Auf dem Wasser durch die USA

2026

Documentary

Along the U.S. East Coast, through the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi to Florida, the 10,000-kilometre Great Loop reveals vibrant cultures, historic engineering and remarkable wildlife, from blues musicians to turtles, alligators and dolphins. This extraordinary network of waterways also highlights the urgent need to protect fragile aquatic ecosystems.

Open in PickFlick

Production

Cocoa Film GmbH, ZDF/Arte

Language

Status

Ended

First Aired

August 31, 2026

Last Aired

September 1, 2026

Networks

ARTE, ARTE

Created By

Sven Heiligenstein, Christian Schidlowski

Where to Watch

Region US · Lang EN

No providers available for this region.

Available in Your Library

Seasons & Episodes

Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.

Season

Along the East Coast

Air date: 2026-08-31

This Great Loop journey begins in North Carolina and follows the Atlantic coast through Chesapeake Bay, the Delaware River and New York. Along the way, it reveals oyster farming, maritime traditions and horseshoe crab migrations, before continuing via the Hudson River and Erie Canal toward the Great Lakes.

Through the Great Lakes

Air date: 2026-08-31

This leg of the Great Loop crosses the Great Lakes between the United States and Canada. From Thousand Islands National Park, the journey continues to Toronto and Niagara Falls, then through Detroit, Lakes Huron and Michigan, and Mackinac Island. Shipwrecks, dunes and wildlife punctuate the route, which ends in Chicago with a coastal restoration project.

Along the Mississippi

Air date: 2026-09-01

This Great Loop leg runs from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico, following the Mississippi through St. Louis and Memphis, where spirituals, blues and rock ’n’ roll shape the journey. Further south, New Orleans reveals its cultural diversity and distinctive way of life, before the route ends in the Delta among crab fishermen.

Around Florida

Air date: 2026-09-01

This Great Loop leg circles Florida and continues north to South Carolina. From the pristine Forgotten Coast and Sanibel Island, the journey passes through the Ten Thousand Islands to Key West, then Miami and Cape Canaveral. Following the Intracoastal Waterway, it reaches Savannah and the alligators of South Carolina.