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Terra.Anatolia
  • 4 hours ago
Transcript
00:00There's a magical time when the sun never sets.
00:09Now, way up north, take a giant leap and swoop through Scandinavia's Arctic Circle for a season of sunshiny days.
00:30Norway, Sweden, Finland.
00:36But be quick.
00:40The light, bright magic doesn't last long at the top of the world.
01:00Svalbard Archipelago. This is inside the Arctic Circle, and as far north as Norway gets.
01:13It's the kind of place most people think of when they hear Arctic.
01:22Svalbard is a cluster of extraordinary islands and icebergs full of life.
01:34Female walrus have migrated north, preferring to chase the thick eyes that they love so much.
01:47But the males stay here and look for places to hang out for summer.
01:52Kicking back in Svalbard has its disadvantages for the males.
01:59They're exposed to predators.
02:05Polar bears.
02:07This one has already killed a walrus.
02:24He'll eat as much as 20% of his body weight in a sitting.
02:29Then, once it's done, time again to look for fresh meat.
02:40Polar bears hold the title as the world's largest land predators.
02:45But in reality, they track their food on water.
02:51Frozen water.
02:55They use the eyes as a platform from which to hunt.
03:01Jumping from ice flow to ice flow.
03:05Now that most of the day has sunshine, their eyes is getting thin.
03:15They can shake off a quick dip in the freezing water without fuss.
03:32So walrus and seals are right to worry when there's a bear around.
03:38They have just one consolation.
03:40Polar bears don't rest in winter like other bears.
03:46But in summer, they may fast for months at a time.
03:51This is how summer plays out in this northernmost outpost of Norway.
03:58But travel south and there's more to the Arctic than you know.
04:04Svalbard is an outpost of Norway in the countries far north.
04:17But the Arctic Circle is much more.
04:21An invisible line that rings the top of the globe at 66 degrees, 33 minutes north.
04:28The Scandinavia section covers about 150,000 square miles.
04:39And it's topped by the North Cape Monument, the northernmost point of mainland Europe.
04:46Europe.
04:49This is the end of the Earth.
04:54The North Cape Monument sits atop a thousand foot high plateau.
05:01And looks out to where the Atlantic meets the Arctic Ocean.
05:05Everywhere in the Arctic Circle just had at least a month of perpetual darkness.
05:21But in February, the light returns.
05:24And now you can see the northernmost points of Scandinavia's mainland.
05:37At the very bottom of the Arctic Circle, spring has already cleared the snow from the peaks.
05:44Here in Norway, the Arctic becomes a hiker's paradise.
05:59This is the Lofoten Archipelago.
06:06Several hundred remote islands.
06:08Cliffs to the north are an annual summer retreat for one of the strangest creatures in the Arctic.
06:25Around 160,000 puffins vacation here for a couple of months every year.
06:46Summer is the puffins' breeding season when they get to know each other.
06:50They build nests in rock crevices and in holes among the stones.
07:07And of course, fill up on fish.
07:09They are capable flyers and even better swimmers.
07:22And puffins are one of the few birds that can hold many fish in their beaks at once.
07:31Their raspy tongues give them just the right kind of grip, so they can bring back fresh fish for their young.
07:40Puffins usually mate for life, and both parents will share the responsibility of caring for the young.
07:48Similar to penguins, the flightless birds of the other pole.
07:53But despite their similar colors, they are not related.
07:57The puffins' bright colored bills match their feet, but only during the mating season.
08:10Before summer is done, they'll shed that colorful outer layer and head back out to sea with smaller dull colored beaks.
08:18While they don't mind chatting up a storm now.
08:23Once at sea, they remain perfectly silent.
08:28Meanwhile, some of the fish they like to hunt have their own summer plans.
08:43Millions head inland along the great waterways of Scandinavia's Arctic.
08:54They return from the ocean and charge upstream.
09:01Among them, grayling.
09:12These are relics of the last ice age.
09:15And they perform an annual ritual of frenzied egg-laying.
09:22Here, two males flank a female.
09:26And both try to fertilize her eggs at the same time.
09:30At the same time.
09:31At the same time.
09:32The volume of life in this episode...
09:42The volume of life...
09:47In the 60s...
09:51The volume of life...
09:53The volume of life in this episode...
09:57The volume of life in these pristine waters during summer attracts fishermen from all over Scandinavia.
10:15The Tama River is one of the few places where they can still use nets.
10:20Sometimes following the traditional methods of the Sami people who have lived here for at least 2,000 years.
10:41Around the world, summer signals a time for water sports and the Arctic Circle is no different.
10:51The potential thrills outweigh the chills for Arctic surfers.
11:04The waves roll in all the way from Greenland.
11:08It's the most reliable surf in Northern Europe and that makes it a magnet for die hardball riders like local Tom Jolsen and his son.
