1 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,760 Europe is a densely packed continent 2 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:16,653 with some 700 million human residents across 50 countries. 3 00:00:22,050 --> 00:00:26,240 It's famed for its cities and ancient civilizations 4 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,900 but the continent is also a treasure trove 5 00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:38,900 of natural beauty, a mosaic of landscapes 6 00:00:40,290 --> 00:00:43,663 each filled with their own unique animal communities. 7 00:00:45,843 --> 00:00:48,260 (soft music) 8 00:01:09,990 --> 00:01:11,860 If you were planning a bucket list trip 9 00:01:11,860 --> 00:01:13,733 of the natural wonders of Europe, 10 00:01:18,284 --> 00:01:19,707 where would you start? 11 00:01:27,485 --> 00:01:30,235 (dramatic music) 12 00:01:40,027 --> 00:01:43,933 Tracking polar bears, the ultimate bucket list adventure. 13 00:01:50,660 --> 00:01:53,343 But perhaps not one you might consider in Europe, 14 00:01:58,350 --> 00:02:02,010 but in Northern Europe, some of the countries of Scandinavia 15 00:02:02,010 --> 00:02:05,010 stretch right up into the Arctic circle 16 00:02:05,010 --> 00:02:07,163 into the land of the ice bear. 17 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,800 This is the biggest land carnivore on the planet 18 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,053 let alone Europe. 19 00:02:24,980 --> 00:02:28,240 A big male can stand three meters tall 20 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,410 not something to mess with, but one of the most 21 00:02:31,410 --> 00:02:34,820 spectacular natural wonders of Europe 22 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,433 though this giant is just the tip of the iceberg. 23 00:02:48,690 --> 00:02:51,240 At one time, the whole of Europe was under 24 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,410 a great ice sheet, an extension of the Arctic ice cap 25 00:02:55,410 --> 00:02:56,913 during the last ice age. 26 00:02:58,550 --> 00:03:01,310 The ice retreated and now you have to go 27 00:03:01,310 --> 00:03:02,883 to the far North to see it. 28 00:03:05,330 --> 00:03:09,290 But if you brave the cold, there are other ice age relics 29 00:03:09,290 --> 00:03:10,733 still roaming the wild. 30 00:03:28,131 --> 00:03:30,310 On the bleak Tundra of Norway, 31 00:03:30,310 --> 00:03:32,980 look out for muskox with shaggy coats 32 00:03:32,980 --> 00:03:35,350 that record a long gone mammoths. 33 00:03:35,350 --> 00:03:38,120 The muskox look like Tundra buffalo, 34 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,453 but are in fact supersized sheep. 35 00:03:49,832 --> 00:03:53,840 For the ultimate showdown, get ringside seats for the rut. 36 00:03:59,590 --> 00:04:02,713 The broad-based horns are thick pads of hair, 37 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,243 homemade crash helmets. 38 00:04:14,530 --> 00:04:17,890 They can absorb shock, which is just as well 39 00:04:17,890 --> 00:04:20,343 in their self-induced head-on collisions. 40 00:04:45,010 --> 00:04:48,000 Wildlife can be hard to find at this frigid end 41 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,093 of the continent, but natural wonders abound. 42 00:04:53,710 --> 00:04:57,163 You could explore the steaming bubbling geezers of Iceland. 43 00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:18,080 Though far out in the Atlantic, 44 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,220 far West of the rest of Europe 45 00:05:20,220 --> 00:05:23,250 it's still part of the continent though straddling 46 00:05:23,250 --> 00:05:25,803 the North American continental plate as well. 47 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,900 Because it sits on the fault line, 48 00:05:31,900 --> 00:05:34,903 it is a living monument to the forces of nature. 49 00:05:36,010 --> 00:05:37,700 Born of volcanoes, 50 00:05:37,700 --> 00:05:40,223 the ground continues to bubble and boil. 51 00:05:42,770 --> 00:05:45,793 There are still more than 20 active volcanoes. 52 00:05:49,230 --> 00:05:54,230 But this is a land of fire and ice. 53 00:05:57,180 --> 00:06:00,250 Glaciers cover 11% of the country. 54 00:06:00,250 --> 00:06:02,520 One of them, the biggest in Europe 55 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,693 is three times the size of Luxembourg. 56 00:06:10,210 --> 00:06:12,730 While exploring the Wild Coast, 57 00:06:12,730 --> 00:06:16,410 watch out for the Icelandic ponies believed to be 58 00:06:16,410 --> 00:06:19,183 one of the purest breeds of horse in the world. 59 00:06:34,980 --> 00:06:36,910 After Great Britain, 60 00:06:36,910 --> 00:06:39,490 Iceland is Europe's largest island 61 00:06:41,270 --> 00:06:45,100 and yet it is the least populated country in Europe 62 00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:47,913 with endless wild landscapes to explore. 