Thanks to its beautiful beaches, the Casamance area is one of Africa's most popular tourist destinations. But as one journeys up the Casamance River and into the region's interior, a very different image is revealed. In this area of Sénégal, split up into many islands lives the Jola, a proud and autonomous ethnic group committed to preserving their independence and culture.

A fountain of life and a historic communications channel, the St. Lawrence is the heart and soul of Quebec. Its sole existence is dependent on this river-ocean. This is a journey to meet those who love and cannot live without the permanent spectacle offered by its sheer beauty. Nothing would drag them away from the banks of this stream of life.

Known for their breathtaking beauty and sparse population, the Outer Hebrides islands in northwest Scotland offer craggy mountains, magnificent lochs and outstanding beaches of fine, white sand. A playground for hikers, mountain bikers and lovers of the sea, the population density in the Hebrides is one of the lowest in Europe. Seen by few but dreamt of by many, they are a visual masterpiece.

Biologists have arrived to ensure that the extraordinary natural heritage of the Tremiti Islands, known here as the "pearls of the Adriatic", remain unaffected by every-increasing tourism. Further south within the Torre Guaceto natural reserve, a system of sustainable fishing is bringing fresh life to the fishing banks while in Salento, passionate enthusiasts are restoring old sailing ships and putting the soul back into their village. From the far...

In the south of Brittany, between Lorient and Vannes, in the shade of the neighboring Gulf of Morbihan, the Ria Étel runs some fifteen miles from the coast of the Morbihan countryside. Studded with islets, creeks, forests and cultivated fields yet so close to the open sea, the Ria Étel provides a multitude of faces and places.