The adventure begins
The journey around the world, beginning and ending in Bremerhaven, follows longitude 8° 34’ E. Become a globetrotter in our climate museum by travelling across an area of 5,000 m2: trek through diverse climate zones and encounter people whose daily lives are profoundly affected by the surrounding climate. Feel the differences in temperature and humidity at each travel station and gain insights into the different climates of our planet.
At the giant aquarium in Samoa you can learn about the colourful diversity of the corals, fish and other inhabitants of a South Pacific fringing reef. Interactive exhibits help you understand the complex interrelationships that exist between Earth’s climate events.
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1 | Isenthal Schweiz
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2 | Seneghe Sardinien
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3 | Kanak Niger
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4 | Ikenge Kamerun
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5 | Königin-Maud-Land Antarktis
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6 | Satitoa Samoa
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7 | Gambell Alaska
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8 | Hallig Langeness Deutschland
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9 | Bremerhaven Deutschland
Station 01:
Switzerland
Time seems to stand still on the Bywaldalp above Isenthal in the Swiss canton of Uri. Far away from the hectic pace of the big cities and with fantastic views of green meadows and the snow-covered peak of the 2,928-m Uri Rotstock mountain, the Bywaldalp allows you to rediscover tranquillity.
The atmosphere of the Swiss Alps has been authentically recreated inside the Klimahaus Bremerhaven 8° Ost. Mountains with glaciers tower above you inside the ‘Switzerland’ travel station. Like in all Klimahaus travel stations, the appeal of ‘Switzerland’ lies in its combination of convincing realism and stunning recreation of the environment.
Many of the items in the exhibition, such as the cow bells, are originals that Axel has brought back from his trip. Learn what it’s like to be a farmer in Switzerland in the ‘valley’ and try your hand at milking. Also, get to know the Infanger family, and how their choice of leading a hard-working life is not only due to the alpine climate that leaves them no other alternative. The Swiss pastures contain an agricultural treasure: the herbs and special grasses provide the unmistakably unique taste of Swiss cheese, making the demanding labour of bringing livestock here worth the while.
How climate change
affects life on the Bywaldalp
Have a look at the ‘Switzerland’ travel station and you’ll soon discover that the idyllic mountain environment is a very fragile beauty. Stone and boulder avalanches are occurring more and more regularly. The more Earth warms, the more dangerous life becomes in this region. In the Klimahaus, the glaciers have also retreated considerably due to rising temperatures. You can hear the constant sound of small mudflows – the name given to landslides of rubble and clay – down the mountain slopes. For the time being, the Infanger family is still able to lead its traditional way of life. But will their grandson still be able to lead cattle onto the mountain pastures?
Station 02:
Sardinia
Climate change not only affects the living conditions of humans – insects and other creatures are also affected. As a result, when entering the travel station ‘Sardinia’, you will notice not only a change in climate, but also in proportions. You are shrunk to the size of an insect, so you can explore Sardinia’s microcosm.
From small
to big
In the microcosm of Sardinia, you will get to the bottom of an important question: Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas? In science, this phenomenon is known as the butterfly effect. Essentially, this means that even a minimal change can have catastrophic consequences. You can test the butterfly effect for yourself inside the oversized drink can that stands in the middle of the travel station.
A sign of the times:
Drought and heat
At the ‘Sardinia’ travel station you will also get to know the Morrho family. The settings in the adjacent rooms are modelled on Axel Werner’s experiences during his visit to the family. For example, one day Axel and his hostess Stefania were driving across the island in a Fiat 500 and, after turning around a bend, they had to brake abruptly due to a herd of sheep. This incident is portrayed in the Klimahaus.
The other settings show the other problems the island’s inhabitants have to contend with, such as fierce forest fires that are constantly getting worse due to the dry climate. Sometimes residents themselves start the fires when they, for example, carelessly throw away cigarette butts. Each year, many hectares of forest, containing trees that are hundreds of years old, are destroyed by fires.
