Tales of Nature

The Alpine peaks are one of Europe's distinctive natural ecosystems. One in particular, Mont Blanc, has soared into the sky for millions of years. Take a look at the plants and animals who have adapted to Its extreme conditions − violent winds, sheer rock faces, polar temperatures and avalanches.

The Loire is one of Europe's last free-flowing rivers − one of the few whose banks have not been developed and confined by man. As the seasons change, its water level rises and falls and the morphology of the river-bed alters. How do plants and animals adjust to these variations?

On the shores of Bretagne, breakers have been crashing onto the Atlantic coast for thousands of years. It is a mineral world of earth, rock and water, swept by raging winds. The cliffs there are a haven for flora and fauna, one of Europe's distinctive natural ecosystems.

An immense forest covers 60% of the Vosges mountains, home to a wealth of plant and animal species: large mammals and microscopic insects live side by side beneath the tall trees. And both plants and animals are subject to the cycle of sunlight available through the dense foliage.

In Provence, the garrigues and steppes of the Mediterranean are home to some startlingly exotic wildlife.The Sun reigns supreme here from spring until high summer, subjecting living things to ever hotter temperatures as the day progresses. How do plants and animals withstand the scorching heat?

The point where the English Channel meets the North Sea is a huge migratory hub. Numerous bird species come to this section of the west coast of Europe to rest, feed and bring up their young. For them, the flat, windswept landscape is paradise.