ARTE Distribution

In the American West, the Grand Canyon, carved out by the waters of the Colorado River over 445 kilometers, is one of the most impressive natural sites on the planet. Protected by a national park since 1919, it is home to an astonishing biodiversity living in a mineral environment with inhospitable conditions.

Dominating the Romanian Carpathians, Bran Castle stands guard over a land of legends. Associated with the most famous of vampires, Dracula, it attracts crowds in search of artificial thrills. But in the dark woods surrounding the fortress, other wild creatures lurk, far more real than the old count... Bears, lynx and wolves have made these ancient forests their main refuge in Europe. In the shadow of the castle, between flourishing tourism and the need for preservation, a new cohabitation between humans and beasts is taking shape.

In a garrigue bathed in sunshine, the Gardon shapes a wild landscape where life adapts to its whims. 2,000 years ago, the Romans defied this indomitable river by building the Pont du Gard, a veritable masterpiece of engineering. A symbol of human mastery over nature, the edifice has nevertheless blended into its surroundings over time. Little by little, plants and animals have colonized its stones, transforming this ancient monument into an incredible refuge for Mediterranean biodiversity.

Perched on the heights of Alsace since the XIIᵉ century, Haut-Koenigsbourg castle has witnessed the power struggles that have shaped the region. But its history is not limited to human rivalries: by modifying the landscape, its builders also transformed the surrounding flora and fauna. Forests, meadows and rivers have evolved, impacting emblematic species such as the white stork, the wildcat and the European hamster. Today, visited by thousands of tourists, the château stands helplessly by, witnessing the growing rift between man and his environment...

Majestic and timeless, Mont Blanc is much more than just a summit. The cradle of mountaineering, it first saw science guide the first ascents, before becoming the Mecca of high-altitude sports. But Mont Blanc is first and foremost a living, natural heritage, concentrating all the biodiversity of the Alpine massifs. Today, global warming is jeopardizing the snows that were once thought to be eternal, and with them the harmony between man and mountain.

In the heart of the Isle of Mull, battered by winds and sea spray, Duart Castle dominates a wild landscape. Witness to clan conflicts and Scottish destinies, the proud Highland stronghold now seems eclipsed by another history: that of the beasts. Eagles, otters and deer now attract visitors who come to capture the image of unspoilt nature. This fascination with the wild is gradually redrawing the fragile balance between human and animal heritage. Can the Isle of Mull preserve this cohabitation without one taking precedence over the other?

Perché à plus de 3500 mètres d'altitude, à l’extrême nord de l’Inde, le Ladakh est l'un des plus hauts plateaux habités du monde. Dans ce désert montagneux, où le ciel n’offre qu’une centaine de millimètres de pluie par an, seuls les glaciers font couler la vie. Mais ce havre minéral se fragilise. Les glaciers s’amenuisent, perdant une vingtaine de centimètres d’épaisseur chaque année. À ce rythme, ils pourraient disparaître avant la fin du siècle laissant les vallées s’assécher lentement. Les populations de certains villages sont déjà obligées de fuir pour aller s’entasser en ville. La région risque de devenir un immense désert, privé de ses habitants et de ses ressources.

Face à ce défi majeur, un ingénieur ladakhi, Sonam Wangchuk, a peut-être trouvé une solution.  En 2014, il a eu l’idée d’ériger des glaciers artificiels appelés Stupas car leur forme conique ressemble aux toits des monuments bouddhistes du Ladakh.  Le principe est de capter l’eau des ruisseaux en hiver, de l’acheminer en aval via des tuyaux, puis de la faire jaillir en fontaine. Au contact de la température négative de l’air, les gouttelettes d’eau gèlent et s’accumulent, formant ainsi une réserve de glace pouvant atteindre 40 mètres de haut. Leur forme en dôme minimise la surface d’exposition au soleil, ce qui permet aux stupas de fondre lentement au printemps. Ils libèrent ainsi l’eau au moment où les populations en ont le plus besoin, leur redonnant espoir et nourriture. 
Grâce à cette innovation majeure, chaque hiver, Kunzang et sa famille, nos gardiens de l’eau mettent toute leur énergie dans l’édification de leur dôme de glace.  Au printemps, il irriguera leurs plantations, leur redonnant l’espoir de retrouver un jour leur village d’altitude.