It is a region of superlatives: with a total area of 423,970 square kilometers, California is not only the third largest state in the US, but it is also home to the largest animals and oldest trees in the world. Renowned nature director, marine biologist and four-time Emmy winner Rick Rosenthal now presents his homeland in the sumptuous two-part film “Wild California”. The films ‘Currents of Life’ (9 January) and ‘Life under Extreme Conditions’ (16 January) can be seen on consecutive Mondays at 20:15 in the ARD nature documentary series ‘Experience Earth’.
In “Currents of Life”, the focus is on the elixir of life, water: the nutrient-rich ocean currents off the California coast are home to one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Here Rosenthal manages to film two gray whale bulls courting a female. Marine mammals, which can be up to 15 meters long and weigh up to 40 tons, were once nearly extinct. Specimens that are still alive today go a long way to reproduce, as the film shows. However, ocean currents also supply water to land: Clouds and fog bring in huge amounts of moisture, making California America’s pantry.
One of the most impressive plants is the redwood, which can often be over 1,000 years old and over 100 meters tall. Other natural phenomena covered in the documentary include spawning migrations of salmon and nocturnal raids by pumas. The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident.
Earth Experience: Wild California – Mon. 09.01. – TV: 8.15pm
