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Endless Horizon 2012
Transcript
00:02Welcome to the second largest continent in the world, and the cradle of mankind, Africa.
00:10Many myths surround the landscapes under the hot sun, and the people who wrestle the smallest
00:16parcels of inhabitable land from the desert sands and the impenetrable jungle.
00:23Africa, with its elephants, camels, lions, and gorillas, who inhabit the dark rainforests,
00:31hot deserts, and vast savannas.
00:35But the continent is more than just its unique wildlife.
00:40Dust, hot, and sunny, these are the associations with the name Africa.
00:46Asia, all these terms refer to the north of the country, which is dominated by a single
00:52immense and boundless desert.
00:57As hostile the desert may seem at first glance, one may be very surprised with the second one.
01:05And while the tropical rainforests along the equator may seem like paradise on earth with
01:11their temperatures and rich rainfalls, the jungle bears perils that are as deadly as
01:17the heat of the desert.
01:20This apparent contradiction between forest and desert, rain and dust, life and death, describes
01:27Africa like no other part of the world, and can be repeatedly found throughout the continent.
01:33The continent.
01:35Amid this turbulent and dangerous landscape, the first ancestor of man once descended from
01:42a tree creating the cornerstone for the triumphal march of mankind.
01:53Let us explore the history of this unique corner of the earth and discover some of the most
02:00most wonderful places in the world.
02:30The continent.
02:31The continent.
02:58The continent.
03:08The Earth is covered by many different climate zones, which encourage specialized plant and animal kingdoms on each continent.
03:20Once, gigantic deciduous forests covered almost the whole extent of Europe.
03:28This temperate forest is only replaced along the Mediterranean coast due to the drier and warmer Mediterranean climate.
03:37Eastward, the Asian steppe opens wide.
03:41Penetrating far into the largest continent of the world, north of the steppe, boreal forests dominate the landscapes of Siberia
03:50and the Far East.
03:51In the southern regions of Asia, however, particularly in the Middle East, more and more desert and savanna-like landscapes
04:00are common.
04:02In Southeast Asia, rainforests stretch to the islands of Indonesia.
04:09In the heartland of sunny Australia, a desert is surrounded by a variety of savannas, steppes and rainforests.
04:24The New World, consisting of North, Central and South America, is covered by a large number of different climates.
04:34The North is characterized by tundra and coniferous forests, while the center of the North American continent is dominated by
04:43large plains, temperate landscapes and some desert regions.
04:49In South America, vast expanses of rainforests form along the Amazon, while the often harsh climatic conditions of the Andean
04:58Mountains serve as an extreme contrast.
05:09At the center of all these continents and climate zones is Africa.
05:15Deserts cover the entire northern and southern parts of the West Coast, while at the center is the African jungle.
05:25Rainforest and desert are separated by broad belts of savanna with different gradations of climate.
05:35While at first glance, Africa might seem grim and less interesting than other continents, it is in fact the most
05:43unique continent on our planet.
05:51What makes Africa so special?
05:54The most prominent features of Africa are the gigantic animal herds, which travel great distances in search of food.
06:04However, it's not only the large number of the individual animals, but also the large number of different types of
06:12flora and fauna that make the continent stand out.
06:15In addition to the unparalleled biodiversity of Africa, its legacy as the cradle of humanity gives it a unique heritage.
06:26Over millennia, the various cultures of the once young species have evolved quite differently so that many different ways of
06:35life come together in Africa.
06:39But, despite the long period in which mankind has inhabited Africa, the continent still holds many secrets in its innermost
06:49depths.
06:49Vast and endless under the scorching sun lie the deserts of Africa.
06:55To the north stretches the Sahara, the largest dry desert of the earth, virtually stretching over the entire area of
07:04North Africa.
07:05Its dunes and valleys are the stuff of many legends and tales.
07:10Once the home of countless kingdoms and crisscrossed by the salt caravans of the Tuareg, it is now an almost
07:19deserted place.
