This region as one of the most sparsely populated in the country and from here its just 15 kilometers to the river elbe. Biking is becoming more and more popular especially for touring and thats no wonder really or can you think of a more spontaneous way of getting around you can take turns and detours wherever you like you can stop wherever you fancy so naturally im really excited about todays trip along the elbe river about the scenery and about how many kilometers im actually going to get to ride before my legs get up and. Also on the show and i was told to trip on the river album on an old apple steamer. And staying by the water our weekly v mail comes from since our car a holiday whos been skateboarding by the pacific. Globe trotters steve painted has been in terror on and brought back some striking footage. The elk river is 1200 kilometers long so of course i wont cover all of it but im planning to bike about 80 kilometers today they have a calming the on earth towards the northeast but before we start to follow it for a bit ive got a little overview for you guys so you can get an idea of the twists and turns the river has taken up to here. When the elbow crosses the check order it already has almost 400 kilometers behind it. In germany the river 1st winds through the region known as sex in switzerland among sandstone outcrops and tabletop hills past the regions mainland monk. The 19th century bust i preach. The next highlights from the album is dressed in the skyline of sex and its capital attracted artists and travelers from the early 1900 centuries. It offers but never since with from cash at the church on lady. The royal palace. And the 7 pounds. Just 30 kilometers down river is the town of meissen with its distinctive cathedral and casa. This is where ill go says the strong founded the 1st european porcelain factory in 1710. The river has. Also inspired Landscape Architects as can be seen in the death knell for that stocking realm along the middle. Created in the late 18th century by the cuke of unhealed thats how this landscape park has been a unesco World Heritage site since 2000. This equestrian statue of all to the great is in mark the book the citys 1200 years old the oldest of the old but. Its striking landmark is its cathedral an early example of gothic architecture in germany the cathedral contains the tomb of off to the 1st emperor of the holy roman empire. From here its a 100 kilometers down river to the next destination. My 1st stop is a flu shot at a socalled stork village in northwestern brandenburg every year more than 30 breeding pairs hatch and raise their young here this year it was over 102. 00. I want to know why so many come here thats why im meeting up with you again have found he grew up by the elbow and works as a ranger. Work on the wiring in the locals love the stork so much they invest a lot of effort into making the storks feel at home each year dumping it in starting with the salad or maybe its not just the locals who love storks storks bring good luck. Baby you people have when babies theres a reason for that. Storks in proximity to humans because they need civilization and they find their food on cultivated land be deaf and have a child so because of that in the work people do on farms theres a close bond with storks. Or not to him because they build their nests on roofs theyre said to bring babies least it is here and roost that for 35 years ago we had more returning storks than we had nests and they competed fiercely for those that were there or and then 3 or 4 young men got together and said ok well do something about it. Because its an obvious off well set up a new nests tomorrow. From one day to the next and im talking from one day to the next the decision took place in the pub and with that loose group of 4 men became the stork club thats was on the people from russia dead who promoted the store population here in the village with nests if they also made sure there was enough food for the birds as their numbers increased. When we were pioneers in many ways why theyre. Here to explain to me that the storks return to their nests every year and that they have a pretty progressive division of labor. How long do they need to get their nests and shape ok a country goes quite a vessel that if its well prepared when they return the male finishes the nest and waits for the female and if all goes well shell come a few days later and they made during the 1st week yes then she starts laying eggs. It all takes 14 days and then they both sit on the eggs but i dont have them yet you can storks invented gender equality they both incubate them. They take turns in a specific rhythm and they both feed the young in a specific rhythm to. The reserve has more to offer than storks for decades the elbow formed part of the border between east and west germany the surrounding countryside remain largely untouched. The Biosphere Reserve along the elbow is the largest protected river floodplain in germany. It stretches from the state of section the undervote through brandenburg and lower saxony. In lower saxony honest retailer is in charge of running the reserve. Hes followed developments here since 2005. When youre not sure number of the 12 on this is when we consider the floodplain here its fantastic to see unexpected increases in certain species and beavers have returned river all to stocks have recovered and there are a focal speaks again. The white tailed eagles nest here and so to about 40 breeding pairs of cranes weve managed at least to keep whites numbers stable. Those phenomena really please us few minutes. Beavers were virtually eradicated here in the 1900 century now theyve returned to the elder. The riverside also provides rich pickings for white fridays. The Biosphere Reserve is a habitat for a total of 300. 