Nile – The Ultimate River
From the Nile’s mysterious sources to its delta on the Mediterranean coast, this majestic river has a length of 6,650 kilometres – and its natural wonders are just waiting to be discovered.
The river’s source can be pinned down to the area of the Ruwenzori Mountains in Uganda, a wonderland boasting 10m-high trees and rare, magical birds such as the Scarlet-tufted Sunbird or the shimmering Ruwenzori Turaco. The river passes Lake Victoria and Murchison Falls National Park, where the stars of Africa’s animal world – giraffes, elephants, and lions – wait to make their appearance. After passing through the Sudd’s wetlands, the Nile slowly but steadily makes its way to its delta in the Mediterranean, through endless deserts, and past Egypt’s famous pyramids.
The fauna and flora in the Nile’s catchment area are as diverse and full of contrasts as the landscapes and nations along its course. This three-part series explores the many different faces of the world’s ultimate river.
Episodes
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Mountains of the Moon
Episode one of this trilogy focuses on the river‘s source area in the Great East African Rift Valley, a tectonic distortion which, over millions of years, formed towering mountain ranges. The Rwenzori mountains are the most famous. The Ancient Greeks used to call them “the mountains of the moon”. The highest peak reaches 5000 metres (5500 yards) above sea level. Here, snow melts from the glacier and feeds the Nile through adventurous routes.
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Wild Waters
Episode Two deals with the amazing variety of species on the banks of the Nile. A few hundred kilometres into its journey, the Nile plunges noisily over a massive rock and continues peacefully into the new territory of Murchison Falls National Park. Here, time seems to stand still as thousands of hippos enjoy the water. Some of Africa´s largest crocodiles crowd the banks and hundreds of thousands of birds fly high above the river, in search of their feeding and breeding grounds.
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Lifeline in the Desert
The third and final episode of the series starts in the Ethiopian highlands, continues through the Egyptian desert, and terminates at the Nile delta by the Mediterranean Sea. This is the stretch of the river known throughout the world, the part that witnessed the Ancient Egyptian Culture being carved out of stone, from the tombs of the Valley of the Kings to the Luxor Temple.
Festivals & Awards
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Wildlife Vaasa International Nature Film Festival 2014
* winner : Best Water & Underwater Film (Episode 1) -
US International Film & Video Festival 2015
* winner : Certificate for Creative Excellence (Episode 1) -
New York Festivals 2015
* winner : Gold World Medals (Episode 1 + 2) (Category: Nature & Wildlife) -
Sondrio Festival 2015
* winner : chille Berbenni Award, assigned by the Audience Jury (Episode 1) -
Mountainfilm Graz 2015
* winner : Kamera Alpin Austria (Episode 1) -
International Nature Film Festival 2016
* winner : 2nd place (Episode 1) Category: Nature films
Facts
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Original TitleNil – Fluss der Flüsse
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Year2014
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Length3 × 50' (ENG, GER, SPA), 90' (ENG, GER)
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ResolutionHD
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Film byHarald Pokieser
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Produced by