Scandinavia's Hidden Paradises

Scandinavia has always been a place of longing. Once covered by a kilometre-thick layer of ice, more than 100,000 years ago a mighty giant rose from the sea in the north of Europe, whose immense nature continues to fascinate people today. The Scandinavian Peninsula and the surrounding Nordic countries impress with numerous superlatives: the largest continental glacier, the deepest fjord in Europe, four UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites and more than 200,000 islands in Sweden alone. Dedicated researchers and nature conservationists fight daily to preserve this treasure. Four spectacular regions are representative of "Scandinavia's hidden paradises": High in the north, in Swedish Lapland, mighty moose feel at home. In winter, scientists mark individual animals with GPS collars to learn more about the migratory behaviour of Sweden's largest ungulate animal. Far to the east, in Finland, close to the Russian border, the vast Saimaa lake area is home to one of the rarest seal species in the world, the Saimaa ringed seal. There are only about 380 of them left. They are the last of their kind. Gotska Sandön is one of the most remote places in the southern island kingdom of the Baltic Sea, a paradise for birds and grey seals. Here scientists are looking for traces of settlements from past times. In the west, mountains and fjords dominate the landscape. Arctic foxes are once again living on the Norwegian plateau of Hallingskarvet. In all these places, conservationists are working with great enthusiasm for Scandinavia's hidden paradises.