07:22Far to the south is the Namib, one of the rare fog deserts.
07:28It covers large parts of Namibia and Angola and has an area of nearly 100,000 square kilometers.
07:36The Namib is one of the driest deserts on earth, and is characterized by, among other things, extremely high and
07:45colorful dunes.
07:48At the core of the Kalahari Basin is the Kalahari Desert, which stands out from the other deserts due to
07:55its red sandstone.
07:58With nearly 900,000 square kilometers, it extends over many African countries.
08:05The entire Kalahari Basin, which is covered at the edges with dry savannah, is even larger.
08:13No matter where a desert is located, its human instinct to view it as a lifeless place.
08:21But deserts are more than just big, dead sand boxes.
08:27Majestically, the summits of some isolated mountains rise far above the dunes of the desert.
08:33The distinctive ridges of mountains to the uniform and smooth texture of the desert.
08:48From the far reaches of the sea of sand, mountain peaks jut out like lonely islands.
08:55Many of these individual outcroppings are petrified sand dunes, which can form high plateaus.
09:02Many of those, other solitary mountains, are often volcanic in origin.
09:09However, entire mountain ranges can be the witnesses to violent tectonic activity.
09:17Impressive examples of such activity include the Ahagar Mountains and the Tibesti, which is the highest mountain range in the
09:25Sahara.
09:31At the northwestern edge of the Sahara extend the Atlas Mountains.
09:36This mountain range forms a natural boundary between the hot desert and the Mediterranean climate of northern Morocco.
09:47The mountains of the Atlas Mountains.
09:48Unusual for mountains lying in or on the edge of a desert, the mountains of the Atlas contain metals and
09:55raw materials, such as iron and silver, as well as natural gas.
10:05Jaret, Teneri, or simply Great Desert.
10:10These are the names of the largest dry desert in the world, the Sahara.
10:16The Sahara.
10:18The Sahara covers nine million square kilometers with its sand, gravel, and boulders.
10:24A region so dry and hot that all living creatures yield to the relentless emptiness.
10:33Or at least, so it seems.
10:38The desert can be more than just sand and dust.
10:42In some places, every now and then, a river cuts through the inhospitable wasteland.
10:53But it is only slightly visible in the shimmering heat.
10:57And soon, all traces are lost again in the endless sea of sand.
11:05Away from the water, the eternal expanses of sand dominate.
11:09But the idea of the Sahara consisting only of endless sandy dunes is incorrect.
11:17Actually, only one-fifth of the deserts are real sand deserts.
11:22These are commonly called Urg, or Edean, and consist mainly of quartz, which has been eroded by the wind from
11:31larger rocks and stones.
11:34The rock formations created by the erosion not only have many different forms, but, in some cases, seem very curious
11:44indeed.
11:51On the west coast is the Namib, one of the few fog deserts of the world.
11:57The cold Bengala current off the coast has been the cause for the decade-long lack of precipitation in the
12:05Namib.
12:06The Namib desert existed almost 80 million years ago on Gondwana, the original continent.
12:14At that time, it was not located on the coast.
12:19This occurred only after the continental drift.
12:22High, rugged mountains dominate the landscape at the edges of the Namib.
12:27The origin of the gravel-like rock formations has an interesting reason.
12:33The huge temperature differences between the red-hot days and the freezing cold nights
12:40lead the large rocks and boulders to explode into smaller pieces.
12:49We return from the foggy desert of the Namib back to the Sahara.
12:54Here, the wind-polished rocks and lonely high dunes are awaiting us again.
13:00The desert, close to the few mountains that rise out of the sand, is particularly dry.
13:07However, it is not true that the Sahara has always been a hot and sandy place.
13:14Within the last 100,000 years, there have been some periods when the Sahara was a green savannah.
13:23The last of these wet or pluvial times was about 8,000 years ago.