63 00:06:57,230 --> 00:06:59,830 All across Europe's extreme North, 64 00:06:59,830 --> 00:07:02,390 one of the top drawers for Intrepid tourists 65 00:07:02,390 --> 00:07:06,453 is the charms to gaze at the mesmerizing Northern Lights. 66 00:07:08,300 --> 00:07:10,670 Storms on the surface of the sun, 67 00:07:10,670 --> 00:07:13,850 blast out clouds of highly charged particles, 68 00:07:13,850 --> 00:07:15,770 known as electrons. 69 00:07:15,770 --> 00:07:19,180 When they collide with the particles in Earth's atmosphere, 70 00:07:19,180 --> 00:07:22,943 the energy is released discharging clouds of light. 71 00:07:26,670 --> 00:07:31,390 That is the official explanation, but during human history 72 00:07:31,390 --> 00:07:34,000 there've been many theories on the dancing lights 73 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,380 ranging from a bridge for the gods 74 00:07:36,380 --> 00:07:39,463 to the spirits of the dead dancing across the sky. 75 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,800 Whether you go for the romantic or scientific explanations 76 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,730 there is no doubt this natural wonder 77 00:07:48,730 --> 00:07:50,113 will take your breath away. 78 00:08:03,340 --> 00:08:06,270 As day breaks over Norway's Coasts, 79 00:08:06,270 --> 00:08:09,730 some of the most dramatic Fiordland on the planet 80 00:08:09,730 --> 00:08:12,943 why not jump on a boat and go in search of Marine life? 81 00:08:26,390 --> 00:08:29,330 During the fierce winter storms herring escape 82 00:08:29,330 --> 00:08:31,313 the oceans fury by sheltering here. 83 00:08:47,110 --> 00:08:50,003 And when they do, giants follow. 84 00:08:55,350 --> 00:08:57,990 Its one of the best places to get up close 85 00:08:57,990 --> 00:09:01,607 and personal with magnificent killer whales. 86 00:09:42,790 --> 00:09:45,760 The bleak landscapes have always been a tough place 87 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:46,893 for humans to live. 88 00:09:50,150 --> 00:09:53,070 But to spend time with some of the last true nomads 89 00:09:53,070 --> 00:09:54,870 of the North, should be right up there 90 00:09:54,870 --> 00:09:56,463 on everyone's bucket list. 91 00:10:01,230 --> 00:10:04,430 And what better way than trekking with the Sami people 92 00:10:04,430 --> 00:10:06,693 and their herds of semi domestic reindeer. 93 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,150 Their relationship probably began as the landscape 94 00:10:34,150 --> 00:10:35,840 of the ice age retreated 95 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,873 and to people followed the natural deer migration north. 96 00:10:43,020 --> 00:10:46,010 Thousands of years ago, the animals had already 97 00:10:46,010 --> 00:10:47,733 been partly domesticated. 98 00:10:54,030 --> 00:10:57,950 They still roam wild following their migratory instincts 99 00:10:57,950 --> 00:11:02,440 and finding their own food, but the Sami protect them 100 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,160 from predators as they escort the herds harvesting animals 101 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:07,210 for meat and leather. 102 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:16,110 An ancient relationship and a glimpse into the past 103 00:11:16,110 --> 00:11:18,003 that is irresistible to explore. 104 00:11:47,970 --> 00:11:51,460 Crossing the North Sea to Europe's largest island, 105 00:11:51,460 --> 00:11:54,343 you might glimpse one of the smallest marine mammals, 106 00:11:57,960 --> 00:11:59,433 the Harbour porpoise. 107 00:12:04,900 --> 00:12:08,620 Very small and hard to spot it's worth the effort 108 00:12:08,620 --> 00:12:10,710 to lay eyes on this perpetually smiling 109 00:12:10,710 --> 00:12:11,860 cousin of the dolphins. 110 00:12:23,631 --> 00:12:26,410 Greeted by the famous White Cliffs of Dover, 111 00:12:26,410 --> 00:12:28,610 you might begin a tour of the British Isles. 112 00:12:30,650 --> 00:12:33,700 These cliffs were thrust up by the same forces 113 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:35,810 that created the Alps. 114 00:12:35,810 --> 00:12:38,510 The chalk is made from fossilized bodies of billions 115 00:12:38,510 --> 00:12:41,570 of tiny sea creatures that lived and died 116 00:12:41,570 --> 00:12:43,363 during the time of the dinosaurs. 117 00:12:45,020 --> 00:12:47,570 Some of the larger forms can still be seen eroding 118 00:12:47,570 --> 00:12:48,493 from the cliffs. 119 00:13:11,810 --> 00:13:15,943 Giant sharks cruise, the coastlines of the UK during summer. 