Rivers of the World – Mekong, Okavango, Urubamba, Niger
00:00 Mekong – The nurturing river
The Mekong is one of the world’s last great feeder rivers. Born in the heights of the Himalayas, it meanders throughout South Asia, from China to Vietnam, passing through the immense lake of Ton Lé Sap, in Cambodia, near Angkor Wat, and the “four thousand islands” of Si Phan Donh, in Laos.
Rice cultivation, trade, fishing – the very life of these regions depends on the river.
42:25 Okavango, the animal river
Despite its 1700 km length, the Okavango is a river that never reaches the sea. After tumbling down the hills of Angola and crossing Namibia, it ends its course in the Kalahari Desert. Here, the Okavango loses itself in a thousand meanders and canals, transforming this arid land into a teeming paradise where crocodiles, hippos and elephants testify to a biodiversity unique in the world, where wildlife explodes.
01:24:35 Urubamba, the ancestral river
The source of the Amazon, the Urubamba springs up in the Andes to irrigate the ancient Inca empire. Today, it remains the backbone of the Sacred Valley, dotted with testimonies to its past splendour, such as the imperial city of Macchu Pichu. A past still present in the culture of the region’s inhabitants.
02:06:40 Niger, the genius river
Throughout West Africa, the Niger carries with it its legends. In Mali, it bathes the shores of Djéné, the city of earth, and Timbuktu, the pearl of the desert. From Bamako to Gao, it is for some a nurturing genius, for others a magical and mysterious Queen of the Waters. But no one fails to pay tribute to the river’s great power.
Episode 1: https://youtu.be/ObJPCgW4gZs
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