00 different bird species. Floodplain is a model region promoting the coexistence of nature protection tourism and farming widely differing interests to reconcile. Farmers like tim russian bear and whose fields lie within the Biosphere Reserve have to make compromises. He has to accept that so many birds visit his farm that he can no longer use his grass for fodder. To compensate for the conservation measures he receives financial support. You know his preacher is delighted that tourists have discovered the region. They may be birdwatchers or just passing through on the cycle route. All those visitors are part of the Success Story of the old the valley Biosphere Reserve. As a teenager i spent lots of time here and dreamed it would be a nature reserve and being in charge of it now has fulfilled my dream. My next stop 25 kilometers further on is a bag along the elbow youll find not only pristine nature but also industrial monuments. The sewing machine factory in the back it was built in 1903 by the american Singer Company 3000 people used to work here. And we found how does fit in baggies industrial past contribute to its present charm. And if we take the sewing machine factory for instance to where we have industrial architecture that ranges from the early to the mid 20th century. And most of the people who come here to know the name singer and say we really must take a look at this. And when they come most of them are impressed by the size of the complex and the different styles of architecture here. That interest people and its well worth seeing. The towns main landmark is here on the complex the clock tower from 1928 is still the biggest of its kind in germany. The Industrial History of it and back it began in the 19th century with this coil mill. Cuts and what led to this early prosperity. An 823 a man called solomon have scame here he established a grain trading business and used the profits to build an oil mill. And he built it here in witan because he found the location favorable. Then in 846 the railway was built and he used his influence to make sure it passed through. So modern transportation trains together with the waterways made the town so attractive that other companies also settled here. And visited. The former oil mill at least has found a new use as a hotel and cafe with a beautiful sun terrace the Perfect Place for a short break. And every time you guys get the chance to check in with our globe trotters steve payments he and a friend went on a sightseeing tour of tehran and came back with some amazing insights into life in the ring in capitals to freeze out. Who. The round me and my buddy have it we just heard then its him to run and well be discovering iran in the next few weeks to get to where we know this is the moment its one of the most iconic buildings here and here im still lets dive in and explore tehran together. Iran is the capital of the country with a population of about 15000000 the last straw iran commissioned the azadi own Freedom Tower to mark the persian empire few 1500 ton a person. Love the symmetry of. This way to get around this taking to make sure you have a pretty good system it is just about 0. 10 and euro cents. And the must bring in to around is eat all its time and thats which literally means the palace a flower us because of the beautiful gardens you have inside. For some it might be surprising how much iran and especially tehran is a good example of that is the sheer amount of coffee shops you can find really to places a. Good spot to go template is a set piece here street where you can find all these and can face and took place at. The time to keep typical brain and went in very many places and weve got a mention of it youve just come up and he. Just kind of it soon. Mr brown is located on the 6th row its trading business always played a major role still today its been around this is why you should visit here because i am Sarah Ferguson through maze of more than 7 kilometers current. When it was it. Brown says i also needs to buy something so we get some nuts for. Their. Friends from cheer on took us up here to the roof where you can enjoy the beautiful view of the city and this is what were going to do. Thats another cool thing you can do in tehran is raise down the top shot on this ranking. So if you want to read my letter here and if you feel there are 2 options if you dont like living there your friends here i think they still are around to run you over and they like you today and theyre like we are a little bit sore legs a particular friend look and feel awful for a little girl and i said so you can finally call her was it really recommendable. Here i am back again im the eldest cycle route this time with company but some effect is going to explain to me why this part of the album has a Bad Reputation and white changes were made after disastrous floods. That autonomy the place where were standing is said to be treacherous why is that you know is it a bruise although its treacherous because right in front of us the elbow makes a 90 degree bend. And when theres a flood that can be disastrous for the levee were standing on the size and that is when a large amount of water surges straight at the levee it can break. The fortunately a new one has been built behind us that holds the water back despite that but thats all for now ok ok so this is the original dike and the one over there is the new one. Is on this and its also slightly higher than the old one just to make sure. Takes me to an old east german border watch tower and offers a great view of the meadow land created by moving the dyke back. Then and then were on the lensman floodplain whats so special here as the year in the winds in the god behind us we see part of 110. 