Season 1

In southeastern Finland, near the Russian border, lies Lake Saimaa, Europe’s fourth-largest freshwater lake and the country’s largest freshwater reserve. Scattered with thousands of islands, it is home to the rare Saimaa ringed seal. Increasingly mild winters threaten the seal’s survival, as it relies on snowdrifts and ice to raise its pups. Peat extraction and forestry also endanger the lake’s delicate ecological balance. Conservationists, ecologists and biologists are finding surprisingly simple ways to tackle these challenges.

Lake Balaton in Hungary, Central Europe’s largest lake, is a popular holiday destination surrounded by picturesque reed beds and vineyards. Its diverse ecosystem provides a habitat for rare water snakes and hundreds of bird species. However, unchecked development along the shoreline threatens the lake’s delicate ecological balance. Local residents are working to protect this unique natural environment and find ways to reconcile its preservation with a thriving tourism industry.

In eastern Turkey, near the Iranian border, lies Lake Van, the world’s largest soda lake. Situated at an altitude of over 1,600 metres, this vast lake stretches for around 100 kilometres and reaches depths of up to 450 metres. Its highly alkaline waters prevent it from freezing completely, even during bitterly cold winters. As the surrounding region grows increasingly dry, experts from various disciplines explore the lake’s fascinating natural world and investigate the effects of a warming climate.

In southeastern Portugal, in the Alentejo region, lies the Alqueva, one of Europe’s largest artificial lakes. Stretching for 85 kilometres, the reservoir has transformed an arid landscape into a vast lake region and provides water for agriculture. Yet the project, which submerged entire villages, remains controversial in an area increasingly affected by climate change and rising summer temperatures. Environmentalists, dam operators and farmers explore the benefits and drawbacks of this massive intervention in the region’s natural landscape.