120 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:23,220 The second biggest fish on the planet, a face to face 121 00:13:23,220 --> 00:13:26,650 with the harmless filter feeding basking shark 122 00:13:26,650 --> 00:13:28,643 should be on any water lover's list. 123 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:35,930 Though its closest cousin is the great white, 124 00:13:35,930 --> 00:13:38,490 to which it bears a strong resemblance, 125 00:13:38,490 --> 00:13:40,223 it's teeth are minute. 126 00:13:44,100 --> 00:13:48,000 Opening its mouth wide, its gills do all the work 127 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,770 processing nearly 2000 tons of water an hour 128 00:13:51,770 --> 00:13:54,063 sieving out tiny creatures from the plankton. 129 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:02,350 Every summer, the mysterious giants appear close to shore 130 00:14:02,350 --> 00:14:04,653 especially along the UK's West Coast. 131 00:14:11,900 --> 00:14:14,510 These more rugged coastlines provide hiding 132 00:14:14,510 --> 00:14:16,377 and feeding spots for otters. 133 00:14:37,318 --> 00:14:40,490 This much loved animals live all across the continent 134 00:14:40,490 --> 00:14:43,270 usually in freshwater lakes and rivers, 135 00:14:43,270 --> 00:14:46,583 but here they've adapted to a seafood diet. 136 00:14:52,620 --> 00:14:55,200 The rich coast is teaming with fish for them to eat 137 00:14:57,070 --> 00:15:00,280 a resource that also feeds huge seabird colonies 138 00:15:01,140 --> 00:15:04,383 including 70% of the world's Northern gannets, 139 00:15:14,900 --> 00:15:19,900 kittiwakes, guillemots, shags and irresistibly cute puffins. 140 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,773 For most of the year they live out at sea, 141 00:15:39,630 --> 00:15:41,670 but during the early months of summer 142 00:15:41,670 --> 00:15:44,560 they dig holes or use rabbit tunnels on the cliffs 143 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,413 to raise their young affording visitors a closeup view. 144 00:15:49,578 --> 00:15:52,078 (bird sounds) 145 00:16:05,420 --> 00:16:08,000 The Scottish West Coast has some of the most 146 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:12,213 breathtaking views and they don't stop as you had inland. 147 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,850 A hike across the Highlands is ideal for taking in 148 00:16:23,850 --> 00:16:26,763 the landscape and enjoying ancient farmland. 149 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,640 Red deer stand majestically on the peaks 150 00:16:36,670 --> 00:16:39,443 and golden Eagles soar overhead. 151 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:49,010 The Highlands can seem vast but nothing compared 152 00:16:49,010 --> 00:16:51,593 to the endless expansive mainland Europe. 153 00:16:57,230 --> 00:17:00,493 The continent is breached by seemingly endless forest. 154 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,870 The ice age cleared the continent of trees, 155 00:17:06,870 --> 00:17:09,983 but in the years that followed, they reclaimed the land. 156 00:17:13,870 --> 00:17:17,723 7,000 years ago, most of the continent was forested. 157 00:17:18,630 --> 00:17:21,040 A long and complicated history with humans 158 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,030 changed all of that with most cleared for fuel 159 00:17:24,030 --> 00:17:27,293 and the building materials and to make way for farm land. 160 00:17:30,930 --> 00:17:34,583 Thankfully in some areas more recent forests have developed. 161 00:17:36,150 --> 00:17:39,410 In fact, Europe is one of the few parts of the world 162 00:17:39,410 --> 00:17:43,063 where forest cover has actually increased in recent years. 163 00:17:45,950 --> 00:17:48,540 The continent is one of the most forest rich parts 164 00:17:48,540 --> 00:17:53,203 of the world with 35% of land blanketed by trees. 165 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,710 And there are still small pockets of untouched virgin forest 166 00:17:59,710 --> 00:18:03,700 that remain biodiversity hotspots unmissable 167 00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:05,783 on any bucket list wildlife tour. 168 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:23,050 They are a stronghold for rare birds, fungus and flowers. 169 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:50,650 Germany is especially rich with over 30% of land 170 00:18:50,650 --> 00:18:52,193 cloaked in lush green. 171 00:18:57,470 --> 00:19:00,710 The vast pine forests are dark and mysterious, 172 00:19:00,710 --> 00:19:02,683 magical and full of secrets. 173 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,620 Like the biggest member of the grouse family 174 00:19:10,620 --> 00:19:13,893 on the continent, the impressive capercaillie. 175 00:19:15,930 --> 00:19:18,720 If you are going to seek out these feathered beauties, 176 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:20,830 be sure to do it in their breeding season 177 00:19:20,830 --> 00:19:23,003 for the best posturing and noise. 