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00:00In a far away place, there's a magical time, when the sun never sets.
00:11Now, way up north, take a giant leap, and swoop through Scandinavia's arctic circle.
00:29For a season of sunshiny days.
00:35Norway. Swing. Finland.
00:41But be quick. The light, bright magic doesn't last long. At the top of the world.
00:59Svalbard Archipelago. This is inside the arctic circle, and as far north as Norway gets.
01:18It's the kind of place most people think of when they hear arctic.
01:28Svalbard is a cluster of extraordinary islands, and icebergs full of life.
01:40Female walrus have migrated north, preferring to chase the thick eyes that they love so much.
01:52But the males stay here and look for places to hang out for summer.
01:58Kicking back in Svalbard has its disadvantages for the males. They're exposed to predators.
02:10Polar bears.
02:26This one has already killed a walrus.
02:30He'll eat as much as 20% of his body weight in a sitting.
02:35Then, once it's done, time again to look for fresh meat.
02:41Polar bears hold the title as the world's largest land predators.
02:50But in reality, they track their food on water.
02:54Frozen water.
02:56They use the ice as a platform from which to hunt.
03:03Jumping from ice flow to ice flow.
03:09Now that most of the day has sunshine, their ice is getting thin.
03:28They can shake off a quick dip in the freezing water without fuss.
03:37So walrus and seals are right to worry when there's a bear around.
03:43They have just one consolation.
03:47Polar bears don't rest in winter like other bears.
03:51But in summer, they may fast for months at a time.
03:58This is how summer plays out in this northernmost outpost of Norway.
04:05But travel south and there's more to the Arctic than you know.
04:15Svalbard is an outpost of Norway in the countries far north.
04:21But the Arctic Circle is much more.
04:26An invisible line that rings the top of the globe at 66 degrees, 33 minutes north.
04:34The Scandinavia section covers about 150,000 square miles.
04:40And it's topped by the North Cape Monument, the northernmost point of mainland Europe.
04:53This is the end of the Earth.
04:56The North Cape Monument sits atop a thousand foot high plateau.
05:02And looks out to where the Atlantic meets the Arctic Ocean.
05:08Everywhere in the Arctic Circle just had at least a month of perpetual darkness.
05:25But in February, the light returns.
05:30And now you can see the northernmost points of Scandinavia's mainland.
05:42At the very bottom of the Arctic Circle, spring has already cleared the snow from the peaks.
05:48Here in Norway, the Arctic becomes a hiker's paradise.
06:04This is the Lofoten archipelago.
06:11Several hundred remote islands.
06:18Cliffs to the north are an annual summer retreat for one of the strangest creatures in the Arctic.
06:36Around 160,000 puffins vacation here for a couple of months every year.
06:48Summer is the puffins breeding season when they get to know each other.
06:59They build nests in rock crevices and in holes among the stones.
07:12And of course, fill up on fish.
07:18They are capable flyers and even better swimmers.
07:29And puffins are one of the few birds that can hold many fish in their beaks at once.
07:36Their raspy tongues give them just the right kind of grip, so they can bring back fresh fish for their young.
07:43Puffins usually mate for life and both parents will share the responsibility of caring for the young.
07:53Similar to penguins, the flightless birds of the other pole.
07:58But despite their similar colors, they are not related.
08:01The puffins' bright colored bills match their feet, but only during the mating season.
08:11Before summer is done, they'll shed that colorful outer layer and head back out to sea with smaller dull colored beaks.
08:22While they don't mind chatting up a storm now.
08:29Once at sea, they remain perfectly silent.
08:34Meanwhile, some of the fish they like to hunt have their own summer plans.
08:46Millions head inland along the great waterways of Scandinavia's Arctic.
08:59They return from the ocean and charge upstream.
09:04Among them, grayling.
09:17These are relics of the last ice age.
09:21And they perform an annual ritual of frenzied egg-laying.
09:25Here, two males flank a female.
09:30And both try to fertilize her eggs at the same time.
09:35At the same time.
09:36At the same time.
09:38At the same time.
