Now Streaming: Wild Scandinavia

Wild Scandinavia is streaming now on BBC iPlayer, with the third and final episode also airing on BBC Two, Tuesday 2 January at 9pm.

Wild Scandinavia is a new three-part series celebrating the stunning wildlife, dramatic landscapes and unique culture of the furthest northern reaches of Europe. In this final episode, Ice and Fire, explores the dramatic extremes of the Nordic territories – volcanic Iceland, the high tundra and Arctic Svalbard.

Polar bears, arctic fox and musk ox must all survive in a world ruled by the great pendulum of sunlight – from total darkness to midnight sun.

Musk ox are built to withstand the dark polar nights and freezing blizzards, when the only hint of the sun are the dancing streams of the Northern lights. Back-country skiers embrace the Icelandic winter but a few creatures have found a way to sidestep to Sun’s absence, including surprising hot spring spiders.

The sun’s return kick starts the most dramatic transformation, heralding a hectic world under 24hour sunlight. Crazy courting Ruffs dance for mates and Little Auk chicks must complete flight school, while Glaciologists tap into the impacts of climate change, and musk ox struggle in the sweltering summer glare.

For some, winter is about resilience and scraping through until the summer feasts, but for others it’s the summer heat which brings the greatest danger.