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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As contrasting as the landscapes of the 15th meridian east, so different are its animal inhabitants. What are the living conditions like in the heat of the Namibian Damaraland, in Lusatia or on the coast of Norway? Which challenges do elephants, whales or kingfishers have to master together with their companions from north to south?
The cornfield - just an area for producing food… or a land full of secrets? This doc portrays a little recognized habitat right next door. The spectacular visuals filmed with state of the art equipment introduce the surprisingly large diversity of field inhabitants. We follow a hamster family through a season full of adventures and are drawn into an unknown world – a world of which we thought we knew everything about. In the western industrial nations cornfields and woods take up the greatest proportion of rural land. But how much natural life dwells in a cornfield? Why are some cornfield inhabitants harmful and others useful and what do the colourful flowers at the edge of the field promise us? We follow a hamster family through a season full of adventures and are drawn into an unknown world – a world of which we thought we knew everything about.
The Inner Hebrides surprise with green hills, fine sandy beaches and a mild climate, at least as far as Scottish conditions allow. This is ensured by the currents of the Gulf Stream, as well as the Scottish archipelago being protected by its sister islands, which belong to the Outer Hebrides. More than half of the almost 80 islands are uninhabited. Loneliness has made the people rather inventive. On Tiree Island, mathematics, history and physics from the mainland arrive in the classroom per mouseclick. Dr Mauvis Gore and Prof. Rupert Ormond cast off from the island of Mull, after setting a course to encounter a basking shark. The cetohinus maximus is the world's second largest fish and the two scientists are absolutely convinced that the waters surrounding the Mull constitute the mating grounds for the basking sharks. A logistical challenge takes place on the Isle of Easdale each September. Then, around 400 people populate the tiny slate island. Donals "Mellon" Melville organises the World Skimming Championships, a World Cup in jumping stones. This is all about the distance they are thrown and they must only hop above the water twice.
The first part of this journey through Scotland begins in the colourful and vibrant capital, Edinburgh. It takes us through the rolling hills of the Scottish Lowlands, en route to the wild, picturesque east coast and Aberdeen. There are new and exciting views behind every bend: heath-covered hills with a magically purple glow, beautiful lakes and forests of the deepest shades of green. The breath-taking camerawork for this documentary received the Columbus Film Award.
Spirits, Kings, Lemurs – Madagascar treats Ami to a multitude of new impressions and spectacular pictures. Director Christian Schidlowski and his team accompanied her on her trip.
Renaud Van Der Meeren is a photographer and paramotor pilot. With his motorised parachute he goes on expeditions to the remotest corners on earth to photograph people and landscapes from the air. Renaud wanted to be a jet pilot, studied music at the Sorbonne, became a ski instructor, model and photographer's assistant before he found happiness in his current vocation. He especially likes to do his job in Mauritius – nowhere else does he find so many motifs as on the "sweetest pearl in the Indian Ocean". This time he's working on a photo book about Mauritius – by land, by water and in the air.
Photographer Matthias Ziegler is an Africa specialist. He has visited nearly every country on the continent on assignments for international agencies. Zanzibar, however, is new territory for him. He's come to the former slave island for a photo book – and this time he's not alone. To see the Tanzanian archipelago from the air, he has enlisted the services of ultralight pilot Richard Meredith-Hardy of England to fly him around in his FIB, or flying inflatable boat. Perfect conditions for an adventurous journey: as a world champion ultralight pilot, Richard and his FIB can take off and land practically anywhere – in theory.
On the wild coast of Patagonia, the nature calendar describes the most diverse visiting times of fascinating animals, from the southern right whale and other large whales, via the sea lions and elephant seals up to the orcas and millions of penguins. The encounters with whales and their babies are spectacular. Hardly anywhere else on earth can one experience both the brutal and the delightful sides of nature so vividly and so close. The trip to the hot spots for animal watchers and researchers leads us inter alia to the Caleta Valdez. This is where, during the mating season, the southern elephant seals bring their babies into the world, mate and enjoy a little sunbathing on the beach.
