Transcript

NARRATOR: Life on the Cape has been blessed with a unique mix of circumstance, isolation, solid foundations, and a stable, nurturing climate. But there’s a twist in this tale. Come the end of winter, the Cape undergoes a dramatic change. The cool, moist winds subside. The air becomes tinder dry.

Every 15 years or so, the mountains erupt in flames. Summer fires are ignited by sparks from rockfalls, by lightning or controlled burn. It looks fearfully destructive, but fire is actually essential to the health of the Fynbos. Fire clears away old vegetation, releasing important minerals to the soil. For proteas, the intense heat and smoke are also crucial catalysts for the next generation. Within hours of the fire passing, millions of seeds are released to the wind to await the next winter rains.