Lake of Apples

An elderly fisherman rows out across the lake to check on his fishing nets. It’s the same trip he’s made every morning for most of his life. But other things have changed. The famous pelicans and cormorants are not staying here in the same numbers any more. And the fisherman’s nets now only catch algae. The future for the lake and all the lives that depend on it are highly uncertain. Zoran and Frosina, two scientists, set out to investigate the causes of the problem, meticulously sampling and analysing the water. As they put the pieces of the puzzle together, they uncover some of the deepest secrets of the lake and reveal some uncomfortable truths about the human causes of the pollution that has been destroying the lake. With this discovery comes hope, however, as a major effort is now underway to address the problem. 

Filmed over one year, this documentary follows the changing fortunes of beautiful Lake Prespa – one of the oldest freshwater lakes on Earth, providing a habitat for over 2,000 species of plants and animals, many of them unique to this ancient ecosystem. With funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNDP has helped reverse pollution in Lake Prespa after 15 years.