Synopsis
There are places in the world you will never forget, places of incomparable beauty, colorful nature and impressive indigene cultures. The authors Corinna Hackenbroch, Elmar Bartlmae and Rasmus Elsner visited five of these nature marvels producing a versatile series about the Iguazu Falls in Argentina/Brazil, the protected monitor lizard in Komodo, the floating villages of Halong Bay, the longest underground river in the Philippines and the Amazon river in Brazil. IGUAZU – The Big Water by Corinna Hackenbroch The Iguazu Falls which straddle the frontier between Brazil and Argentina are among the biggest and most dramatic waterfalls in the world. Together with photographer Marcos Labanca, jaguar expert Augustin Paviolo and animal welfare activist Mara Anfuso Elsegood we discover the sheer beauty of the nature and wildlife in one of the last rainforest refuges for endangered species and meet their first inhabitants, the indigenous people of the Guarani. KOMODO – Land of the Dragons by Elmar Bartlmae The marine life of the Komodo islands is particularly diverse. In Eastern Indonesia, strong currents between the Indian and Pacific Oceans bring nutrient-rich waters to the area. There are 253 different species of corals and it is also the spot to meet the majestic giants: manta rays. But Komodo is probably most famous for the largest lizards on earth: the komodo dragon. Their attacks can be deadly, but still, the locals respect the predators and try to live with them side by side. HA LONG BAY – The Dragon Bay by Corinna Hackenbroch With nearly 2000 islands, the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam is one of the most impressive sights in South East Asia. In midst of the cragged rock islands we visit the floating village Vung Vieng where Giang and her family make their living diving for mussels, breeding pearls and selling handcraft to the tourists. On Quan Lan at the verge of Ha Long Bay the routines of daily live are totally different, just paused by an old traditional dragon boat race. AMAZON – Nature in Abundance by Elmar Bartlmae The Amazon is the largest river on Earth and at the heart of an extraordinary ecosystem, supporting an abundance of colourful wildlife. The rainforest is still one of the least populated areas in the world, but the greed for more farmland puts pressure on its natural habitat. Nevertheless, the diversity of species here remains unrivalled in the natural world, and includes animals like the Amazon pink dolphins or manatees. PHILIPPINES – The Underground River by Rasmus Elsner Close to the equator a belt of thousands of caves spans around the globe. We explore the longest navigable underground river, one of the most impressive caves systems in the world. The 8.2 km long river is core to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1999. It preserves intact old growth forest, a wild range of wildlife and pristine white sand beaches of unspoiled natural beauty. World Sales: EarthTouch 16 Cranbrook Park Douglas Saunders Drive La Lucia Ridge 4051, South Africa P O Box 1437 Umhlanga, 4320 info@earthtouchsa.com