13:32During this time, hunter-gatherers migrated into the region, settled down, and for some time, even turned to agriculture
13:41before the Sahara, again, turned back into desert.
13:46Desertification may have a large number of causes.
13:50The end of a cool and humid period thousands of years ago was the reason the Sahara could recapture the
13:57land from the savannah.
14:01Other factors may have also included increased erosion or salinization.
14:08But even if sand dominates today, signs of life still run through the heat of the desert.
14:18Oases are some of the most beautiful phenomena in nature to behold.
14:24The fact that water can spring out of the ground in the desert is both intriguing and puzzling.
14:34Oases can occur in many ways.
14:37Often they are created by rainwater that falls on the mountains and percolates through the soil.
14:43When the water hits a watertight layer, it flows along underground until somewhere in the desert it once again sees
14:52the light of day.
14:55Indeed, there are many more types of oases.
14:58For example, the groundwater is tapped.
15:02The most famous oasis in the world is probably the Nile, a river oasis.
15:09The sheer variety and beauty unveiled by this river defies description.
15:17Aside from the few spots with an oasis, only the barren and arid landscapes of the desert prevail.
15:25The sunset makes the top of the mountains glow red.
15:29And only with the evening are temperatures bearable again.
15:42Our journey now turns to a place that is not necessarily cool, but blessed with more water.
15:49The rainforest.
15:54In the heart of Africa they lie.
15:57The evergreen rainforests.
16:00Every animal unique.
16:02Every plant incomparable.
16:04Every meter a new world.
16:07The tropical rainforests of Africa stretch over an enormous area.
16:12The huge coastal rainforest stretches along the west coast over Gabon and Cameroon to Nigeria.
16:35The heart of the impenetrable forests, however, lies in the center of Africa.
16:41After the Amazon basin, the Congo basin is the second largest rainforest in the world.
16:50The forest is not only fed by the daily heavy rains, but also by small and large rivers like the
16:57Congo.
17:03On the island of Madagascar, there is another rainforest which is populated by many endemic species.
17:11That is, ones that only exist there.
17:16The rich variety of species is by far the most distinguishing feature of the rainforests of Africa.
17:24Numerous animal species are found in the depths of the jungle.
17:29The diversity of the forests can hardly be put into words and is completely unprecedented.
17:37Even today, with modern equipment and research tools, far from all of the species in the rainforests have been discovered.
17:44The tropics.
17:47Gnarled acacia meet the imposing and towering baobab trees with their characteristically thick stems.
17:59Even if, in the minds of people, Africa seems to consist entirely of desert, the continent is actually covered over
18:08and again with dense forests.
18:10As much as 75% of Africa lies in the tropical zone.
18:15Along the east coast to central Africa lays a vast area of the richest habitats for species on Earth.
18:25In the areas around rainforests, mountains and plateaus often rise above the landscape in front of the jungles.
18:34The weather determines the forms of life on the slopes and ledges of the mountains.
18:40On the warm and sunny sides, trees and grasses grow at the lower altitudes of the mountains, while less and
18:48less vegetation is found further on towards the summit.
18:54Areas of vegetation spread themselves out at the feet of the mountains.
18:59These form the transition between the rugged mountain regions and the humid rainforests of Africa.
19:11Located near the equator, the tropics are ruled by a daily rhythm that almost never changes within the air.
19:20Starting with the temperatures, which might sink noticeably at night, but over the year remain more or less the same
19:27to the daily downpour of rain.
19:31The sun usually shines almost exactly 12 hours, and the twilights last no longer than a half hour.
19:40Following the rapid sunrises, the trees and the ground heat quickly, causing large amounts of water to evaporate in a
19:48short period.
19:49Throughout the day, large towering clouds form, which spread above the entire rainforest.
19:57Around midday, there are abundant rains, which are often accompanied by thunderstorms.
20:04Several hours later, the rains finally subside, allowing night to descend upon the jungle, with the next day repeating the
20:13same performance.
