Gravel desert Life
With river regulation, the centuries-old struggle against the threatening floods, the urstrom valley of the Isar, which was once dominated by gravel corridors, has been transformed into a modern cultural landscape.
Description
The specialized animal and plant species of the gravel areas accompanying the river disappeared. Only on the upper reaches of the Isar have these post-glacial communities preserved.
Some of these rare desert creatures now live between the tracks west of Munich's Central station, between office high-rises and the asphalt carpet of the city centre: grashoppers, butterflies and lizards.
Now in the 21st century, the riverbed of the Isar in Munich is returned being "rewilded" and restored to its original form. A piece of lost wild river landscape returns, in the middle of Munich. And if one day the gravel desert at the main railway station falls victim to the space requirements of the big city, the animals and plants of the gravel areas can "move". Back to the banks oft he river Isar, to their new – old home.
Gravel desert life
Duration 29 minutes
Partner ZDF
Year 1998