The animal world is also changing due to rising temperatures. For example, researchers have been observing certain locust species, which to date were mainly concentrated in the warmer African climate. Immigrant species are now having an impact on the native flora and fauna.
Station 03:
Niger
Considering the scorching heat above the sandy earth, the prominent writing on the wall seems rather odd: ‘Je suis une mer’ – ‘I am an ocean’ in English. Was the sandy desert in Niger once an ocean?
Rapid man-made
change
The speed with which living conditions in African Niger have changed in recent decades is made clear by the stories of an elderly Tuareg woman. She explains, “Many things were different when I was a young girl. I saw things that I no longer see: giraffes, ostriches, different kinds of turtles, antelopes and various deer species. Back then we had lots of water, and a river between the dunes. Sometimes it rained for an entire week, and afterwards lots of plants and trees would grow. Lots of plants! Not like now.”
In the 35 °C heat of the stony desert, you can not only feel what it’s like to be in a desert, but also discover the landscape, replicated on 1:1 scale. The 13 x 13-m surface was carefully mapped and photographed in order to construct a replica in the Klimahaus.
An ancient culture in
the midst of the desert
Water is one of the most important issues for the people of the Sahel. A well highlights the lengths that the Tuareg go to in order to obtain water. They dig about 70 m deep into the desert ground before they come across valuable water. But for how much longer will they be able to find water?
Mariam, a Tuareg girl, whom you will get to know at the ‘Niger’ travel station, can still retrieve water for her family from the well. However, the hidden warning in the scenery should not be ignored.
Station 04:
Cameroon
The green gold of Africa – this is how the rainforest, which stretches over large swathes of Cameroon, has been described. The huge and ancient trees form the oldest primeval jungle in Africa. Some of these trees have survived every ice age. You can roam this jungle at night at the ‘Cameroon’ travel station: listen to the sounds of animals in the darkness, as well as the trickles of water and the drops of rain during thunder and lightning storms. Behind the labyrinth of roots, branches and twigs, the shy inhabitants of the forest await you.
Water everywhere
In addition to the jungle, another aspect of life has a special significance for the local population: water. You can hear the sound of rain on the tin roofs in the village of Ikenge. On a big screen, you can see children dancing freely in the rain to the sound and rhythms of drums.
The roles inside the village are strictly demarcated: the men are responsible for hunting and for the security of the village, while the women take care of the children and the affairs of the village. Each village also has its own ‘chief’. Alexander is the chief in Ikenge. You could call him the mayor and he has the last word on all decisions. At the same time, he is also a kind of doctor and has much knowledge about the natural remedies of the rainforest.
Enormous amounts of water pour through the river landscape, in which hundreds of fish bustle. On the other side dwarf crocodiles are lazing about on the shore. After passing through the nocturnal rainforest, the second challenge awaits you: Do you dare walk across the shaky suspension bridge all the way to the other side? During his stay in Cameroon, Axel Werner had no other choice. The bridge was the only connection to the other side of the river. All other features of the travel station have also been based on the adventures of Axel Werner. For example, you will find a Nile monitor lizard sitting next to the off-road vehicle that Axel and his experienced driving companion used to drive through the jungles of Cameroon.
Endangered diversity
The unique diversity of animals and wildlife in the rainforest remains threatened. The Klimahaus ‘Cameroon’ travel station highlights this with the brutal sound of chainsaws and images of trees falling to the ground.
Station 05:
Antarctica
Away from the African heat, the journey continues to the eternal ice of Antarctica. The travel station impressively portrays what it is like when the only colours of the entire environment are various shades of white. You can hear Axel Werner shaking and shivering in his tent – no wonder, considering the temperature in this part of the exhibition is -6 °C, the average summer temperature at the Neumayer Station of the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI).
