own microclimate, which is stable and, together with the brackish waters, has influenced flora and fauna on the right and left of the bank for a long time. (S1 E01)
Tenerife is outstanding among the Canary Islands. If only because of the volcano Pico del Teide, which rises exactly 3.718 meters above sea level and is thus the highest mountain in Spain. But not only scenically Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, stands out...
The film celebrates the diverse natural heritage of the Dutch delta region while sketching the cultural context that has played such a vital part in shaping it. Using cutting edge cinematic techniques ranging from eagle's eye aerial views to unprecedented underwater scenes, 'Wild Holland - The Living Delta' presents a portrait of this unique wetland area of Europe as never seen before, capturing it in an important moment of change - a time when new life is flooding back into the delta.
Gigantic fjords and over 5,000 small islands: In Alaska's south there's a lot of wilderness and little civilization. The region between the capital Juneau and the Canadian border is also known by locals as the "Last Frontier", the last outpost. Michelle Masden, for example, has come to terms with the harsh conditions here. She is the only seaplane pilot in the region. She earns her living with her 65-year-old Beaver: as an air taxi, transport plane and now and then as a rescuer in last necessity. Michelle flies anything and everything: spare parts and food, doctors, hikers and hunters. For the fishermen of southern Alaska she searches for large shoals of fish and guides the captains to the next good catch. Ray Rusaw was a car mechanic by profession, but in his old age he was gripped by gold fever. With a self-built special raft and a highly creative selection of equipment from the DIY store, he sets off in search of the precious metal that his predecessors overlooked two centuries ago. For four years he has been happily obsessively combing through sandbanks and river courses. For Ray, the search for gold has little to do with luck and much to do with meticulous research. He is certain that he has found the perfect spot.
They run through deserts, through ice and snow, deep into the jungle, along the water and over the mountains. The landscapes through which these routes wind are unique and exert their never-ending fascination even on regular travellers. In our documentary “Hot Roads – An Icebound Road” which is part of the five-part film series “Hot Roads” we want to tell the stories that take place along the route itself, of the people who live along it and for whom the road is part and parcel of their personal destiny. (S1 E05)
The air wants to flee the heat, but is too weak. It hovers just above the ground, heavy and weighed down by the oven-like heat. It turns wanly around itself, and tries to cool off by liquefying itself. It vibrates, it oscillates – but there is no escape. This is West Africa in late March. The Harmattan, the hot desert wind of the Sahara, is blowing without respite. It has no pity with the people who live here. Whoever wants to go from one place to another has to travel on roads that hardly deserve this name. They are dusty paths that don't appear on any map. They are maneuverable only with great effort and for a few months of the year. They are impassable during the rainy season, since they are washed over by the Niger River, one of the mightiest rivers in the world. When it starts to rain, the roads turn into muddy paths. Every journey is a trip into uncertainty. (S1 E04)
The “Adriatic Highway” is one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. The “technical masterwork” was built in the 1950s and 60s, at the time of Yugoslavian President Tito. Abounding in curves, the asphalt road stretches from Ankaran in Slovenia to Ulcinj in Montenegro. More than half of the road is in Croatia (659 km) and a quarter in Montenegro (125 km). Shorter segments lead through Slovenia only nine kilometers are in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For all four countries of the former Yugoslavian Federation, the 1,200-kilometer-long highway remains the main thoroughfare of Adriatic tourism. For many travelers, the highway is the absolute dream road. In dizzying heights, it hugs the steep cliffs lining the Adriatic Sea, winds through coves and bays, gardens and stony fields. Wonderful views of the blue sea, green islands, bizarre cliffs and Mediterranean cities and towns are typical of the highway. But with its numerous curves, the dream road also harbors many dangers. (S1 E03)
In Bangladesh, the land with the highest density of population in the world (and the highest amount of corruption), the daily struggle to survive is fought everywhere, including the streets. Nowhere do people drive as brutally and recklessly as here. In Bangladesh you drive on the road like others drive with a bumper car: if you need space, you simply ram the car driving next to you. The police only came if there are fatalities. The biggest bottleneck in the transport system is the historical old town of Dhaka. Old Dhaka is a universe of its own, a world of bazaars in which every trade has its own quarter: there are streets of jewelers, sweets makers and fashionable tailors, and the vegetable wholesalers have their warehouses down at the port. The deliveries take place mostly on the river, the Buriganga River, a stinking cesspool. But the sold goods usually leave by land, and the customers also come by the land route – the Nawabpur Road. They generally come in buses or by rickshaw, where too many people are crammed into too little space. The traffic in Dhaka is everyday, normal madness. The film accompanies a rickshaw, a bus and a truck on their dangerous way through the streets of Dhaka and shows how it is possible to survive in what seems to be an incontrollable chaos. (S1 E02)
It is a road of mountain passes and India's access to the roof of the world – the Himalayas. This 475-kilometre long route at the northernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent connects the cities of Manali and Leh at the heart of the Ladakh region. The term “highway” applies quite literally, since the route traverses five of the highest drivable mountain passes in the world – among these the Lohtang La at 3,978 metres above sea level, the Lachulung La at 5,059 metres and the Tanglang La at 5,325 metres. Crossing these passes is a challenge for both vehicle and man. The mountain peaks, still snow-capped even in the depths of summer, wide variety of vegetation and the fantastic and craggy landscape turn any journey into a captivating adventure. (S1 E01)
Alluvial forests, roaring waterfalls, steep canyons and sunny slopes flank the river Rhine. The variety of habitats is the reason for the large biodiversity along the stream.There is hardly any other river in Germany that is surrounded by as many myths and legends as the river Rhine. No other river has been the topic of songs, has been painted and travelled equally frequently. Despite this it still seems to be true today what the French poet Victor Hugo once said about this river – the Rhine is a river everybody talks about, nobody explores, everybody visits but no one really knows. The film follows the water against the stream. It starts at the river's delta in the Netherlands, flows through six countries and ends in the Swiss Alps.