09:40The volume of life in these pristine waters during summer
09:42The volume of life in these pristine waters during summer
10:09attracts fishermen from all over Scandinavia the Tama River is one of the
10:22few places where they can still use nets sometimes following the traditional
10:31methods of the Sami people who have lived here for at least 2,000 years
10:39around the world summer signals a time for water sports and the Arctic Circle is no
10:53different the potential thrills outweigh the chills for Arctic surfers
11:09the waves rolling all the way from Greenland it's the most reliable surf in
11:17northern Europe and that makes it a magnet for die hardball riders like local Tom
11:23Wilson and his son
11:29you have this point breaks which in certain terms it's like really good the wave
11:34breaks all the time on the same spot normally have like one or two but here
11:39you have like three point breaks and also a beach break
11:44the Gulf Stream keeps this Arctic water between 46 and 58 degrees year-round but
11:52the air temperature can easily dip below freezing
12:05for Tommy the chill and the challenge is worth it
12:11it's quite unique you know the waves are really world-class waves
12:22but the thing is the backdrop the scenery is it's really different from other surf spots
12:33people have come from all over the world to surf here since the 60s and Lofoten has the
12:44world's northernmost surf schools there are two of them in town
12:48the surfers ride as long as there are waves and light
12:59and up here the sun in summer can shine 24 hours a day
13:10this endless summer makes up for that time of year when the lights once again go off
13:17ice and cold take over the land as early as august
13:37the days get shorter 15 minutes less light every day
13:42and that makes what arctic surfers do next even more amazing
13:51Arctic surfers still find their way to the waves even as summer wanes
14:00now at night they can be guided by the beguiling green of the northern lights
14:07it's it's the kind of magic you can only find near the poles
14:24on the ground the arctic circle is marked a little more than an occasional road
14:29and this visitor center that stays open until the beginning of October
14:35when the roads and paths become clogged with snow and the trees become ice sculptures
14:44it's time to release the house
14:47it's time to release the house
14:51and it's time to release the house
15:05the sky is even more interesting
15:09dog sledding is popular across Scandinavia
15:12and races are the Arctic Circle's Grand Prix perhaps even more grueling some of
15:25the events cover more than 700 miles and last for five or six days training for
15:35such marathons begins as soon as the snow sets in even if it's still
15:41technically summer
15:50eight dogs to a sled and they run as smooth as silk
16:00this mode of transport has been around for at least 1,000 years
16:07it will Amundsen the Norwegian Explorer who became the first person to reach the South Pole
16:15achieved his epic journey thanks to such hard-working canine companions
16:21so
16:30when it's all done the reward is a release from the harness
16:45when it's all done the reward is a release from the harness
16:58the only mush now is dinner
17:17the only mush now is dinner
17:34the sled drivers are a diverse group
17:40but the dogs must be billed for Arctic extremes
17:49so much so that these breeds happily live in their outdoor kennels year-round no matter the weather
17:57the wild animals in the Arctic Circle the wild animals in the Arctic Circle don't have the luxury of a kennel
18:15and in this world of white they stand out
18:22an orderly line of reindeer heads north at the end of summer
18:31as they roam they look for patches of lichen or moss to dig up from beneath the Arctic snow
18:46the sun may look like its setting
18:59but up here in early autumn this is what passes for midday
19:05in about a month the sun won't rise at all
19:11and this whole wonderland will plunge into a month of darkness
19:18before that happens there's work to do
19:24the Sámi people of northern Norway have herded reindeer here for at least a thousand years
19:31the Sámi people of northern Norway have herded reindeer here for at least a thousand years
19:46it's not so much of a job it's more like a lifestyle
20:05herding the reindeers you get the like a deep connection to the nature and a respect for the nature
20:11now with the help of machines and dogs
20:40they give the animals a nudge in the right direction
20:43through temperatures of minus 40 degrees
20:47somehow the reindeer actually doesn't even mind the cold weather
20:55the reindeer has a special kind of hair
21:02it's like a pipe it has holes in it and it insulates much better than other types of hair on other animals
21:09all summer the reindeer have been free to graze
21:36now the Sámi round them up for a twice annual check-up
21:43they've covered 20 miles today to get this sea of antlers into a corral
21:51and now they're nearly there
21:58a lot of family members and friends come and help us
22:05it looks like midnight but it's only around five in the afternoon
22:10as the reindeer run in a circle the herders size them up and separate them into different groups
22:25some will get veterinary care
22:40some will get ear tags or collars for tracking
22:44others will be sectioned off for market
22:48reindeer skin horns and bone are all important products for the Sámi people
22:55and they've traditionally depended on them for survival
23:00and the story goes there's another traditional use for reindeer
23:07reindeer
23:17reindeer sleds in this part of Finland lead to one place
23:22a tiny hamlet famous for one resident