20:15There are no seasons to change this rhythm of the beat.
20:20This is due to the proximity of the rainforests to the equator, meaning no change of season is actually possible.
20:29Even if the regular rains and the fixed daily routine initially appear monotonous, the rainfall has led to a green
20:37world, whose diversity of species is incomparable.
20:45At first glance, these tropical forests, despite or perhaps because of the pouring rain, appear to be a paradise-like
20:55fertile place.
20:56But the rainforests are not fertile.
21:00The continuous rainfall has removed much of the nutrients from the earth, as if by a thorough rinsing.
21:07It so happens that all nutrients originate from leaves, plants, or animals that have recently died.
21:20The reason for the vast number of various and different species lies in the architecture of the rainforest's layered construction.
21:29On each of these layers, or floors, each located at a different height, various species have found a niche for
21:37survival.
21:38Since the conditions in the layers change with the environmental conditions of the different parts of the forest,
21:45Although rainforests no longer represent even 7% of the earth's surface now, they are home to between 40 to
21:5370% of all living species due to their layered construction.
21:59Already, a few hundred meters in the rainforest can bring with them radical changes in the plant and animal species.
22:08Several hundred kilometers accordingly brings entirely new worlds.
22:16Such a new world, with its mysteries and wonders, lies ahead of us.
22:21Madagascar.
22:22The hallmarks of this island are forests, cliffs, and especially the lemurs.
22:29Lemurs are almost exclusively arboreal, or tree-dwelling.
22:34So it is not surprising that the various species have either settled in the rainforests in the east,
22:40the thorny forests in the southwest, or the deciduous forests in the west of the island.
22:49Only a few species, such as the ring-tailed lemur, move frequently on the ground and in the open savannah.
22:59It is still not fully understood exactly how lemurs came to the island of Madagascar.
23:06There is no question that these unique creatures tremendously enrich the wildlife of Africa.
23:16The lemurs have been divided on the sixth continent, as Madagascar is often referred to, in about 100 different species.
23:27Even though this diversity of lemurs is demonstrated through many individual characteristics,
23:34some traits are the same for many of the species.
23:39Unlike many other types of primates, lemurs rarely display so-called sexual dimorphism,
23:48significant differences or physical characteristics between males and females.
23:55In most cases, both sexes weigh the same, and the canine teeth have the same size,
24:02which clearly sets them apart from many other primates, such as chimpanzees.
24:11The name lemur probably comes from the Latin word lemuris, a term for Roman spirits of the dead.
24:21The reasons for this name are the typical characteristics of most lemurs.
24:26They are nocturnal, have large eyes, and have distinctive faces.
24:36Although most of the lemurs are nocturnal, there are also species that limit their activity to the day.
24:43In most cases, it can be said that the small and light species prefer the cover of darkness,
24:50and are therefore active at night, while the larger and heavier lemurs confine themselves to the day.
25:00However, there are a few species that have a so-called cathomeral rhythm,
25:05which means that they do not have a fixed day and night cycle, as with exclusively nocturnal or day-active
25:13animals.
25:15The commitment to a particular time of day or night is dependent on the weather, food supply, or the season.
25:25Also, this characteristic is unknown in other primates.
25:36The lemurs are able to communicate with their fellow species in several ways.
25:42They have a very good sense of smell and many scent glands all over the body.
25:48They have, therefore, developed a complex communication system that relies primarily on odors.
25:57They can also protect themselves against or call attention to predators with different sounds.
26:06The lemurs, however, possess even more peculiarities.
26:12Depending on diet specialization, for example, they may have an enlarged appendix,
26:18which facilitates the digestion of plants or have an extra-long tongue, enabling them better access to nectar.
26:36In addition to the lemurs of Madagascar, there are still more fascinating creatures to marvel at in the rainforests of
26:45Africa.
26:51Especially on the banks of the mighty rivers, an immense biodiversity has established itself.