11:20You have these point breaks, which in surfing terms is like really good.
11:29The wave breaks all the time on the same spot.
11:32Normally you have like one or two, but here you have like three point breaks and also a beach break.
11:37The Gulf Stream keeps this Arctic water between 46 and 58 degrees year round.
11:47But the air temperature can easily dip below freezing.
11:51For Tomi, the chill and the challenge is worth it.
12:06It's quite unique.
12:07You know, the waves are really world class waves.
12:09But the thing is the backdrop, the scenery is really different from other surf spots.
12:28People have come from all over the world to surf here since the sixties.
12:37And Lofoten has the world's northernmost surf schools.
12:42There are two of them in town.
12:43The surfers ride as long as there are waves and light.
12:55And up here, the sun in summer can shine 24 hours a day.
13:00This endless summer makes up for that time of year when the lights once again go off.
13:16Ice and cold take over the land as early as August.
13:30The days get shorter, 15 minutes less light every day.
13:41And that makes what Arctic surfers do next even more amazing.
13:50Arctic surfers still find their way to the waves even as summer wanes.
13:56Now at night, they can be guided by the beguiling green of the northern lights.
14:04It's the kind of magic you can only find near the poles.
14:19On the ground, the Arctic Circle is marked a little more than an occasional road.
14:26And this visitor's center that stays open until the beginning of October.
14:33When the roads and paths become clogged with snow,
14:37and the trees become ice sculptures,
14:40it's time to release the hounds.
14:42It's time to release the hounds.
14:43It's time to release the hounds.
15:05Dog sledding is popular across Scandinavia.
15:07And races are the Arctic Circle's Grand Prix.
15:08Perhaps even more grueling.
15:18Some of the events cover more than 700 miles,
15:24and last for five or six days.
15:26Training for such marathons begins as soon as the snow sets in.
15:33Even if it's still technically summer.
15:36Eight dogs to a sled, and they run as smooth as silk.
15:50This mode of transport has been around for at least 1,000 years.
16:04Iroal Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer who became the first person to reach the South Pole,
16:10achieved his epic journey thanks to such hard-working canine companions.
16:16The
16:30speaker
16:33group
16:37March
16:44When it's all done, the reward is a release from the harness.
17:14The only mush now is dinner.
17:29The sled drivers are a diverse group.
17:35But the dogs must be billed for Arctic extremes.
17:44So much so that these breeds happily live in their outdoor kennels year-round, no matter the weather.
17:52The wild animals in the Arctic Circle don't have the luxury of a kennel.
18:11And in this world of white, they stand out.
18:18An orderly line of reindeer heads north at the end of summer.
18:26As they roam, they look for patches of lichen or moss to dig up from beneath the Arctic snow.
18:41The sun may look like it's setting, but up here in early autumn, this is what passes for midday.
19:00In about a month, the sun won't rise at all, and this whole wonderland will plunge into a month of darkness.
19:14Before that happens, there's work to do.
19:18The Sami people of northern Norway have herded reindeer here for at least a thousand years.
19:40It's not so much of a job, it's more like a lifestyle.
20:00Birding the reindeers, you get like a deep connection to the nature and a respect for nature.
20:07Now, with the help of machines and dogs,
20:35they give the animals a nudge in the right direction through temperatures of minus 40 degrees.
20:45Somehow, the reindeer actually doesn't even mind the cold weather.
20:54The reindeer has a special kind of hair.
20:58It's like a pipe.
20:59It has holes in it, and it insulates much better than other types of hair on other animals.
21:05All summer, the reindeer have been free to graze.
21:17Now, the Sami round them up for a twice-annual checkup.
21:18They've covered 20 miles today to get this sea of antlers into a corral.
21:19And now, they're nearly there.
21:20Now, they're nearly there.
21:21Now, they're nearly there.
21:22And they're nearly there.
21:23Now, the reindeer have been able to get this sea of antlers into a corral.
21:25Now, the Sami round them up for a twice-annual checkup.
21:27All summer, the reindeer have been free to graze.
21:32Now the Sami round them up for a twice-annual checkup.
21:39They've covered 20 miles today to get this sea of antlers into a corral.
21:47And now they're nearly there.
21:57When we start moving the reindeer herd to the corrals, a lot of family members and friends come and help us.
22:19It looks like midnight, but it's only around 5 in the afternoon.
22:23As the reindeer run in a circle, the herders size them up and separate them into different groups.
22:36Some will get veterinary care. Some will get ear tags or collars for tracking.
22:42Others will be sectioned off for market.
22:47Reindeer skin, horns, and bone are all important products for the Sami people,
22:53and they've traditionally depended on them for survival.
23:03And the story goes, there's another traditional use for reindeer.
23:13Reindeer sleds in this part of Finland lead to one place.
23:18A tiny hamlet famous for one resident.