23:28this is Santa village with everything Christmas inside including Santa
23:41it's a tourist not so hot spot open all year round for those who just can't wait for December
23:49finding a warm place to stay after summer can be a challenge
24:00but since 2008 there's been the option of the now world-famous 30-room large snow hotel
24:10starting in early September artists rebuild the accommodations by packing snow into blocks
24:24they have supersized the idea of a traditional igloo
24:35the cocktails at this bar are also chilled
24:42dining area bedrooms
24:54even a chapel
24:56all sheltered from the outer elements and kept at a relatively toasty temperature
25:03just a few degrees below freezing
25:08these are the creature comforts of the Arctic Circle
25:14but outside it's more about the creatures
25:20they have their own ways of coping with the chill of autumn
25:25and some of them are downright deadly
25:33up in the Arctic Circle
25:44lynx seem to welcome the early snow
25:47and they are well built for it
25:49their long legs and wide webbed feet
25:54allow them to move quickly across the powder
25:57and it takes more than a light snow to chill them through that thick fur
26:08by autumn the spring kittens are big enough to keep up with mum
26:14by autumn the spring kittens are big enough to keep up with mum
26:23but make no mistake about who's still in charge
26:35especially when mum's found a scrap of squirrel
26:48they spent their summer being nurtured by her
26:54but no more
27:07that's lynx for wake your turn junior
27:12one day these twins will be just as assertive with their own young
27:17until then they can practice fighting with each other
27:33these kittens are fully weaned
27:35but may stay with their mother for another year
27:38when they finally head out without her
27:43they may stick close for a few months
27:45working together across the Arctic landscape
27:49and even up the trees
27:53eventually though they'll separate entirely
28:12and lead the solitary life of a lone predator
28:16searching for food in the wild north
28:20if they become very good hunters
28:27there are plenty of menu options out here
28:35reindeer shelter among the trees
28:41summer was easy pickings
28:44now they must search hard for new places to rest or graze
28:49when they catch a sniff of danger
28:56they have a plan
29:02they use a nearby frozen over river
29:07like a freeway
29:09they are able to move fast through the terrain
29:12and just as well
29:14they run for a reason
29:18not far behind a small pack of Arctic wolves
29:23wolves are the second largest predator in Western Europe
29:31only bears are bigger
29:35packs can be 30 strong
29:46three is small
29:48but that's more than enough to take down a straggler
29:51the young and the weak are their specialty
29:55wolves can easily cover 12 miles a day
30:00and the reindeer have made it easier for them
30:04creating trails through the snow
30:07as they go
30:09they mark their territory with urine and sometimes feces
30:13for wolves
30:15this is a form of communication
30:17interlopers beware
30:19today the reindeer have the upper hand
30:26and the pace of the chase is not worth it
30:30summer was good to this wolf pack trio
30:34no need to push it just yet
30:36the wolves take a break
30:53they are fearsome Arctic predators
30:55and even the giants up here
30:57must try to stay out of their way
31:02this moose mother and her year old calf
31:10search for food in Norway's Arctic circle
31:14their cloven hooves spread widely to support them over the soft snow
31:29those long legs can carry them through rough terrain
31:34yet they can move as quietly as a cat
31:39it's an extraordinary achievement for their size
31:47but important in helping them to avoid predators
31:51summer is over and the pasture is buried
31:55but there's plenty of light and still a lot to dine on
32:00they live on lichen that grows on trees
32:06if they can they'll also stretch their powerful necks upwards to grab pine needles
32:17but it's the nibbling of the nether regions that got them the name
32:22moose is derived from moose
32:27a native american word that means stripper and eater of bark
32:33vacation time is over
32:43but there's still a couple of months before the creatures of the Arctic Circle are plunged into darkness
32:50they must work with what light they have left
32:54every week the days grow shorter by more than an hour
32:59white-tailed eagles were nearly pushed to extinction throughout the region
33:11but they've been able to keep a toehold along the coast
33:21Norway has the highest density of white-tailed eagles in Europe
33:27with good light it's a fish-finding frenzy
33:34not all the fish here are such hard work
33:50eco-safari guides like Trikvistan serve up the sushi as fishermen have done here for hundreds of years
34:06visitors can get a close look at some of these areas 300 nesting cobbles
34:13it's a majestic bird indeed
34:20also an unpredictable bird
34:22they are able to make their own choices
34:26and the coast like that
34:27too many interactions around here
34:28but they're still so also very busy
34:29they're still very busy
34:32yeah
34:33we have a lot of people who have the idea of this
34:35they're still coming back to the shore
34:37we've got a big deal for the ocean
34:38but there's not just a bit of a great point
34:39it's not really a big deal
34:41but they're there
34:42we have a good deal
34:44we don't know
34:45and they're going to this
34:46but they're not the first day
34:48the ocean
34:49it's a great deal
34:50of a super important sound
34:51Some of the white-tailed eagles from Lofoten have been captured and relocated to bolster
35:03populations elsewhere in Europe and the UK.