178 00:19:28,068 --> 00:19:30,568 (bird sounds) 179 00:19:47,590 --> 00:19:51,240 While the lush green deciduous forests provide shelter, 180 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:52,390 for wild boar, 181 00:20:08,470 --> 00:20:11,030 the ancestor of domestic pigs. 182 00:20:11,030 --> 00:20:14,183 They live in female led groups known as sounders. 183 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:33,970 Even lynx, shy and secretive top predators of the forest 184 00:20:33,970 --> 00:20:35,113 hide out here. 185 00:20:49,950 --> 00:20:53,600 The dappled cats were wiped out across most of Europe 186 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,313 but here numbers are slowly creeping up. 187 00:21:00,120 --> 00:21:02,220 Even with a healthy population, 188 00:21:02,220 --> 00:21:05,713 wild lynx are cryptic and seldom seen. 189 00:21:11,810 --> 00:21:14,120 With their beautiful spotted coats, 190 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:16,410 they can blend into their surroundings 191 00:21:16,410 --> 00:21:18,373 helping Cubs to explore safely. 192 00:21:32,910 --> 00:21:37,123 The great forests of Poland are more ancient and majestic. 193 00:21:55,910 --> 00:21:57,783 Still a stronghold for wolves, 194 00:22:07,790 --> 00:22:10,890 though shrouded in fear and superstition 195 00:22:10,890 --> 00:22:14,010 instances of wolves showing any aggression to people 196 00:22:14,010 --> 00:22:15,950 are extremely rare. 197 00:22:15,950 --> 00:22:19,360 They are normally shy and secretive finding remote patches 198 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:21,753 of wilderness to raise their families. 199 00:22:32,570 --> 00:22:34,730 Left to their own devices, 200 00:22:34,730 --> 00:22:37,770 wolves are prolific breeders with the whole pack 201 00:22:37,770 --> 00:22:39,973 helping to raise the alpha pairs pups. 202 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,290 They play a vital role in controlling the numbers 203 00:22:45,290 --> 00:22:47,760 of game animals that could otherwise 204 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:49,503 overgraze the vegetation. 205 00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:57,990 Wolves are dramatic creditors that once lived 206 00:22:57,990 --> 00:23:00,240 throughout the Northern hemisphere, but have been 207 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,253 ruthlessly hunted by people to protect livestock. 208 00:23:16,150 --> 00:23:18,780 Here they can hunt their native prey, 209 00:23:18,780 --> 00:23:22,430 including the biggest of Europe's land animals, 210 00:23:22,430 --> 00:23:23,793 the European bison. 211 00:23:26,130 --> 00:23:28,730 The huge wild cattle were hunted 212 00:23:28,730 --> 00:23:31,420 to extinction in the 20th century 213 00:23:31,420 --> 00:23:33,713 only a few in captivity escaped. 214 00:23:37,030 --> 00:23:40,640 But from those few large herds have been bred 215 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:45,000 and slowly reintroduced into a few of their former haunts. 216 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,410 For a nature lover wild Europe 217 00:23:47,410 --> 00:23:49,823 doesn't get much more exciting than this. 218 00:23:57,380 --> 00:24:00,550 Watching a scene like this is like looking back 219 00:24:00,550 --> 00:24:05,093 into history, a landscape unchanged in thousands of years. 220 00:24:10,030 --> 00:24:12,900 But Europe's forests very wildly, 221 00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:15,273 especially as you transverse the continent. 222 00:24:18,540 --> 00:24:22,010 The cold stunted forest of the Arctic Tundra in the North 223 00:24:22,010 --> 00:24:24,550 give way to dark green pine forests 224 00:24:33,650 --> 00:24:36,360 and then the lush green deciduous forests. 225 00:24:44,980 --> 00:24:47,483 Until you reach a Mediterranean landscape, 226 00:24:48,650 --> 00:24:50,780 the continents Southern extreme 227 00:25:02,730 --> 00:25:05,543 only heat tolerant trees make a living here. 228 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:12,160 Like evergreen oaks species like holm 229 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:13,923 and the remarkable cork oak. 230 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:30,860 The gnarly holes in the trunks provide protection 231 00:25:30,860 --> 00:25:34,300 for wildlife, including this family of hoopoe 232 00:25:34,300 --> 00:25:36,363 one of Europe's quirkiest birds. 233 00:25:41,170 --> 00:25:43,950 The small insect eaters look bigger than they are 234 00:25:43,950 --> 00:25:46,423 because of their slightly ostentatious head gear. 235 00:25:52,730 --> 00:25:55,730 The thick bark is flame-retardant to protect them 236 00:25:55,730 --> 00:25:57,053 from wildfires. 