One of the last and most exceptional remaining riparian wildernesses. Particularly in its last 60 kilometers, along the border between Austria and Slovakia, the Morava river develops a distinctive personality and international significance, forming vast wetlands containing meadows, forests and a wild network of branches and streams.

This is also a result of 20th century geopolitics: the Iron Curtain followed the course of the Morava, and the resulting military installations and security considerations ensured that the river was protected from excessive construction.

Just a stone’s throw from these wetlands, there are ancient sand dunes on both sides of the border. The animals and plants here thrive in dry, hot and sandy surroundings in which the sky appears to meet the land and the sun and clouds create picturesque landscapes that are reminiscent of the American west.

Directed by Manfred Christ, written by Manfred Christ and Tomáš Hulík. Photography: Tomáš Hulík, Kurt Kracher, Mike Fried. Edited by Hermann Winklhofer. Music by Andy Baum.

A Terra Mater Studios – Cosmos Factory co-production in association with ARTpoint s.r.o. and rtv: Rozhlas a televízia Slovenska (47:18 minutes)