Africa. Cape. Episode 4

Description

Southern Africa is a riot of life and colour. But if it was not for two great ocean currents that sweep around and shape the continent’s Great Cape it would be a desert. This film celebrates the rejuvenating powers of the ocean. To the east, the warm Agul has current flows south, generating clouds that roll inland creating the wettest place in southern Africa. Home to a magical fairy-tale butterfly ballet, the area is known as the ‘Google’ rainforest as it was only discovered using satellite images in 2005. In the sea, the warm current sustains shoals of giant kingfish and creates some of the most beautiful seascapes ever seen – the Bazaruto Archipelago. To the west is the cold Benguela current. It is home to more great white sharks than any other sea on Earth. Although the current provides little rain, it delivers instead moisture laden fog to the land, and supports an incredible desert garden, where monkey beetles sleep in a bed of petals. But perhaps most impressive is where the two currents meet. The clash of warm and cold water creates one of the world’s most fabulous natural spectacles, South Africa’s sardine run. This is the greatest gathering of predators on the planet, including Africa’s largest, the Brydes Whale.

Runtime

49 minutes

Series

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Database

Alexander Street

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