237 00:26:00,940 --> 00:26:03,330 But it's rubbery, fast-growing properties 238 00:26:03,330 --> 00:26:04,843 have drawn admirers. 239 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:09,470 These people are carrying on a traditional industry 240 00:26:09,470 --> 00:26:12,693 that has played out in South Western Europe for eons. 241 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,183 Stripping the tree of its bark to make cork. 242 00:26:18,150 --> 00:26:20,633 Wine stoppers and bathroom tiles start life here. 243 00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:29,560 It looks drastic, but one of the plant's remarkable 244 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:33,210 qualities is that it can regenerate the bark. 245 00:26:33,210 --> 00:26:35,910 And after a decade enough we'll have regrown for them 246 00:26:35,910 --> 00:26:37,223 to be harvested again. 247 00:26:41,610 --> 00:26:44,430 Because of the economic importance of the trees 248 00:26:44,430 --> 00:26:47,410 pockets of oak have been set aside and protected 249 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:56,233 a safe haven for shy and elegant black storks. 250 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,740 While mostly rolling green hills, 251 00:27:13,740 --> 00:27:17,060 Europe has straddled by several dramatic mountain ranges 252 00:27:18,530 --> 00:27:21,843 demonstrating the unfathomable forces of geology. 253 00:27:24,290 --> 00:27:27,430 An Intrepid bucket-list explorer might seek 254 00:27:27,430 --> 00:27:30,723 a heavy duty hike in the Carpathian Mountain Ranges. 255 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:34,600 The highest and most dramatic peaks are those 256 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:37,600 of the Tatra Mountains punctuating the boundary 257 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:39,863 between Slovakia and Poland. 258 00:27:42,110 --> 00:27:45,330 At well over two and 1/2 thousand meters tall, 259 00:27:45,330 --> 00:27:47,283 the range is a challenging obstacle. 260 00:27:49,310 --> 00:27:51,910 Though some residents take the peaks in their stride 261 00:27:53,710 --> 00:27:55,313 like the nimble chamois. 262 00:28:09,820 --> 00:28:13,170 Large hearts and an abundance of red blood cells 263 00:28:13,170 --> 00:28:15,050 allow the little wild goats to cope 264 00:28:15,050 --> 00:28:18,580 with the extreme altitudes where oxygen levels are lower 265 00:28:20,310 --> 00:28:22,450 and they're tiny rubbery hooves grip 266 00:28:22,450 --> 00:28:23,723 the slippery rocks. 267 00:28:27,860 --> 00:28:29,780 Spotting an agile chamois 268 00:28:29,780 --> 00:28:32,423 means you have made it to Europe's high country. 269 00:28:47,820 --> 00:28:50,880 There's another even more dramatic mountain goat 270 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:52,947 to keep an eye out for, the ibex. 271 00:29:00,182 --> 00:29:05,182 The noble beasts roam all of Europe's major mountains. 272 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:14,290 Though the Iberian Mountains have their own isolated species 273 00:29:17,770 --> 00:29:20,260 and in the beautiful mountains of Iberia 274 00:29:20,260 --> 00:29:22,840 the South Eastern parts of the continent, 275 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:24,963 it's not the only unique wildlife. 276 00:29:26,190 --> 00:29:28,100 The rugged country protects little spots 277 00:29:28,100 --> 00:29:31,820 of wildness that are sheltered a variety of wildlife 278 00:29:31,820 --> 00:29:33,873 even pyrenean brown bears. 279 00:29:40,010 --> 00:29:43,470 In the less populated and mountains of Eastern Europe, 280 00:29:43,470 --> 00:29:44,973 brown bears still roam. 281 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:54,700 But where denser human populations have sprung up, 282 00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:56,173 bears are all but gone. 283 00:30:03,220 --> 00:30:07,260 Carefully protected, the Iberian bears are making 284 00:30:07,260 --> 00:30:11,733 a slow comeback with more than 300 roaming the high country. 285 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,280 It's not easy to find them, but well worth the effort 286 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:18,280 trying to tick them off the bucket list. 287 00:30:21,900 --> 00:30:24,410 And while searching there's every chance 288 00:30:24,410 --> 00:30:26,973 of spotting other stunning wildlife. 289 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,070 From the bold and bolshy wall creeper 290 00:30:38,216 --> 00:30:41,633 to the gigantic vultures flying overhead. 291 00:30:45,505 --> 00:30:48,005 (bird sounds) 292 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,520 You might spot all five of the continents cleanup crew 293 00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:11,520 The impressive lammergeier, huge black vulture, 294 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:19,860 the much smaller yellow headed Egyptian vulture 295 00:31:22,510 --> 00:31:24,610 and the very similar and enormous 296 00:31:24,610 --> 00:31:26,813 Griffon and Ruppell's vultures. 