What do we lose when we lose the wild?
“Auf den Spuren der Wildnis” (translated: In the Footsteps of the Wilderness) is an illustrated non-fiction book for children that gives the readers a glimpse into the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth.
Arctic
The Arctic encompasses the Arctic Ocean and the northern parts of the continents of North America (Alaska and Canada), Europe (Scandinavia and Greenland) and Asia (Russia).
The Arctic is one of the most remote and diverse regions. It covers more than 1.5 million square kilometres.
In the Arctic, winter dictates the lives of people and animals, as the sun rarely shines due to the region’s unique location. Temperatures there can drop to as low as -70 degrees Celsius.
Boreal Forest
The boreal forest, also known as the taiga, stretches from Alaska and Canada through Scandinavia to Siberia.
The word ‘boreal’ comes from Latin and means ‘northern’, whilst ‘taiga’ originates from
Russian and means ‘dense, impenetrable, often marshy forest’. These terms are apt, as the vegetation is characterised by vast, mostly species-poor coniferous forests and moors.
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest on Earth and spans nine countries in South America. Most of it lies in Brazil, but Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French
Guiana are also part of it. Covering an area of around 5.5 million square kilometres, it is so vast that the whole of Germany could fit inside it 15 times over!
Okavangodelta
The Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s largest and most wildlife-rich wetlands and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014.
It is fed by the Okavango River, the third-longest river in southern Africa. Unlike most rivers, it does not flow into the sea. Instead, it fans out into many tributaries and seeps away into the sandy desert. This has created a unique marshland landscape.
The Okavango Delta changes with the seasons.
During the rainy season, it fills with water and becomes a vast wetland. In the dry season, it shrinks again and many animals have to seek out new waterholes.
This constant interplay makes the delta one of the most fascinating natural wonders in the world.
Australien Desert
Australia’s deserts are among the five largest in the world and are almost completely uninhabited. This is hardly surprising, given the extreme conditions here. Scorching heat, persistent drought and very little rain make life in this barren landscape a real challenge. Only a few animals and plants have adapted to this harsh environment.
Antarctica
Antarctica is the vast polar region surrounding the South Pole. At its centre lies Antarctica, the Earth’s southernmost continent. Almost the whole of Antarctica is covered by a thick layer of ice – making it the world’s largest ice desert. It is characterised by extreme temperatures and rugged terrain.
Antarctica is not only one of the coldest places on Earth, but also one of the stormiest. It is also considered the windiest continent on Earth.
