Raue Welten - Wilde Schönheiten - Die Balkanhalbinsel

It is one of the three southern European peninsulas and 500,000 square kilometers in size: the Balkan Peninsula. Poetically, it forms the geographical border between the Occident and the Orient. Its name refers to its natural wealth: BALKAN - "MOUNTAINS WITH MANY FORESTS". In fact, the Balkan Peninsula is a treasure trove of ecological diversity. Its hidden wealth: an abundance of national and nature parks - from Slovenia to Greece. From the Alps to the sea. As in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their landscape is characterized by rivers, lakes and the rugged Dinaric Mountains. Their fauna and flora is rich in species and diverse. Due to the difficult accessibility, their flora and fauna is little threatened until today. On his cinematic journey, filmmaker Jeremy JP Fekete visits the UNA National Park. Its eponymous Una River features miles of gorges, cascades, river travertines and numerous waterfalls. It is also valued as one of the largest fly-fishing spots in Europe. And in its forests, around 60 bears find a home again. Not far from Una National Park lies its little brother: Kozara National Park. Affectionately called "Green Beauty". A few years ago, a law was passed prohibiting logging for economic use. Here, a primeval forest is to develop again in a self-renewing world - with the help of insects and beetles. It is a unique Mediterranean swamp in the Neretva Delta and one of the largest wintering grounds for birds in Europe. Hutovo Blato Nature Park. Only 20 km from the Adriatic Sea, its watery Mediterranean marsh is home to several 100 different species of flora and fauna. A natural melting pot for vegetation and wildlife - yet threatened by man.

It is one of the three southern European peninsulas and 500,000 square kilometers in size: the Balkan Peninsula. Poetically, it forms the geographical border between the Occident and the Orient. Its name refers to its natural wealth: BALKAN - "MOUNTAINS WITH MANY FORESTS". In fact, the Balkan Peninsula is a treasure trove of ecological diversity. Its hidden wealth: an abundance of national and nature parks - from Slovenia to Greece. From the Alps to the sea. As in Croatia. Filmmaker Jeremy JP Fekete visits national and nature parks from the coasts of the southern Dalmatian islands of the Adriatic to the Velebit mountain massif: because Croatia's natural beauty is diverse Mljet. Also known as Odysseus Island. At its tip is the national park of the same name. A forest of Aleppo pines and holm oaks, only 100 years young, covers almost 90% of the island. Risen again like Phoenix from the ashes after the devastating forest fire about 100 years ago. In one of its salt lakes is a tropical coral reef. That of the lawn coral. It is the most famous national park in Croatia. The Plitvice Lakes owe their name to the natural phenomenon that created the lakes. A waterway about 8 km long, made of 16 smaller lakes strung together like pearls and connected by cascading waterfalls. An important natural process for its incomparable beauty is taken over by mosses and algae, which support the development of its travertine barriers. And thus also preserve old trees for a little eternity. Its mountain massif Risnjak was declared a national park as early as 1953. This forested mountain massif in Gorski Kotar was named after the lynx ("ris"), its most popular inhabitant. Today, the national park once again serves as a habitat for these shy hunters.

It is one of the three southern European peninsulas and 500,000 square kilometers in size: the Balkan Peninsula. Poetically, it forms the geographical border between the Occident and the Orient. Its name refers to its natural wealth: BALKAN - "MOUNTAINS WITH MANY FORESTS". In fact, the Balkan Peninsula is a treasure trove of ecological diversity. Its hidden wealth: an abundance of national and nature parks - from Slovenia to Greece. From the Alps to the sea. Like Montenegro. Land of black mountains and dark forests. In its rugged mountain landscape you will find 5 canyons - and the deepest gorge in Europe. Here lies one of the last primeval forests as well as the largest freshwater lake of the Balkan Peninsula. The Durmitor. Celtic: "mountains of many waters". It is the largest of the 5 national parks of Montenegro. 48 of the 50 peaks form its mountain massif. Between this rugged karst mountain range duck 18 mountain and glacial lakes. In the Biogradska Gora National Park, filmmaker Jeremy JP Fekete visits one of the last "real" primeval forests in Europe. It reaches up to 2000 meters above sea level, where it is home to deer and bears. In the middle of it all - the Biogradska Jezero. This elongated glacial lake only reaches a depth of about six meters, but is nestled by some of the oldest trees from all over Europe. Trees up to 500 years old thrive here, reaching a gigantic 45 meters in height. The Salina is part of the Buna Delta, which together with Lake Skadar is considered one of the most bio diverse areas in the Mediterranean as well as Europe. One as a freshwater, the other as a saltwater biotope. Home to a rich flora and fauna as well as numerous amphibians, reptiles and unique plants. For example, the glass wort or the Queller, plants that only grow in high saline soil. Basis for nesting and sheltering places for many birds and other animals.