26:57The light-filled embankments differ themselves from the thickets of the forests,
27:03not only in appearance, but especially in the species present.
27:13This snail takes a pause from the heat in the shady and humid regions of the rainforest.
27:21Not far away, however, lurks its hunter.
27:25With more than 100 kinds, the chameleon is one of the most diverse species in the tropics.
27:34Chameleons are famous for their ability to change color.
27:38The lizards not only change their pigmentation when danger threatens,
27:42but also to protect themselves from harsh ultraviolet rays or to mitigate the scorching blaze of the sun.
27:51Although snakes have spread over the entire world throughout evolution,
27:55they are by far the most numerous here in the tropics.
28:01Many species of snakes have a similar thermal imaging type of vision,
28:07which enables them to hunt well in the dark.
28:10Having spied their prey, they stalk slowly, using their extremely powerful muscles for the approach.
28:22It is rare for the bite of a snake to be toxic.
28:26Very few of the nearly 3,000 species are dangerous to humans.
28:36This little turtle eats the plants nearer the bank.
28:41Its hard armor protects it from predators.
28:45As such unassuming creatures, it is hard to believe that some turtles can grow up to 8 feet long.
28:55In addition to the turtles, there are other inconspicuous, however colorful animals in the jungle,
29:01such as certain species of spiders.
29:08Butterflies also bring lively colors to this green world.
29:13Butterflies gather to feed on the flowers of plants.
29:19In a few weeks, the mating dances will take place and transform the shrubs and flowering plants
29:27to a place of a thousand beating wings.
29:34Slowly and majestically, the sun sets over the gentle waves of the Atlantic Ocean
29:41and wraps the edge of the impenetrable and mysterious jungle in darkness.
29:46throughidocious islands.
30:15The Alfano Yes
30:16now takes us away from the tropics and towards the vast plains of Africa, the savannas.
30:32The savannas, the border areas between extreme precipitations, have a wide variety of vegetation,
30:39depending on the available amount of water.
30:58The wide belt of savannas stretches from the Sahel in the north over the East African savannas,
31:05like the Serengeti, to South Africa with its so-called veld.
31:12The most arid savanna types are the thornbush savannas, usually located directly adjacent to deserts,
31:20where almost exclusively low and bushy plants are found.
31:27The dry savannas further on towards the equator produce greener landscapes,
31:33with the help of some rivers and more rain.
31:40Especially green are the riparian forests, which spread along the banks with their cooler temperatures
31:46and more hospitable environments.
31:50The humid savannas, which can be recognized by their almost exclusively green landscapes,
31:56are located close to tropical rainforests.
32:02Due to the large food supply, humid savannas are also frequently the scenes of spectacular migrations of zebra and wildebeest.
32:12The lush meadows and swaying grasses of the savannas are like a small taste of paradise.
32:22Far and wide, the green plains of the African landscape stretch onto the horizon under the warm sun.
32:31The savannas of Africa, on land and in the air, the fantastic interplay of nature.
32:39The rivers and streams that run through the savanna are the basis for the biodiversity.
32:46But the cool water does not flow all year long through the sunny spaces.
32:52The savannas are subjected to a never-ending cycle of rainy and dry seasons.
32:58In the rainy season, there is an extreme amount of rainfall, turning the land green and causing the rivers to
33:06swell and flood their banks.
33:08The savanna is most fertile during this time, but also the rainy season must finally come to an end.
33:20In the dry season, the water supplies slowly but surely start diminishing.
33:27Humans and animals move to other, more humid regions as the rivers continue to dry up.
33:38Savannas are a distinctive feature of the African landscape.
33:41They cut broad swathes between the jungles in the heartland of Africa and the vast deserts along both the Tropic
33:49of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
33:54With meter-high elephant grass and broad roofs of acacia leaves, the savannas of Africa are a food source for
34:02a large variety of animals.
34:10In one of the rivers of a savanna, a few crocodiles have laid in wait.
34:16To satisfy their hunger, they have no fear of even the largest prey.