23:28This is Santa Village, with everything Christmas inside, including Santa.
23:35It's a tourist, not-so-hot spot, open all year round, for those who just can't wait for December.
23:50Finding a warm place to stay after summer can be a challenge.
23:54But since 2008, there's been the option of the now world-famous 30-room-large snow hotel.
24:13Starting in early September, artists rebuild the accommodations by packing snow into blocks.
24:20They have super-sized the idea of a traditional igloo.
24:35The cocktails at this bar are all served chilled.
24:39Dining area, bedrooms, bedrooms, even a chapel.
24:53All sheltered from the outer elements and kept at a relatively toasty temperature, just a few degrees below freezing.
25:02These are the creature comforts of the Arctic Circle.
25:10But outside, it's more about the creatures.
25:16They have their own ways of coping with the chill of autumn.
25:21And some of them are downright deadly.
25:24Up in the Arctic Circle, lynx seem to welcome the early snow, and they are well-built for it.
25:45Their long legs and wide-webbed feet allow them to move quickly across the powder.
25:59And it takes more than a light snow to chill them through that thick fur.
26:04By autumn, the spring kittens are big enough to keep up with mum.
26:27But make no mistake about who's still in charge.
26:34Especially when mum's found a scrap of squirrel.
26:47They've spent their summer being nurtured by her.
26:51But no more.
26:52That's lynx for Wait Your Turn, Junior.
27:08One day, these twins will be just as assertive with their own young.
27:13Until then, they can practice fighting with each other.
27:17These kittens are fully weaned, but may stay with their mother for another year.
27:36When they finally head out without her, they may stick close for a few months,
27:42working together across the Arctic landscape.
27:44And even up the trees.
28:04Eventually though, they'll separate entirely, and lead the solitary life of a lone predator.
28:11Reindeer, searching for food in the wild north.
28:18If they become very good hunters,
28:21there are plenty of menu options out here.
28:31Reindeer shelter among the trees.
28:34Reindeer shelter among the people.
28:37Summer was easy pickings.
28:39Now they must search hard for new places to rest or graze.
28:47Reindeer shelter among the pirates.
28:51When they catch a sniff of danger,
28:52they have a plan.
28:56Reindeer shelter around the mountain.
28:57Reindeer shelter around the mountain.
28:59They use a nearby frozen-over river like a freeway.
29:05They are able to move fast through the terrain,
29:09and just as well, they run for a reason.
29:14Not far behind, a small pack of Arctic wolves.
29:23Wolves are the second largest predator in Western Europe.
29:29Only bears are bigger.
29:39Packs can be 30 strong.
29:42Three is small, but that's more than enough to take down a straggler.
29:48The young and the weak are their specialty.
29:52Wolves can easily cover 12 miles a day,
29:56and the reindeer have made it easier for them,
30:00creating trails through the snow.
30:04As they go, they mark their territory with urine and sometimes feces.
30:10For wolves, this is a form of communication.
30:14Interlopers beware.
30:15Today, the reindeer have the upper hand, and the pace of the chase is not worth it.
30:26Summer was good to this wolf pack trio.
30:30No need to push it just yet.
30:32The wolves take a break.
30:36They are fearsome Arctic predators, and even the giants up here must try to stay out of their way.
30:54This moose mother and her year old calf search for food in Norway's Arctic Circle.
31:10Their cloven hooves spread widely to support them over the soft snow.
31:24Those long legs can carry them through rough terrain.
31:28Yet, they can move as quietly as a cat.
31:39It's an extraordinary achievement for their size, but important in helping them to avoid predators.
31:47Summer is over and the pasture is buried, but there's plenty of light and still a lot to dine on.
31:55They live on lichen that grows on trees.
32:06If they can, they'll also stretch their powerful necks upwards to grab pine needles.
32:13But it's the nibbling of the nether regions that got them the name.
32:17Moose is derived from moose, a Native American word that means stripper and eater of bark.
32:37Vacation time is over, but there's still a couple of months before the creatures of the Arctic Circle are plunged into darkness.
32:46They must work with what light they have left.
32:51Every week, the days grow shorter by more than an hour.
33:02White-tailed eagles were nearly pushed to extinction throughout the region, but they've been able to keep a toehold along the coast.
33:11Norway has the highest density of white-tailed eagles in Europe.
33:22With good light, it's a fish-finding frenzy.
33:27Not all the fish here are such hard work.
33:30Not all the fish here are such hard work.
33:32Eco-safari guides, like Triqvistan, serve up the sushi as fishermen have done here for hundreds of years.
33:37Visitors can get a close look at some of the lights.
33:39Are you sure they are a fish-finding frenzy?
33:40Not all the fish here are such hard work.
33:44Eco-safari guides, like Triqvistan, serve up the sushi as fishermen have done here for hundreds of years.