297 00:31:29,660 --> 00:31:32,910 The vultures not only have an important job to do 298 00:31:32,910 --> 00:31:36,530 clearing up the dead and preventing the spread of disease, 299 00:31:36,530 --> 00:31:39,930 but also provide some of the most dramatic birdwatching 300 00:31:39,930 --> 00:31:41,403 as they soar overhead. 301 00:31:49,610 --> 00:31:53,100 And of course the landscape itself is a feast 302 00:31:53,100 --> 00:31:55,653 for the eyes and food for the soul. 303 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,480 The mountains and the rocks they are made 304 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:04,633 of are as diverse as the wildlife living on them. 305 00:32:08,810 --> 00:32:12,800 In some areas the bedrock is soft like the limestone 306 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,543 of Croatia and Hungary. 307 00:32:24,260 --> 00:32:27,770 Seeping rainwater gradually nibbles away at this rock 308 00:32:27,770 --> 00:32:32,770 and over eons sculpt stunning caves, gorges and waterfalls 309 00:32:44,968 --> 00:32:47,718 another natural wonder to explore 310 00:32:52,924 --> 00:32:55,757 and the place to look for dragons. 311 00:33:04,830 --> 00:33:07,710 In the depths of the limestone caves 312 00:33:07,710 --> 00:33:11,050 where the endless drips of water build stalactites 313 00:33:11,050 --> 00:33:15,423 from minerals dissolved within them are dragon nurseries. 314 00:33:16,790 --> 00:33:19,190 The pools without sunlight 315 00:33:19,190 --> 00:33:22,030 in the absence of plants are crystal clear 316 00:33:23,190 --> 00:33:25,897 making it possible to spot the olm. 317 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:29,890 Not the most impressive creature 318 00:33:29,890 --> 00:33:32,090 considering that for hundreds of years 319 00:33:32,090 --> 00:33:36,130 they were considered to be baby dragons waiting to grow 320 00:33:36,130 --> 00:33:38,573 before they emerged to reck havoc on the land. 321 00:33:40,310 --> 00:33:44,090 The truth is this little colorless amphibian 322 00:33:44,090 --> 00:33:47,940 is Europe's only true troglodyte or cave dweller 323 00:33:50,470 --> 00:33:55,110 In a lightless world, the salamander is completely blind 324 00:33:55,110 --> 00:33:58,320 and uses heightened senses of hearing and to taste 325 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:00,533 to find its prey in the pools. 326 00:34:02,540 --> 00:34:05,630 The movement of water that shapes these lands ultimately 327 00:34:05,630 --> 00:34:08,053 join some of Europe's spectacular rivers. 328 00:34:09,580 --> 00:34:11,893 Thousands crisscross the continent. 329 00:34:14,870 --> 00:34:19,210 The Danube runs from Germany through Austria, Hungary 330 00:34:19,210 --> 00:34:22,970 Croatia, Serbia, and Romania before spilling 331 00:34:22,970 --> 00:34:24,213 into the Black Sea. 332 00:34:28,750 --> 00:34:30,770 The rivers teem with fish 333 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:36,190 and the charismatic creatures that hunt them like otters 334 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:05,213 and king fishers, the jewels of the river. 335 00:35:11,410 --> 00:35:15,320 At its lower elevations, stunning rivers of Europe flow 336 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:18,223 across lush green landscapes and farmland. 337 00:35:20,270 --> 00:35:24,000 And before they reach the sea, some open out 338 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:25,683 into vast deltas. 339 00:35:31,210 --> 00:35:33,890 These wetlands are a magnet for wildlife 340 00:35:34,940 --> 00:35:37,910 like the Camargue in France or here 341 00:35:37,910 --> 00:35:41,253 the wetlands of Andalusia on the Southern Coast of Spain. 342 00:35:43,950 --> 00:35:47,750 The Delta of the Guadalquivir River creates mud flats 343 00:35:47,750 --> 00:35:50,980 and marshes that make it one of the most important sites 344 00:35:50,980 --> 00:35:52,993 in Europe for wetland birds, 345 00:35:54,570 --> 00:35:56,843 a bird Watchers bucket-list paradise. 346 00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:06,753 Herons, spoonbills and ducks flock 347 00:36:11,860 --> 00:36:14,683 along with one of the most exotic sites in Europe, 348 00:36:18,310 --> 00:36:19,693 greater flamingos. 349 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,730 Their seductive pinks coming from the coloring 350 00:36:39,730 --> 00:36:42,463 and the tiny shrimps they sift from the water. 351 00:36:58,530 --> 00:37:00,910 Spotted fallow deer pick their way 352 00:37:00,910 --> 00:37:03,370 through the wet ground, rubbing shoulders 353 00:37:03,370 --> 00:37:05,370 with some ancient breeds introduced 354 00:37:05,370 --> 00:37:06,770 by the people of the region. 