34:23Because of the constant threat posed by these carnivorous lizards, the rivers are largely abandoned.
34:29Only a few animals are safe from the crocodiles.
34:35Although hippos look ponderous and slow, they can very well defend themselves against predators like crocodiles.
34:45Besides these large animals, the savanna is home to countless species that one can easily overlook in the tall grass.
34:55The animals ensure their survival by living together in small groups.
35:00Together they find more food and warn each other of predators.
35:04And they are lurking everywhere.
35:08On the edge of this watering hole, a lioness refreshes herself with the cool water.
35:14On the other hand, lions are the largest cats in Africa, and the only great cat that lives together in
35:20packs.
35:22Their most striking feature is the large mane.
35:25This head of hair is not yet formed on the young animals.
35:29The darker and more magnificent the mane later becomes, the stronger the male will be.
35:35The cubs are raised not only by their own mother, but by all the lionesses.
35:43Unlike their relative, the house cat, concern for hygiene is rather limited amongst lions.
35:55Vultures are always grateful for a piece of carrion.
36:00But they rarely get to sample the next inhabitant.
36:07These young elephants are playing together in the shade of acacia trees.
36:13A few meters away, another calf practices defending the herd.
36:21Elephants need to drink a considerable number of liters of water a day to survive.
36:27If no watering hole is at hand, elephants will cross large spaces in search of water.
36:38Elephants can only release heat from the surface of their body and not by sweating.
36:45Therefore, they evolve large ears over time.
36:51To supply the huge body, an elephant has to eat between 200 to 300 kilograms of food a day.
37:02Pachyderms prefer eating grasses, but fruit and leaves also find their way into the stomachs of these giants.
37:13Wildebeests are one of the largest species of antelope on the savannah.
37:18Their long migrations of hundreds of kilometers across Africa have made the wildebeest world famous.
37:26Every year at the end of the rainy season, the wildebeests cross rivers to reach fertile valleys.
37:34This results in herds that can comprise thousands of animals.
37:39Males and females often form separate herds.
37:43Outside the migration seasons, the males inhabit their own territories, which they defend vigorously against intruders.
37:53Towards the end of the year, as the rainy season once again starts, the wildebeests make their return across the
38:00river.
38:05In some small tributaries of the rivers, the water is calm and numerous aquatic plants cover the surface of the
38:13stream.
38:17Large African buffalo often settle near bodies of water.
38:24But the waters don't only attract the heavyweights.
38:30Some antelopes are refreshing themselves on the banks of this river.
38:35Like many inhabitants of the savannahs, the topes live in herds.
38:40Led by a male, they roam the savannahs and cover great distances.
38:49While on their journey, the antelopes search for juicy grasses and tasty herbs among the tall grass.
39:04Protected by their mother, the young warthogs pluck grass from the ground.
39:10Adult warthogs can defend themselves quite well with their huge tusks, even against big cats.
39:20such as the leopard.
39:23Normally, however, no prey escapes this stealthy hunter.
39:29The cheetah is also an excellent hunter.
39:32However, he can only maintain his incredible speed over short distances.
39:38Therefore, the cheetah observes its prey very carefully, so as to avoid wasting any energy.
39:46In search of food, the tallest mammal on earth overlooks the savannah.
39:52The giraffe.
39:54Even though they don't really look capable of putting up a fight, the giraffe has no fear of predators.
40:03Once it reaches a certain size, they are avoided by large carnivores such as lions and cheetahs.
40:09Besides their extremely long neck, the giraffe has other unusual attributes.
40:17For example, their notable pattern serves to release heat, so they are not reliant on shade in the sunny savannah.
40:26Not far from the grazing giraffes, we see some zebras.
40:34Zebras form groups of herds, where they provide care for their young.
40:40The foal remains for about a year with its mother and feeds on her milk.
40:47The stripes appear to offer certain advantages.