Life in
eternal ice
It therefore comes as no surprise that this region of the eighth longitude is basically uninhabited by humans. Queen Maud Land is only a part of Antarctica, but it is about eight times the size of Germany. East Antarctica consists of a massive, single ice crust, and only on the edges do you find a few mountains and valleys not covered in snow and ice. It has a continental climate, with little influence from the ocean, meaning temperatures can be extreme, all the way down to -89 °C – a world record. Around 90 per cent of the world’s ice mass and 61 per cent of freshwater reserves are frozen in ice sheets up to 4,500 m thick.
The replica of the Neumayer Station shows how polar researchers are able to withstand the extreme weather conditions and what it is like to live in a research station. Here you can huddle together as ‘temporary residents’, try on polar suits and have a closer look at various instruments and equipment. You can also become acquainted with the research carried out at the station and see what researchers do in their spare time.
On the trail
of climate change
Antarctica is a particularly exciting place for scientists, because the gigantic land ice sheets of the South Pole are a big factor for climate events around the entire globe. In contrast to the Arctic, where sea ice is surrounded by land, land ice is surrounded by the ocean in the Antarctic. Land ice is significantly more stable, preventing Earth from warming even faster. At the same time, the ice sheets, which can be several kilometres thick, contain traces of Earth’s climate history stretching back hundreds of thousands of years.
Station 06:
Samoa
Turquoise blue sea, white sandy beaches and palm trees swaying gently in the wind. This is how many picture the perfect vacation. This is what you will discover in the small island state of Samoa in the South Pacific. This here is paradise. Temperatures throughout the year range from 28 °C to 35 °C, and lots of colourful, exotic fish glide through the coral reefs off the coast.
Culture and life
in Samoa
The focus of the ‘Samoa’ travel station is life in the South Pacific. Although many will find the island a dream holiday destination, many holidaymakers will also be unaccustomed to the living conditions, traditions and culture there.
During his stay in Samoa, Axel Werner was able to strike up a friendship with locals Vaniah and Foua, who travelled to Bremerhaven shortly before the opening of the Klimahaus to build a traditional fale. Very few trades people in Europe are familiar with the special techniques that they employed. The view from the fale to the lagoon is one of the most unusual and impressive perspectives that the Klimahaus has to offer.
Anyone who has savoured the view of this South Pacific paradise will understand why it is so worthy of protection.
The threat
to paradise
This jewel at the other side of the world is in danger. Climate change has already left alarming traces in the South Pacific. There are already many reasons to believe that this paradise will be lost forever if concrete measures for climate protection are not taken soon. Although the Klimahaus is not primarily about drama, you will find alarming signals of threats due to climate change in the ‘Samoa’ travel station: the electrical tower with its fallen power cables is a symbol for the increasing number of tropical cyclones that have hit the island state since the 1980s, causing enormous amounts of damage. The proximity of water to the base of the church illustrates the threat of flooding that the island is exposed to. Climate change has even taken its toll below the water’s surface: even an increase in the ocean water’s temperature by a few tenths of a degree places the sensitive ecosystems of the coral reefs in danger. If these die, Samoa will not only lose the unique biodiversity of the reefs, but also its natural defence against storm tides.
Station 07:
Alaska
On St Lawrence Island, small island just off the American mainland that belongs to Alaska, the snow-covered tundra landscape, home of the Yupik people, stretches to the horizon. The indigenous people live a traditional lifestyle , but if you have a closer look, it quickly becomes apparent that this secluded location has changed, for example, when the island’s inhabitants rush by on quad bikes while they are hunting.
Life in
the tundra
Die Kultur der Ureinwohner begleitet die Besucher des Klimahauses durch die gesamte Reisestation »Alaska«. Du triffst auf die beiden Yupik-Kinder Steven und Taylor, die aus ihrem Alltag berichten. Das Leben der Yupik spielt sich im Zwiespalt zwischen Tradition und Moderne ab.