355 00:37:08,260 --> 00:37:10,650 The horses here are among the oldest breeds 356 00:37:10,650 --> 00:37:14,020 of domestic animals and pretty much live wild 357 00:37:21,910 --> 00:37:25,570 as well as Spain's famous fighting bulls which are very much 358 00:37:25,570 --> 00:37:27,183 at home in the marshy ground. 359 00:37:36,460 --> 00:37:40,453 Like most rivers, the Guadalquivir flows into the sea. 360 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:44,760 Flowing from Southern Spain, you'd be forgiven 361 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:47,650 for thinking it would run into the Mediterranean 362 00:37:47,650 --> 00:37:50,573 but this river spills into the Atlantic ocean. 363 00:37:54,770 --> 00:37:56,740 It's close to the mouth of the Med 364 00:37:56,740 --> 00:37:58,923 but there is one thing standing in its way, 365 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:05,253 the spectacular rock of Gibraltar. 366 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:10,120 From its peak you can look across to Africa, 367 00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:13,200 to the East, the fringes of the North Atlantic , 368 00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:16,543 to the West the stunning turquoise of the Mediterranean. 369 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:23,590 The splinter of land jutting out into the sea is just short 370 00:38:23,590 --> 00:38:27,720 of seven square kilometers and yet it's been important 371 00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:30,273 to humans for 50,000 years or more. 372 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:34,550 Much of the wildlife here reflects its proximity 373 00:38:34,550 --> 00:38:38,730 to North Africa particularly the famous Barbary macaques, 374 00:38:38,730 --> 00:38:41,963 monkeys imported from Morocco hundreds of years ago 375 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,490 the rocks most famous inhabitants. 376 00:38:46,490 --> 00:38:48,803 The monkeys are a tourist magnet. 377 00:38:49,910 --> 00:38:51,460 Who wouldn't want to meet them? 378 00:38:54,130 --> 00:38:57,420 The only primates in Europe, they've become important 379 00:38:57,420 --> 00:38:59,360 in safeguarding their species 380 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:01,883 as their African ancestors are becoming rare. 381 00:39:03,800 --> 00:39:05,790 With the best seat in the house, 382 00:39:05,790 --> 00:39:07,760 the playful primates get a view 383 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:09,283 along the Mediterranean Coast. 384 00:39:29,740 --> 00:39:32,020 Between the Sunkist ancient villages 385 00:39:32,020 --> 00:39:34,890 and fishing ports are quiet bays 386 00:39:34,890 --> 00:39:37,950 perfect for the Explorer who likes to take the plunge 387 00:39:37,950 --> 00:39:39,813 in search of marine treasures. 388 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:52,153 Playful dolphins and a giant fish greet visitors. 389 00:39:59,890 --> 00:40:04,880 Small by sea standards, The Med offers 2.5 million 390 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:08,473 square kilometers of marine paradise to explore. 391 00:40:12,620 --> 00:40:14,160 Off the coast of Italy 392 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:17,643 the sea bed plunges to more than 5,000 meters. 393 00:40:23,310 --> 00:40:27,080 A bit deep for the average bucket-list thrill seeker 394 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:29,990 but some of the residents that hunt squid in the debts 395 00:40:29,990 --> 00:40:32,320 do come to the surface to breathe 396 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:34,140 offering a face to face 397 00:40:34,140 --> 00:40:38,140 with the biggest brained animals on the planet, sperm whales 398 00:40:57,020 --> 00:41:00,030 Though the giants might be the showstoppers, 399 00:41:00,030 --> 00:41:03,463 they are the tip of the iceberg in terms of marine species. 400 00:41:16,930 --> 00:41:20,800 The Med covers only 1% of the earth surface 401 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:24,427 and yet one in 10 known Marine species can be found here 402 00:41:27,330 --> 00:41:30,270 from gigantic and mysterious sunfish 403 00:41:46,470 --> 00:41:49,350 to critically important populations of turtles 404 00:42:02,770 --> 00:42:05,573 and even one of the rarest animals on the planet. 405 00:42:07,870 --> 00:42:12,340 There are only around 700 Mediterranean monk seals left 406 00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:16,500 but carefully protected they are one of Europe's 407 00:42:16,500 --> 00:42:17,723 natural treasures. 