It is one of the three southern European peninsulas and 500,000 square kilometers in size: the Balkan Peninsula. Poetically, it forms the geographical border between the Occident and the Orient. Its name refers to its natural wealth: BALKAN - "MOUNTAINS WITH MANY FORESTS". In fact, the Balkan Peninsula is a treasure trove of ecological diversity. Its hidden wealth: an abundance of national and nature parks - from Croatia to Greece. From the Alps to the sea. Like Albania. On the one hand known for its "Albanian Alps" full of fertile plains and rich in lakes and rivers. As well as its "Albanian Riviera" with miles of lagoons as well as the sandy habitats of golden jackals. The Valbona Valley. Its Alps are part of the GREEN BELT OF EUROPE. Former border area - today a new protected zone for wild animals such as the golden eagle - Albania's heraldic animal. More than 25 years ago, between 100 and 200 pairs of golden eagles circled over the mountains. Today, this number has halved. The Great Prespa Lake is shared by 3 countries: Albania, Northern Macedonia and Greece. On the snake island of Golem Grad, on the other hand, snakes and birds share the habitat. An 18 hectare isolated natural zone made for pelicans, cormorants and turtles. But the secret island rulers are the water and poisonous snakes. The Vjosa. Europe's last great wild river. It and its tributaries flow freely - all the way from its source in the mountains of Greece to its mouth in the Albanian Adriatic. Habitat of countless plants and animals. The years-long fight against a planned dam and about 40 hydroelectric power plants made the Vjosa a symbol - the BLUE HEART of Europe. The island of Sazan. Part of the Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park. Until today, the island of Sazan is not accessible as a military base. In its waters lie the wrecks of many ancient Greek and Roman ships, as well as warships from World War II. Under water there is a rich marine flora and above water dominates cliffs with caves and secluded bays.

It is one of the three southern European peninsulas and 500,000 square kilometers in size: the Balkan Peninsula. Poetically, it forms the geographical border between the Occident and the Orient. Its name refers to its natural wealth: BALKAN - "MOUNTAINS WITH MANY FORESTS". In fact, the Balkan Peninsula is a treasure trove of ecological diversity. Its hidden wealth: an abundance of national and nature parks - from Croatia to Greece. From the Alps to the sea. As in Greece. Places far from the expected tourist island worlds - full of myths and stories about unknown lagoons, lakes and the mountains of the northern mainland. A journey from one coast to another - from the Aegean Sea to the Gulf of Patras. Alonissos. Island of the northern Sporades. Here, conservationists have been fighting for the endangered monk seals and dolphins since the early 1970s. Today, Alonissos and six other islands make up the largest marine park in Europe and the first in Greece. But as long as the Aegean Sea continues to be abused as a garbage dump, the survival of these marine animals is only partially protected. The Axios Delta. Here - close to the city of Thessaloniki - an undreamed-of natural paradise. Between the life-giving river Axios and the widely laid out rice fields. An annually changing biotope for birds, wild horses and gopher. The Small Prespa Lake near the border with Albania and Northern Macedonia. Idyll and nesting place for thousands of pelicans every year. But this time they bring death with them. Bird flu. Within a few months, a large part of the population of Dalmatian and Pink Pelicans dies. Nature shows its merciless face, while man could only watch powerlessly. The northern Pindos Mountains. Greece's highest national park. Its sacred forests are full of stories. Of religion and superstition. Here, oak trees are connected to the underworld and act as oracles. An unintended positive side effect of these legends: to this day, they protect Greece's ancient forests from deforestation.

It is one of the three southern European peninsulas and 500,000 square kilometers in size: the Balkan Peninsula. Poetically, it forms the geographical border between the Occident and the Orient. Its name refers to its natural wealth: BALKAN - "MOUNTAINS WITH MANY FORESTS". In fact, the Balkan Peninsula is a treasure trove of ecological diversity. Its hidden wealth: an abundance of national and nature parks - from Croatia to Greece. From the Alps to the sea. Like Bulgaria. In its west rises the alpine high mountain Rila. Its 7 Rila lakes are the landmark of the national park of the same name. Within the park there are 4 reserves. Here you can also find its centuries-old spruce forests. As well as the habitats of the capercaillie. The Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park was placed under protection because of its karst landscape. Up here in the barren landscape even ferns still find a place to survive. As a plant that survived the Ice Age, today it is one of the first to reclaim its territories from civilization. As in the nearby town of Vratsa. The Rhodope Mountains: a labyrinth of ridges and hollows. Their natural beauty has fascinated people since ancient times. The Rhodope Mountains cover almost one seventh of Bulgaria, making them the largest mountain range in the country. On its eastern side there are various reserves. Known for their reintroduction projects such as the vulture and bison. The nature reserve 'Baltata': in the northeast of Bulgaria on the Black Sea. There is the northernmost longose forest in Europe, spreading over an area of 205 hectares. Ancient swamp forests, which were formed by sandbanks and its dammed river Baltova. This forest has its own sound. Triggered by the winds that permanently tug at him.