The second part of the Klimahaus ‘Alaska’ travel station offers visitors glimpses of a world in which there are few travellers, althoughthe tundra’s vast expanses has its special charm. The wildlife, perfectly adapted to living in this habitat, can hardly be seen with the naked eye. The animals are difficult to detect, even in the Klimahaus, and you have to look very closely at the wall painting in order to see a walrus, hare or bear. If you come as close to a real polar bear as the drawing, you have absolutely no chance of escaping. The Yupik have made a virtue of necessity: in order to discover the bears as early as possible, they hurl a hunter high up into the air using a blanket made from walrus skin. Today, this tradition is more of a fun and sport for young and old – like jumping on a trampoline.
When the
ice melts
While the inhabitants of Samoa feel the effects of climate change primarily by rising water levels, the Yupik are facing other problems, equally dangerous. Around the Bering Strait, where St Lawrence Island is located, the period in which the sea is covered with sea ice has shortened by about 30 days since 1980. In spring, the sea ice disappears from the coast more rapidly, and in autumn it takes longer to form. For the Yupik, this means that their hunting season becomes shorter and more dangerous due to higher waves on the sea-ice-free Arctic Ocean.
Station 08:
Holm Langeness
Prone to tidal flooding, the Halligen islands are surrounded by the turbulent North Sea, the screams of seagulls and the smell of the sea. The flooding tides, the rising sea levels – the pier is already flooded. Only in the middle of this Hallig island do your feet remain dry. After a while though, the water flows back out again. The tides have moved like this for thousands of years.
Waiting for the
Storm surge
The inhabitants of the Hallig Langeness live on man-made hills, called terps, which provide protection against flooding. Initially, the terps were used solely as escape hills, but later entire farms were built upon them. During storm surges, the terps are the only things on the Halligen islands that remain above water. It’s an impressive natural spectacle that continues to attract tourists to the Hallig, some of whom stay at the Neuwarft guesthouse operated by Fiede Nissen, a former postman who delivered the mail by boat.
The Hallig Langeness, a travel station at the Klimahaus, is located off the North Sea coast of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. During low tide, the Hallig can be reached by a traditional open-air cart train. Ferries supply residents with all the food they need. Compared to other parts of Germany, the weather on the Hallig is cooler due to the Atlantic climate.
However, the sea level rises every year. Terps (man-made mounds) provide protection from high water. In one of the themed rooms, you can build your own terp together with other visitors and test it to see if the houses can endure the flooding.
However, in winter, the climate is usually warmer. As a result of climate change, sea levels in the North Sea are rising continuously. In the 20th century alone, sea levels rose by 20–30 cm, due to Greenland’s ice melting and the thermal expansion of water. The frequency of storms and storm surges is also increasing. The small Halligen islands, of which Langeness is one, are particularly affected.
Station 09:
Bremerhaven
Heat, drought, cold, flooding – all these phenomena, which you have now experienced on your trip around the world, are present along our latitude. Hear from some of the residents of Bremerhaven, who also have something to say about weather extremes despite living in a temperate climate zone. View regional photos that document these phenomena.
The basic concept behind the ‘Bremerhaven’ travel station was to allow locals to paint their own pictures of the climate. It developed into one of the biggest art projects in the entire city. The result: over 1,600 children and young people from a total of 25 schools have created remarkable images that express their thoughts on the climate of our world.
Have a look at the picture wall, which displays more than 1,600 artworks from school pupils in Bremerhaven. Your journey now ends where it began – in Axel’s living room. Here you can cast your eye back upon your journey along the eighth longitude and revisit all the memories that Axel brought back from his trip.
The art project in Bremerhaven has produced pictures that demonstrate, in a fascinating and impressive way, young people dealing with the issues of climate and climate change. Through these images, the Bremerhaven art project symbolises the aims of the Klimahaus: to spread the idea of climate protection and to motivate people to engage in a future worth living in.