40:51For example, the zebra is not perceived by the dangerous tsetse fly.
40:56Perhaps the complex pattern makes it difficult for predators like lions and cheetahs to distinguish individual animals when looking at
41:05a large herd before them.
41:06A group of female impalas graze before a bend in a river.
41:13Until the mating season, females discourage males with their uninviting horns.
41:21Their gracious appearance closely resembles that of the gazelle.
41:26In fact, they are among the more sturdy of antelopes.
41:31The antlers of the male are normally used only during the ritual fights of the mating season.
41:38As long as the female is alone, she dedicates herself to the rearing of her young.
41:54Over the ground of the grassy plains moves a solitary specimen of the world's largest running bird, the ostrich.
42:04In most instances, ostriches, like gazelles, flee from their predators, whereby they can reach speeds of 70 kilometers per hour.
42:15The bulk of the day, however, is spent grazing and eating.
42:22The rhino is an extremely ancient animal.
42:27Already for 50 million years, rhinos walk the earth.
42:32Even though they possess an effective weapon with their horn,
42:36they are pure herbivores that graze the entire day through the savannah in search of food.
42:43The savannah is a wonderful land, full of life and diversity.
42:47But dangers lurk on all sides.
42:54The deserts are spreading. The climate is getting warmer.
42:59Even the flaming bushfires seem to spread only devastation at first glance.
43:05But the fires are of inestimable value to the savannahs, as long as they do not gain the upper hand.
43:12With the burning of grasses, shrubs and sometimes trees, valuable nutrients are returned to the soil.
43:21Only with these new reserves can new plants grow to serve as food for the herds.
43:28Some plants have become so adapted to the regular and recurring fires that their seeds only open with the heat
43:35of the flames.
43:41As is so often in Africa, the end of one thing simultaneously creates a new beginning.
43:53The widespread trees and shrubs provide both shade and are a source of food for animals.
44:01However, the plants are not as vulnerable as one often thinks.
44:05In fact, some of them have developed great ways to defend themselves against attackers such as giraffes and antelopes.
44:15The most notable type of defense is carried through chemical signals called phytohormones.
44:25Some plants, such as acacia, can actually warn each other about the approach of animals.
44:32Once they know of the presence of herbivores, the acacia begin to enrich their leaves with extremely bitter substances.
44:41The unpalatable taste repulses the animals, thus protecting the plant.
44:49For this reason, the trees in areas with many herbivores remain in close contact with their leafy canopies.
45:03Africa, a land of contrasts with scorching heat, roaring rivers and drenching rains.
45:16Like no other continent, it enchants its visitors with a unique blend of ever-changing landscape and abundant wildlife.
45:30Where once the species of man took its first step, today animals inhabit the sparkling rivers and golden plains.
45:41Even if history's stage has moved from Africa, it remains firmly anchored in the collective memory of the world.
45:51Less than the historical legacy, the earthiness and wildness of nature capture the imagination of modern society.
46:03The vast plains of the African savannah form a habitat of wild and natural beauty,
46:09eliciting an almost indescribable fascination through its very landscape and colorful diversity.
46:22The peace of the countryside and the animals spread out like a surging wave across the continent.
46:28The plains and savannahs are like the vast rainforests, home to the essence of life.
46:34Young animals of all kinds play and frolic under the African sun.
46:43Africa's landscapes lie quiet and peaceful under the same sky that looked down millions of years ago upon this land.
46:54The change in nature's realm is continuous, yet mostly inconspicuous.
47:01In the age of the digital revolution, the human eye is blind to the basic events of the world.
47:10Every square centimeter of Africa is filled with the rhythm of the wilderness, even in the silent desert dunes.
47:19The petrified sand formations and wind-polished rocks bear witness to the everyday wonders of Africa and the entire cosmos
47:29that is the African world.
47:38With the memories of the fantastic journey through the varied and exhilarating landscapes,
47:43we leave Africa to the setting of the blazing sun.
47:48The
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