CONTENT LIBRARY

ON THIN ICE – EXPEDITION INTO THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC

ORF-E
English
1 x 50 min
Worldwide

In their first documentary, filmmakers Manuel Hammelsbeck and Ulrike Hallas present a very special island, far from civilization. In the Russian Arctic, right on the date line, lies Wrangel Island. At first glance the island seems inconspicuous. The secret lies in its history. Even in the last Ice Age, Wrangel was never completely glaciated, which made it the ultimate refuge for all arctic animals and plants to this day. Only few rangers and few visitors with special permits are allowed to set foot on the most northern UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to countless insects and flowers that are unique to Wrangel, around 400 female polar bears give birth to their offspring on the island every year. However, this sensitive ecosystem is seriously threatened. In their film “On Thin Ice – Expedition into the Russian Arctic” Manuel Hammelsbeck and Ulrike Hallas show how wonderful and unique animals and plants live in this unreal habitat. In addition to polar bears, musk ox, walruses and whales, small ground squirrels and butterflies have also found ways to survive the harshest winters on our planet with temperatures as low as minus 30 °C. The film makes it clear how unique and sensitive this ecosystem is, and what dramatic effects climate change has on the island, its inhabitants, the Arctic and thus on the entire biosphere.

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