35:10That's helped spread the word and made this area a hot spot for bird watchers.
35:15The fish they snatch are herring and Norway is famous for the millions of herring that
35:41migrate through here every autumn.
35:47Fishing trawlers wait for them.
35:52So too age-old predators.
35:57The birds signal the catch is good.
36:01Soon enough around the boat, giants.
36:07Humpback whales come in to take their share.
36:17The fishermen tighten their nets to haul in their catch.
36:24But inevitably some herring escape and the humpbacks swoop by to collect them.
36:33Each of these giants can be more than 50 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons.
36:44And they can eat a ton of food a day.
36:50Sometimes large amounts of the timeless creatures like krill.
36:55Other times, like here, scraps of herring do just fine.
37:04This feast is too rich for just one whale species to enjoy.
37:14The fjords of Norway plunge steep and deep into the sea.
37:20So orca don't mind coming in close to land.
37:24They stand out in a crowd with fins that can be more than six feet high.
37:33These social creatures can travel in pubs up to 30 strong.
37:51They join their hunter cousins for the feast.
37:58And if two mammal species swimming for their supper here isn't enough, don't worry.
38:05Here comes a third.
38:15While the rest of Scandinavia may be hunkered down preparing for winter and its darkness,
38:22the sea is where you can still find a hearty meal.
38:29The gulf stream keeps the water around the fjords virtually ice-free.
38:34That's what brings in the fish and the divers.
38:39We're really, really, really lucky to live in this place on the earth.
38:44We have a gulf current heating the shore here.
38:48The water is constantly between 15 and 60 degrees Celsius.
38:53And the nutrition of the water here, it has a really, really rich life, both for mammals
38:59and for fish.
39:04Ørjan Dynes and his dive buddies use modern gear and can stay in the water for a few hours
39:10without getting too cold.
39:14They seek out flatfish, pollock, haddock and especially cod.
39:22We are planning each dive before we go into the water.
39:26What kind of fish do we want to look for?
39:33Everything in the sea comes really close to you, especially when you're a freediver.
39:44Free divers don't use tanks but can hold their breath for several minutes at a time.
39:52You have to keep all your senses open because the fish senses you, you know, in your excitement.
39:59And it triggers all your instincts when you go in the water.
40:13In the 1960s there was a push to make spearfishing an Olympic sport.
40:19It failed, but the fish here continue to attract divers.
40:28You can catch fish all year here and there's probably plenty enough fish to feed my whole
40:32family and the neighbors and their neighbors again.
40:36So I shoot a lot of fish here and I give them away to my neighbors and give them away to
40:40my family.
40:41Yeah, it's really nice, really nice.
40:54The biggest fish come to the lower regions of the Arctic Circle in winter.
41:01But one of the strangest looking species never leaves, no matter how dark it gets.
41:15The vibrant Atlantic wolf fish, or sea wolf, resembles an eel.
41:23With one long fin down its back.
41:28But its real magic is on the inside.
41:32The wolf fish produces a kind of antifreeze for its blood.
41:37So it can live in the icy Arctic all year round, even now in the depths of winter.
41:46It dines on shellfish and starfish and the like, which it can rip into with savage teeth.
41:56They are one of the few fish to have both parents care for their eggs.
42:01They guard them for several months until they hatch.
42:07Their home here in the Arctic Circle is also unique.
42:10It's the world's largest known cold water reef.
42:16With all this color, it's hard to believe it's been dark up top for more than two months.
42:22Except perhaps for the returning shimmer of the northern lights.
42:35Then, once again, a glimmer of sunlight.
42:41And warmth starts to melt the snow.
42:48These extremes of the Arctic Circle force humans and creatures to toughen up.
43:05They must adapt to conditions and embrace hardship.
43:15But once a year, like magic, the veil of darkness lifts throughout the region.
43:30The ice melts away and the Arctic has come full circle.
43:39Time again to decide how to spend your summer vacation.
43:49Holidays in the Arctic are short.
43:53That's why they may be more prized here than anywhere else on the planet.
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