The light of the Balearic island of Ibiza is magical and its trademark: The "Island of Light" is tiny compared to its sister island Mallorca, but offers the most beautiful sunsets in the world. That's what they say. They attract sun worshippers and party people from near and far. To the sounds of the famous "Balearic Sound" they turn night into day. This documentary documents the island in the balancing act between luxury yachts and traditions. Hippie culture, celebrities, pine forests, bays with turquoise water and villages with bright white houses: Ibiza has many faces. Mora (80) and Djin (67) have been drawn to the island for 55 years. They are the uncrowned kings of the hippies. But only love, light, air and laziness, these times are also long gone on Ibiza. Mora knits sexy jerseys for young hippies from morning till night. Djin helps her sell at the famous Las Dalias hippie market and works as a construction worker: chilling and no pension in sight. The virgin Carmen is the patron saint of the sailors. On her day of honour, a mass is celebrated in the port city of Eivissa. Afterwards, fishermen carry the Virgin through the narrow streets of Ibiza City down to the quay. And then Carmen sets sail. Several places on Ibiza claim to offer the most beautiful sunset in the world: In front of Cala de Benirrás, the sun sinks right next to the iconic rock Cap Benat, which the locals awefully call "God's Finger". The typical soft beats over the sea sound from almost all the bays and provide deep relaxation worldwide under the term "Balearic Sound". Some of the famous DJs are jetting around the globe for huge fees. But in the small beach bars, the Chiringuitos, the island sound is celebrated further. On the beach of Cala Salada the Brit Joe Burnley has the command over a troop of mermaids. The ladies squeeze into the tight mermaid costume for the good cause. With great grace they swim towards yachts that are forbidden to anchor on sea grass meadows. Charming but unyielding, they point out the offence to the captain and crew a creative environmental action to save the endangered Neptune gas, green lung of the sea and habitat for Ibiza's seahorses. The underwater photographer Manu San Felix is also committed to the endangered seahorses. Using a probe, he maps the coastal area around Ibiza and feeds the data into a GPS app. No skipper should be able to say that he didn't even know that his anchor was clawing into Neptune grass. On land, Manu is dedicated to breeding seahorses. His plan: He wants to expose the animals in the Mediterranean to Ibiza and Formentera in order to secure their population. Garages on the beach? Many bays on the island still have Casetas Varadero, boat garages threatened with decay. Fishermen once built them illegally. The picturesque sheds are therefore only tolerated, but may no longer be restored. The 83-year-old Toni Salvado still drives straight out to sea from his garage. He fishes for his own needs and a few friends, he is not allowed to sell his catch.
Not nearly as crowded as Majorca or Ibiza: Menorca has noticeably fewer visitors than her sister islands and in 1993, was recognised by UNESCO as a biosphere re-serve. Menorca also has its own distinctive charm, with its secluded coves, mighty cliffs, beautiful gardens and ages old towns and villages. Its residents love the is-lands treasures and peculiarities. Forests make up al-most a third of Menorca, complemented by many lush green meadows. Next to tourism, agriculture is a major source of the island's income to the present day. On Menorca, there are several accumulations of enormous megalithic stones. From a global point of view, the up to five-metre-tall "Taulas", whereby the stones are ar-ranged in the shape of a "T", are unique.
"Cleaning woman island", concrete castles, Ballermann: Mallorca's image is negatively affected in some respects. The documentary explores the charm of the largest Balearic island beyond the hustle and bustle of tourism and Rambazamba. The "real" Mallorca is best explored through real Majorcans: Manolo Barahona, TV fishing expert from the local island broadcaster IB3, faces the most difficult task of the year. The Raor is in season, the most expensive fish on the island. Manolo is supposed to get him first in front of the camera and then in the pan. There's only one catch, the little fish with the piranha teeth just doesn't want to be on TV. In the first months of the year Mallorca turns into a sea of almond blossoms. There are around seven million almond trees on the island, once planted to replace dead vines. But now also the almond trees are threatened. The fire bacterium continues to spread, especially on the large plantations. The farmer Biel Torrens wants to save Mallorca's almond trees and fruit with a small organic plantation and gentle harvesting methods. He shakes the almonds from the tree by hand instead of using a mechanical vibrator.
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