With the aid of modern technology, reveal the unknown behaviour of some unusual species of shark: lemon sharks and their white-tip reef counterparts. Our film trip begins on the Bahamas. To be more precise: in the turquoise-blue waters of the Grand Bahama Bank, in an exactly fixed location. In the spring, 70 – 80 pregnant lemon sharks arrive here. This huge shark population was first discovered just a few years ago by shark researcher, Professor Sam Gruber. Many of the females are tired and rest on the seabed. Pregnant tiger sharks swim in the midst of this group. Without any protection whatsoever, our cameramen shoot their footage, surrounded by sharks and succeed in capturing images hitherto unseen. We continue our journey to Gainesville, Florida, to meet Gordon Hubbell, the leading shark denture expert with the world's largest shark denture collection. He knows everything about the evolutionary history of the lemon sharks, in addition to those of the white-tip reef variety off Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Here, we encounter large schools of fish, unprecedented numbers of stingrays, as well as hammerhead sharks. However, it is the white-tip reek sharks that make the biggest impression. Their performance begins late at night. Marauding, they patrol in large groups through the reefs and hunt everything that moves. Scales and dead prey fish float above the reef – a welcoming change of diet for the ubiquitous barracudas.
We are on the verge of a new age of exploration: besides the plans of NASA and other space agencies, over the next years also privately financed teams are going to send unmanned vehicles to the Moon. The goal is to find a cheap and efficient way to travel there on a regular basis, and in the long term to build a permanent human base.
Hong Kong translated means "fragrant harbour". The days of the spicy smoking ceremonies have passed, but MareTV has discovered many delightful contrasts between the metropolis and Mother Nature. In for-mer times, the rare eagle wood tree grew here. Its wood put the spice into the Taoist smoking ceremonies. The fragrant harbour: what sounds so charming is today a huge metropolis in the sea. No other tiny piece of land is more densely populated. Star Ferries have been commuting between the Kowloon Peninsula and central Hong Kong for the past 125 years. The British colonial masters are long gone, but on the ancient ferries, virtually nothing has changed. Most of the ships are still clad in British Racing Green and the crew still wears the old, decorative uniforms.
Idlewild - Avalon - Belle of Louisville - these three names stand for the last still roadworthy, historic sternwheeler in the USA. In 1914, the ship was built as "Idlewild" for the West Memphis Packet Company as a passenger ferry. With a draft of only 1.50 m and a robust steel hull, the boat is suitable for almost all navigable rivers of the Mississippi River system. Today, the "Belle" is the most traveled steamboat in American history. In the course of her eventful life, she has called at 130 places in 19 states.
The paddle steamer "Skibladner" is the oldest passenger paddle steamer in the world in regular service. It has been plying Norway's largest inland lake, the Mjøsa, since 1856. The "white swan" has a melodious name, borrowed from Norse mythology. The ship "Skíðblaðnir" of the god Freyr, built by dwarves, could always have a tail wind, could be stowed in a small bag when folded and all gods in armor had room on it. The traditional ship of AS Oplandandske Dampskibsselskap does not have such fairy-tale powers, but atmospherically the "Skibladner" also transports guests to a world long gone.
Rugged coasts, untouched nature and the rough climate of the Atlantic characterize the landscape on the west coast of Scotland. In the sounds and lochs of the Scottish West, "Waverley", the last seaworthy passenger steamship in the world, appears once a year. The side-wheel steamer was built in 1947 to carry out short ferry passages on the Clyde River. Today, "Waverley" circumnavigates almost all of Great Britain. The impressive ship was sold to the "Paddle Steamer Preservation Society" in 1974 for the symbolic price of one English pound. Since then, she starts her season off the Western Isles in Scotland every year in May.
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 first part of the spring journey takes us from the Spanish inland to the rugged Atlantic and to the Mediterranean, through the French Provence, and finally into the Alps. Along the way, flamingos perform their bizarre dancing rituals, wild horses storm through the wetland… While the North is still covered by snow and ice, the South will soon turn into a blooming garden and every creature is enjoying the first signs of the awakening.
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.
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. Young women are often disadvantaged here and quite a few are married off before the age of 18. Helicopter pilot Priya Adhikari lives and works here. The 38-year-old is an exception and the only woman in Nepal who ventures into the extremely dangerous heights of the Himalayas in her helicopter.
Alia Twal is an enthusiastic pilot, globetrotter and adventurer. She is a first officer with the Jordanian airline Royal Jordanian and flies large passenger planes. She climbs the highest mountains in the world, dives with sharks or goes skydiving. Alia particularly enjoys travelling in her Jordanian homeland.
The Antarctic region is undoubtedly one of the most remote and inhospitable, yet one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world. This documentary takes us on a journey to the stormy isolated islands of the Southern Ocean. Seals, penguins, seabirds and numerous other animals live and breed in this hostile environment and harsh climate. Only by an icebreaker can we reach the remote coasts of the Antarctic continent where Emperor Penguins defy the life-threatening environment of the vast ice desert at the end of the world.
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