33:47Eco-safari guides, like Tryggvesten, serve up the sushi as fishermen have done here for
34:01hundreds of years.
34:05Visitors can get a close look at some of these areas' 300 nesting cobbles.
34:14It's a majestic bird, indeed, also an unpredictable bird.
34:19They are able to make their own choices.
34:44Some of the white-tailed eagles from Lofoten have been captured and relocated to bolster
34:58populations elsewhere in Europe and the UK.
35:05That's helped spread the word and made this area a hot spot for bird watchers.
35:12The fish they snatch are herring, and Norway is famous for the millions of herring that
35:37migrate through here every autumn.
35:42Fishing trawlers wait for them.
35:47So too age-old predators.
35:52The birds signal the catch is good.
35:56Soon enough, around the boat, giants, humpback whales come in to take their share.
36:12The fishermen tighten their nets to haul in their catch.
36:19But inevitably, some herring escape, and the humpbacks swoop by to collect them.
36:29Each of these giants can be more than 50 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons.
36:39And they can eat a ton of food a day.
36:45Sometimes large amounts of the timeless creatures like krill.
36:50Other times, like here, scraps of herring do just fine.
36:59This feast is too rich for just one whale species to enjoy.
37:10The fjords of Norway plunge steep and deep into the sea.
37:15So orca don't mind coming in close to land.
37:19They stand out in a crowd with fins that can be more than six feet high.
37:28These social creatures can travel in pubs up to 30 strong.
37:46They join their hunter-cousins for the feast.
37:53And if two mammal species swimming for their supper here isn't enough, don't worry.
38:00Here comes a third.
38:10While the rest of Scandinavia may be hunkered down preparing for winter and its darkness.
38:17The sea is where you can still find a hearty meal.
38:24The Gulf Stream keeps the water around the fjords virtually ice-free.
38:29That's what brings in the fish and the divers.
38:34We're really, really, really lucky to live in this place on the earth.
38:38We have the Gulf Current heating the shore here.
38:43The water is constantly between 15 and 60 degrees Celsius.
38:47And the nutrition of the water here has a really, really rich life, both for mammals and for fish.
38:59John Dyrnes and his dive buddies use modern gear and can stay in the water for a few hours without getting too cold.
39:10They seek out flatfish, pollock, haddock and especially cod.
39:17We're really planning each dive before we go into the water.
39:21What kind of fish do we want to look for?
39:28Everything in the sea comes really close to you, especially when you're a freediver.
39:40Freedivers don't use tanks but can hold their breath for several minutes at a time.
39:47You have to keep all your senses open because the fish senses you, you know, in your excitement.
39:58And it triggers all your instincts when you go in the water.
40:08In the 1960s, there was a push to make spearfishing an Olympic sport.
40:13That failed.
40:14But the fish here continue to attract divers.
40:22You can catch fish all year here and there's probably plenty enough fish to feed my whole family and the neighbors and their neighbors again.
40:28So, I shoot a lot of fish here and I give them away to my neighbors and give them away to my family.
40:35Yeah, it's really nice, really nice.
40:37It's really nice, really nice.
40:48The biggest fish come to the lower regions of the Arctic Circle in winter.
40:53But one of the strangest looking species never leaves.
41:00No matter how dark it gets.
41:02The vibrant Atlantic wolf fish, or sea wolf, resembles an eel.
41:17With one long fin down its back.
41:22But its real magic is on the inside.
41:25The wolf fish produces a kind of antifreeze for its blood.
41:32So it can live in the icy Arctic all year round.
41:36Even now in the depths of winter.
41:41It dines on shellfish and starfish and the like.
41:45Which it can rip into with savage teeth.
41:48They are one of the few fish to have both parents care for their eggs.
41:56They guard them for several months until they hatch.
42:01Their home here in the Arctic Circle is also unique.
42:06It's the world's largest known cold water reef.
42:11With all this color, it's hard to believe it's been dark up top for more than two months.
42:16Except perhaps for the returning shimmer of the northern lights.
42:30Then, once again, a glimmer of sunlight.
42:35And warmth starts to melt the snow.
42:39These extremes of the Arctic Circle force humans and creatures.
42:57To toughen up, they must adapt to conditions.
43:02And embrace hardship.
43:09But once a year, like magic.
43:14The veil of darkness lifts throughout the region.
43:22The ice melts away.
43:26And the Arctic has come full circle.
43:34Time again to decide how to spend your summer vacation.
43:43Holidays in the Arctic are short.
43:46But that's why they may be more prized here than anywhere else on the planet.
43:55o
43:57And the sea gets more BaÅŸka.
44:02It's kinda gotten lost.
44:04I'm飲mal.
44:06Observe the Pennsylvania castle and a Holiday Detective.
44:09For all those, we can find a full normal dream that you're
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