00 headed tears of horst theyve been planted to restore the typical natural landscape here its done like the large metal lands right behind. Me and it was the young one here dick was invited into whats special is that the intake of water from the elbow that flows through the old elbow levy constantly provides nutrients to the plants restoring the dynamic course of the river. If you have stood with we hope that at some point it will once again look the way it used to. Back my bike though when they have turned against me literally im fighting heavy headwinds im 60 kilometers into my trip and desperate for a break along the elbow youll find a number of old farmhouses like beasts many of them are now in restaurants or hotels im going to spend the night in this one. And while i get my legs well deserved rest you guys got to check our mailbox its time for our weekly the mail our viewer says star from columbia send us a video of his trip to california he traveled down the Pacific Coast of the golden state on his skateboard enjoy. This would be the most uncertain came out of play a little face to face with. This insurgency. Would. Lead one to. One. Last piece of. Data. Last. Night slept like a log and im already raring to go but 1st i need to eat im really worked up an appetite cycling certainly gets you back to basics. And now im off again cycling can also be addictive no noise no cars besides i only have 20 kilometers left to cover on my 2nd day. But its like this are also part of the elvis cycle route there are no bridges for long stretches of the river here so you have to cross it by ferry. Land the whole way. If youre getting curious about the elgar and the nature and tranquility that surrounds it but arent that much of a bicycle buff ive got just the tip for you you can also discover the river without moving a finger on a story paddle steamer. Time to swab the decks and get everything shipshape the old kaiser bill home is off on a river cruise. Good morning leave your money in your pockets well do all that later on during the trip. For going to church 1st worked on the paddle steamer kaiser bill home at the age of 15 as a cabin boy. Thank. Stoker is in charge of lowering the funnel. Theres a bridge to negotiate on the 20 kilometer route from la to. Paddle steamer travels at about 10 kilometers an hour. Kept in huge tankers for years when he got his boat master significant back in 1905 the Kaiser Wilhelm was already an old sea dog month. All of your senses and your hand is on the wheel and the vibrations from the riverbed are transmitted via the whale. That may sound silly but you really do notice whether theres enough water under the boat and with the new technology all you have is a joystick and you dont notice anything. The steamer was launched in dresden on may 20th 1900 bone for the v. A. s are in northwestern germany. On that trip there were also tourists onboard enjoying the scenery. Stoking the boiler was a backbreaking job back then and it still is. Very. Shovel a 150. 00 kilos and now it used to be called 300. 00 weight. Whether were travelling or standing still we have to fire the. The Kaiser Wilhelm has been plying the waters for more than a century 1st on the river these are and now on the elbow. And in the ships a volunteer crew has anything to say about it it will continue to do so for many years to come. By may day after 80 kilometers in 2 days ive reached my destination my last stop on the album cycle route is lends a. Good lens and is one of the oldest towns in North Western brandenburg and has a castle tower with the wonderful view of the beautiful surroundings. Following the course of the iowa river for it was a lot of fun but also extremely exhausting at times this trip and especially the wind pushed me to my limit which is why im so proud to have filing waited. The for. Combating the corona pandemic. Where does research stand. What are scientists learning. Background information and news of. Our corona update. Covert 19 special next on d w. Did Neil Armstrong marley walk on the moon. Isnt the earth really flat hafter all. Those the government just plain stupid reason are some. Conspiracy theorists spread like wildfire on the internet or in the conspiracy theories can provide comfort you dont like reality create another. Democracy of the gullible. 15 minutes long t. W. We know that this is a scary time for. The coronavirus is changing the world changing our lives so please take care of yourself good systems wash your hands if you can stay at how we do w. Here for you we are working tirelessly to keep you informed on all of our platforms were all in this to get on together and well make it free. To save everybody. Stay safe stay safe release him stay safe. You are from the book you are now going on. A lengthy commitment to. Exposing and justice global news that matters to me from the times. When. It. Was. Was. Was. Was. Out if. All we can be the generation that ends it good malaria must die so millions can live. Theres a state of the u. News and these are our top stories a court and turkey has sentenced to former leaders of Rights Group Amnesty International to prison on terror charges the sentences and what critics say was a politically motivated trial targeting turkish and International Activists german whoso rest sparked a diplomatic storm with germany was among those acquit. The british Prime MinisterBoris Johnson has set out a list of 59 countries from which travelers