The Kopački Rit floodplain, one of the most intact wetland regions in Europe, lies in the border region between Croatia, Serbia and Hungary. Europe's Amazon begins here, at the confluence of the mighty Drava river system and the Danube. The Kopački Rit eco-system is almost entirely determined by the waters of these two great currents. Every spring, the Danube floods the vast swamp and wetland landscapes for around three months. One of the causes of the floods is the high water levels of the Drava, which backs up at the point where it meets the Danube. These regular flooding events shape the appearance of the wetlands, creating a mosaic of habitats for a wide range of different species. These habitats include lakes and pools, temporary water channels, reed beds, softwood riparian forests and natural floodplain meadows. But Kopački Rit is merely the centrepiece of a far larger floodplain landscape. The Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere is one of the most impressive and largest river conservation areas in Europe and is administered by five countries. The nature documentary makers Szabolcs Mosonyi and Erika Bagladi spent more than three years creating an intimate, captivating portrait of the varied riverine environments, the impact of the regular floods and the dynamics of the local eco-systems.
Large herds of red deer roam the wetlands, perfectly adapted to the constant ebb and flow of the water that shapes their habitat. Calves learn how to cross wide currents and reach dry land at a young age. The wild boars here are adept at digging out juicy freshwater mussels that have immersed themselves in the mud of evaporating puddles

to prevent drying out. In spring, when the first rains drench the meadows with water, scores of moor frogs emerge to occupy the pools and puddles that warm up rapidly in the sun. The males turn a bright blue shade to impress potential mates. Specialist bird species like the hoopoe and the European nightjar rear their young in carefully selected habitats. The hoopoe settles in sun-drenched clearings, while the nightjar prefers the shade of the forest. Cormorants take over entire islands for their colonies and innumerable heron species build their nests in areas wherever the swamps, channels and lakes offer an abundance of fish.
The Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere is one of Europe's wildest, most diverse landscapes, and this film takes viewers on a compelling journey through the beauty and variety of a region defined by the confluence of the rivers that shape it.