ORF-E
English, German
1 x 45 min, 1 x 52 min

The Red Sea is a tough place to call home. Largely land-locked, it has a higher salinity and is warmer than most other seas around the world. Yet its coral reefs continue to thrive at a time when many others are disappearing and the sea as a whole remains home to a fascinating range of marine life, including various shark species, angelfish and manta rays. The land around the Red Sea is no less compelling. At its mouth lies the isolated island of Socotra. One third of the plant life that grows here is found nowhere else on Earth – including the bizarre Socotra desert rose, which resembles a baobab tree and grows for several hundred years. In addition, the island is home to a range of endemic species. For centuries, different cultures have intersected around the Red Sea, despite the inhospitable conditions. These days, it is these very conditions that are leading to increased interest in the region. As temperatures rise around the world, the flora and fauna of the Red Sea continue to display an incredible resilience and ability to adapt. Could it become a form of Noah’s Ark, a repository of species that have disappeared elsewhere around the world?