Earth's Greatest Spectacles

In Svalbard, the onset of spring transforms the icy landscape into a thriving tundra. The thaw brings abundant vegetation and draws a diverse array of wildlife, from colourful birds and Arctic foxes to polar bears, walruses and reindeer roaming the newly green expanses.

is a programme presented in the form of a single episode that follows the seasonal shift in the Arctic archipelago of the same name. The show is framed around the moment when the long, frozen winter gives way to the first signs of spring, offering viewers a concise portrait of this remote region. The episode’s central focus is the transformation of the landscape from a stark, icy expanse into a thriving tundra. As the ice recedes, a carpet of plants begins to appear, and the air fills with the calls of birds. At the same time, the wildlife that inhabits the area becomes more visible: arctic foxes start to roam, polar bears move onto the newly exposed ground, walrus haul out along the coasts, and reindeer graze on the fresh growth. Further scenes illustrate how the arrival of spring reshapes the environment, highlighting the rapid greening of the ground and the re‑establishment of food chains that support the diverse animal life. The programme captures the interplay between the emerging vegetation and the species that depend on it, showing the delicate balance that characterises the Arctic summer. By the episode’s end, viewers are left with a clear picture of how spring revitalises Svalbard, turning a frozen world into a rich tundra teeming with plants, birds, arctic foxes, polar bears, walrus and reindeer.