408 00:42:19,890 --> 00:42:23,540 Still managing to find a few protective coves out of reach 409 00:42:23,540 --> 00:42:27,693 of disturbance, where they can raise their precious pups. 410 00:42:57,280 --> 00:42:59,540 The deep trenches of the Mediterranean 411 00:42:59,540 --> 00:43:02,423 are the base of great submarine mountain ranges. 412 00:43:08,610 --> 00:43:10,650 Some of their peaks can be seen protruding 413 00:43:10,650 --> 00:43:11,620 above the surface 414 00:43:22,110 --> 00:43:24,910 most dramatically along the profile of Italy 415 00:43:27,830 --> 00:43:31,290 It's a narrow strip of land more than 1/3 covered 416 00:43:31,290 --> 00:43:32,223 in mountains, 417 00:43:35,150 --> 00:43:38,013 great chains like the Apennine and the Alps. 418 00:43:50,630 --> 00:43:54,700 Some of Italy's islands like Sardinia are ancient 419 00:43:57,730 --> 00:43:59,753 500 million years old. 420 00:44:07,550 --> 00:44:12,120 Baked in the sun the hard granite rocks have little water. 421 00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:14,380 So the rare pools attract life 422 00:44:20,050 --> 00:44:24,503 including wild horses and water loving rodents, coypu. 423 00:44:28,150 --> 00:44:30,450 Both were put here by people. 424 00:44:30,450 --> 00:44:33,200 The horses in the ninth century and the coypu 425 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:37,150 much more recently in the 1920s when fur farms 426 00:44:37,150 --> 00:44:39,870 imported them from South America. 427 00:44:39,870 --> 00:44:41,763 Now both seem very happy here. 428 00:44:51,510 --> 00:44:55,430 Sardinia is ancient, but other mountains of Italy are more 429 00:44:55,430 --> 00:44:57,723 recent and continue to grow. 430 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:05,010 From Iceland to Italy, 431 00:45:05,010 --> 00:45:08,430 opposite ends of the European continental plate 432 00:45:08,430 --> 00:45:10,833 and both marked by volcanoes. 433 00:45:13,230 --> 00:45:16,270 Here the African plate is being pushed beneath the European 434 00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:25,180 Stromboli is one of the seven Aeolian Islands 435 00:45:25,180 --> 00:45:26,453 rising from the sea. 436 00:45:30,380 --> 00:45:34,060 There are 14 volcanoes in Italy and this is one 437 00:45:34,060 --> 00:45:38,053 of the four that remain active erupting every day. 438 00:45:44,140 --> 00:45:47,460 It's the growing peak of a volcano whose base 439 00:45:47,460 --> 00:45:49,823 lies 3000 meters beneath the scenes. 440 00:46:01,210 --> 00:46:04,520 The mountain ranges of Italy make it diverse 441 00:46:04,520 --> 00:46:07,520 and for thousands of years, it has been one of the most 442 00:46:07,520 --> 00:46:10,570 important countries for people with ancient 443 00:46:10,570 --> 00:46:13,373 and important cultures arising throughout history. 444 00:46:19,770 --> 00:46:23,890 It's ancient architecture is iconic bringing bucket listers 445 00:46:23,890 --> 00:46:25,233 from far and wide. 446 00:46:33,330 --> 00:46:35,910 Of course, all across the continent 447 00:46:35,910 --> 00:46:39,980 ancient and dramatic villages, towns and cities 448 00:46:39,980 --> 00:46:42,263 complete the rich journey through Europe. 449 00:46:43,740 --> 00:46:47,630 For millions of years, our ancestors have lived in Europe 450 00:46:48,560 --> 00:46:51,290 and the continent source some of the earliest human 451 00:46:51,290 --> 00:46:53,000 settlements and agriculture 452 00:46:55,880 --> 00:46:59,163 and later some of the earliest civilizations. 453 00:47:02,060 --> 00:47:05,450 It became a super power and influence culture all 454 00:47:05,450 --> 00:47:09,023 over the world and remains densely populated. 455 00:47:16,251 --> 00:47:19,920 (singing in foreign language) 456 00:47:19,920 --> 00:47:23,630 The huge number of countries makes the population of Europe 457 00:47:23,630 --> 00:47:26,430 some of the most colorful and culturally diverse 458 00:47:26,430 --> 00:47:28,294 bunch of people on the planet. 459 00:47:28,294 --> 00:47:29,211 One, two. 460 00:47:34,790 --> 00:47:38,640 Europe covers only 2% of the earth surface, 461 00:47:38,640 --> 00:47:41,683 but houses 11% of the population. 462 00:47:44,930 --> 00:47:48,280 However, it is still possible to find places 463 00:47:48,280 --> 00:47:51,490 where people have ancient traditional lifestyles 464 00:47:57,600 --> 00:47:59,803 and close connections to nature. 465 00:48:18,080 --> 00:48:21,653 But it's the landscape itself that really steals the show. 466 00:48:25,073 --> 00:48:28,363 From icebergs to subtropical beaches, 467 00:48:36,340 --> 00:48:39,820 wetlands to dense forests 468 00:48:43,210 --> 00:48:45,177 and mountains to deserts 469 00:48:56,697 --> 00:49:00,310 and the myriad of unique animal and plant species 470 00:49:00,310 --> 00:49:04,780 that call Europe home that make this great continent 471 00:49:04,780 --> 00:49:08,768 worthy of any bucket list exploration. 472 00:49:08,768 --> 00:49:11,351 (gentle music)