Wunderwelt Schweiz – Wasser und Eis

Switzerland is also known as the “water tower of Europe.” This is hardly surprising, given that a considerable proportion of the water used by Europeans to quench their thirst, irrigate their fields, and wash their cars comes from the Swiss Alps. The four largest rivers in Europe – the Rhine, Rhone, Danube, and Po – have their source in the Alps. Without the water from the Swiss glaciers, vast areas of land would be left dry. Every year, the Alps supply the surrounding countries with enough water to fill five Lake Constances. The journey begins on the mighty peaks of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, where frost prevails on many days, even in summer. In this desert of rock, snow, and ice, which at first glance appears hostile to life, wildlife filmmakers have tracked down survival specialists: the indestructible alpine chough lives here (and benefits from the many tourists and their sandwiches). The snow grouse spends its life largely invisible, perfectly camouflaged in every season. The landscape here is shaped by water: the enormous ice sheets of the glaciers bend the rock with their weight, and flowing water cuts hundreds of meters deep gorges into the hard rock. The film shows many of the impressive landscapes that are created in this way, such as the 10 underground Trümmelbach Falls and the lovely Lauterbrunnen Valley, which, with its 72 water cascades, inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to describe the Elven kingdom in his mammoth work “The Lord of the Rings.” The further the water flows downhill, the more colorful and rich the flora and fauna become. They often have to compete with civilization, but shy animals such as beavers and newcomers such as cormorants manage to find quiet refuges in densely populated Switzerland. However, the film does not shy away from serious topics, showing them in impressive shots: In view of the terrifying speed at which vital glaciers are receding, climate change also plays a role. The camera team found impressive images in the truest sense of the word: it rediscovered the very places where Swiss painter Caspar Wolf immortalized the magnificent glaciers and snow-covered mountain panoramas in oil paintings in the 18th century. The comparison between the splendor of that time and the situation today will silence climate change skeptics. “The filming,” says director Ulf Marquardt, “was extremely exhausting, but always a pleasure. Not least because of the enormous helpfulness of the Swiss, without whom the film could not have been made.” The gardeners at the Schynige Platte Alpine Garden, the team at the Entlebuch National Park, the experts from the “Hallo Biber!” conservation project, the Sempachersee bird sanctuary, the relevant tourist offices, and many more contributed to the success of the film with their advice and support. The result is a film that amazes and amuses, makes you think, and is always a treat for the eyes.