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What would happen if the world were suddenly without people - if humans vanished off the face of the earth? How would nature react - and how swiftly? On the edge of Europe, the deserted village of Chernobyl reveals the surprising answer after an unplanned experiment. Chernobyl was abandoned by people after the worst nuclear disaster in history (April 26, 1986). A level 7 meltdown resulted in a severe release of radioactivity following a massive explosion that destroyed the reactor. More than 20 years later, Chernobyl has been taken over by a remarkable collection of wildlife and descendents of pets that were left in the city when its residents fled the nuclear fallout. Unexpectedly in the aftermath of this disaster, Chernobyl has become a sanctuary for plants, birds, and animals, including some species thought to be on the brink of extinction. The adventures of a likeable cast of non-human characters give viewers a rare glimpse into a world where wild animals face challenges in an environment totally outside their experience, and once-domesticated pets have learned how to fend for themselves.

It covers thirty percent of the Earth's land mass and yet, most of us barely scratch the surface. Now, discover what few people have seen, as The Green Planet follows the stories of forest inhabitants, from graceful red deer to cunning foxes and impressive wild boar. With cutting edge technology, we also explore some of the more bizarre and wonderful forest dwellers: the purple emperor, liverworts, stag beetles and corydalis. See flowers bloom and blades of grass cut through the snow. Spend time in a foxes den with her new born cubs and follow tiny insects and creatures with microscopic detail. Be a part of a journey that takes you through the seasons and be prepared to be amazed by the natural wonder of creation, destruction and rebirth in this incomparable landscape.

A look at the wild life of the honey bees in European forests and the important role they have in nature through the numerous connections they have with other living organisms.

"The Night Awakens. - About Life in the Forest" describes the interactions between the boreal owl, the yellow-necked mouse, the black woodpecker, and the wood ant, and shows how the animals of the night cope with the ever-shortening nights, from the longest to the shortest night of the year. A spruce forest is not only the realm of trees, but also a world of animals. When it gets dark in the forest, we humans leave this often eerie place and head home. We are not made for the darkness. Our senses fail when the night awakens. Unlike the nocturnal forest dwellers, they communicate with sounds, orient themselves using ultrasound, and their often gigantic-looking eyes are perfect for navigating the jungle of trees.

In southern Germany, winter can still be admired in all its glory every year. With its white coat of snow and icicles and myriads of small crystals that look like geometric works of art. In the valleys and on the slopes the snow is still so thick every year that the alpine huts are snowed in up to the windows. Cows and dairymen are safe in their farms at lower altitudes. But not the wild creatures of the mountains. They need strategies to survive the cold season and to defy snow masses, cold and ice. And some seem to do it so easily that they even raise their young in the middle of winter. But how do animals, plants and fungi cope with the annually recurring ice age, which from our perspective is a time of need? The many adaptations in nature prove that winter is an integral part of the natural cycle of the year and the living environment of species. They are adapted to cold and frost. That is why the animals and plants at the edge of the Alps suffer particularly from climate change.

Mammals, fish, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and even plants, they all share the same goal in life - to reproduce successfully. All of the species of this planet have developed their own special strategy to raise their offspring.

Documentary deals with the different natural landscapes of Germany and shows a journey from the coasts of the North Sea and Baltic Sea to the Alps. It also shows how the areas have changed due to human influence.

How much natural life dwells in a cornfield? This film explores the diverse range of species who inhabit these food-producing areas.

In the extreme southeast of Germany, the Watzmann rises as the highest peak in the Berchtesgaden Alps. At its feet lies Lake Königssee, the Bavarian fjord, where the steep mountain flanks continue seamlessly into the depths. It lies cold and clear, nestled in a blue-and-white picture-book landscape. The almost 200-meter-deep Lake Königssee lies in a geologically ancient rift valley. It contains more than 500 million cubic meters of water - of drinking water quality. The seven-kilometer-long "Bavarian Fjord" has many small tributaries. Some emerge from the rocks. Depending on the time of year you visit Lake Königssee and the surrounding mountains, you will encounter very different inhabitants. Biodiversity at Lake Königssee Biodiversity at Lake Königssee: Alpine animals, such as the golden eagle, live here. The "king of the skies" was once extinct in the Bavarian Alps. Today, there are again almost 50 breeding pairs. Some of them have their territory in the steep cliffs around Lake Königssee. It was long doubted that the ibex was part of the native fauna of the mountains around Lake Königssee. Until bone discoveries a few years ago proved that it had always been native here. Today, around 200 ibexes roam the peaks around Lake Königssee. The Alpine salamander is a lover of miserable weather. It usually only emerges from its hiding place late at night because the humidity is particularly high then. Only in rain and thick fog does it wander during the day. The largest native orchid, which grows hidden in the forests around Lake Königssee, has giant flowers but offers no nectar. The lady's slipper orchid thrives here because the conditions in the forests around Lake Königssee are like those in a primeval forest. Everything revolves around light. The steep mountain slopes and rocky ground mean that the forest is open and flooded with sunlight. The trees are loosely scattered, with plenty of dead wood in between. Biodiversity thrives in such sparse forests. 900 meters above Lake Königssee lies another lake. Marmots play on its shores, rare wallcreepers breed on the nearby rock faces, and griffon vultures circle in the icy heights above. The small Grünsee, from which the underwater cameras brought back images for the first time, lies in a basin. There is no outlet in sight. But the water level remains almost constant. The mountain lake drains underground into the rocky interior of the mountains. On its journey of several kilometers through the Salzgraben Cave, the water accumulates in crystal-clear, partly unexplored cave lakes. After a six-hour journey, the Grünsee water finally emerges from the rock 900 meters below and bubbles the last few meters towards Lake Königssee. "Nature at Königssee" is a kaleidoscope of special stories from above and below water, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Berchtesgaden Alps.