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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:01,935 --> 00:00:05,939 [Narrator] These are the engineering wonders of Poland, 2 00:00:06,073 --> 00:00:10,811 their secrets revealed in a way never seen before. 3 00:00:10,944 --> 00:00:13,814 This forward-thinking European nation 4 00:00:13,947 --> 00:00:18,218 is fueled by rapid economic growth 5 00:00:19,453 --> 00:00:22,823 and a drive to connect the nation like never before. 6 00:00:22,956 --> 00:00:26,560 Engineers are reshaping its cities and landscapes 7 00:00:26,693 --> 00:00:29,096 with pioneering infrastructure projects 8 00:00:29,229 --> 00:00:34,067 and cutting-edge machines built for the modern world. 9 00:00:34,201 --> 00:00:38,505 In this series, we reveal the secrets of the engineering 10 00:00:38,639 --> 00:00:41,174 that built Europe's great nations, 11 00:00:41,308 --> 00:00:48,315 the wonders that shape its cities, landscapes and history. 12 00:00:48,448 --> 00:00:51,785 We reveal the astonishing innovations 13 00:00:52,519 --> 00:00:53,987 and surprising connections 14 00:00:54,121 --> 00:00:58,358 that helped to forge this mighty continent. 15 00:00:58,492 --> 00:01:02,095 ♪ ♪ 16 00:01:02,229 --> 00:01:07,834 ♪ ♪ 17 00:01:07,968 --> 00:01:13,273 Poland sits in Central Europe, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. 18 00:01:14,341 --> 00:01:15,909 It has flat, forested plains to the north 19 00:01:16,043 --> 00:01:19,780 and mineral-rich mountains to the south. 20 00:01:21,748 --> 00:01:23,283 For much of modern history, 21 00:01:23,417 --> 00:01:25,819 Poland was controlled by invaders, 22 00:01:25,953 --> 00:01:30,023 including Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. 23 00:01:31,325 --> 00:01:35,228 Today, engineering innovation is forging a new chapter 24 00:01:35,362 --> 00:01:37,097 for the country. 25 00:01:40,033 --> 00:01:41,969 It has one of the fastest-growing economies 26 00:01:42,102 --> 00:01:46,006 in Europe, a burgeoning infrastructure, 27 00:01:46,139 --> 00:01:49,476 and a passion to preserve its engineering legacy 28 00:01:49,610 --> 00:01:52,012 for future generations. 29 00:01:54,081 --> 00:01:57,417 Across Poland, the country's booming economy 30 00:01:57,551 --> 00:01:58,719 has triggered a new wave 31 00:01:58,852 --> 00:02:02,322 of groundbreaking infrastructure projects. 32 00:02:02,456 --> 00:02:06,927 ♪ ♪ 33 00:02:07,060 --> 00:02:10,831 In the Middle Ages, Gdansk was part of a powerful league 34 00:02:10,964 --> 00:02:14,835 of merchant towns that tightly controlled the shipping 35 00:02:14,968 --> 00:02:18,205 of timber and grain across the Baltic. 36 00:02:20,540 --> 00:02:24,311 The city's medieval port crane is the largest of its kind 37 00:02:24,444 --> 00:02:27,247 surviving in Europe. 38 00:02:27,381 --> 00:02:28,915 And in the 19th century, 39 00:02:29,049 --> 00:02:32,953 a Polish engineer was the co-inventor of arc welding, 40 00:02:33,086 --> 00:02:37,991 which uses electricity to melt and join metal. 41 00:02:38,125 --> 00:02:41,728 Today in Gdansk, a modern engineering marvel 42 00:02:41,862 --> 00:02:45,732 aims to supercharge shipping in Poland. 43 00:02:46,099 --> 00:02:49,836 ♪ ♪ 44 00:02:49,970 --> 00:02:53,273 This is the Baltic Hub container terminal 45 00:02:53,940 --> 00:02:55,909 in the port of Gdansk. 46 00:02:56,043 --> 00:02:59,946 It's the largest container port on the Baltic Sea. 47 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,017 It covers an area the size of 120 football fields 48 00:03:04,151 --> 00:03:09,189 and handles around 2.2 million containers a year. 49 00:03:10,157 --> 00:03:13,527 And it's about to get even bigger. 50 00:03:13,660 --> 00:03:15,829 Right next to the existing docks, 51 00:03:15,962 --> 00:03:18,632 a team of daring Polish engineers is raising 52 00:03:18,765 --> 00:03:25,338 a brand new 470 million-euro terminal from the seafloor. 53 00:03:25,472 --> 00:03:30,710 ♪ ♪ 54 00:03:31,678 --> 00:03:32,946 The team uses specialized dredgers 55 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,416 to remove around 7 million cubic meters of sand 56 00:03:36,550 --> 00:03:40,487 and soft sediment to form a deep water harbor. 57 00:03:40,620 --> 00:03:45,425 Then they form a box from hundreds of steel piles, 58 00:03:45,559 --> 00:03:49,196 which they anchor to the seabed. 59 00:03:49,329 --> 00:03:51,732 Finally, they fill the box with sand 60 00:03:51,865 --> 00:03:55,035 and cover it with concrete. 61 00:03:55,168 --> 00:03:59,506 This creates a 36-hectare artificial island 62 00:03:59,639 --> 00:04:03,477 with a 717-meter-long quay 63 00:04:03,610 --> 00:04:08,482 and a water depth of 17.5 meters. 64 00:04:08,615 --> 00:04:12,252 When complete, this new terminal will be able to handle 65 00:04:12,385 --> 00:04:16,289 the largest cargo vessels in the world. 66 00:04:18,325 --> 00:04:19,793 [horn blows] 67 00:04:19,926 --> 00:04:23,330 One of the project's biggest engineering milestones 68 00:04:23,463 --> 00:04:26,500 is to install the giant cranes. 69 00:04:26,633 --> 00:04:31,204 These will load and offload the container ships. 70 00:04:31,338 --> 00:04:37,010 Four of the 96-meter-tall cranes are already in place. 71 00:04:38,278 --> 00:04:41,181 Now, the last three have been slowly making their way 72 00:04:41,314 --> 00:04:46,086 from a manufacturing yard in China to the new dock. 73 00:04:47,387 --> 00:04:49,823 The journey takes an incredible two months 74 00:04:49,956 --> 00:04:53,426 across multiple oceans, so the enormous load 75 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,664 must be firmly fastened with steel wires and chains. 76 00:04:57,798 --> 00:05:00,800 ♪ ♪ 77 00:05:00,934 --> 00:05:02,502 [Dominik Wróblewski] The ship just arrived. 78 00:05:02,636 --> 00:05:03,837 We are, since this morning, 79 00:05:03,970 --> 00:05:09,109 start to preparing the offloading procedure. 80 00:05:10,410 --> 00:05:12,078 [Narrator] Dominik Wróblewski is one of the lead engineers 81 00:05:12,212 --> 00:05:15,482 coordinating the terminal expansion. 82 00:05:15,615 --> 00:05:18,652 [Dominik] So in the principle, the offloading of the cranes 83 00:05:18,785 --> 00:05:22,656 from the vessel, it looks very simple. 84 00:05:22,789 --> 00:05:25,192 But very simple doesn't mean it's easy, 85 00:05:26,326 --> 00:05:28,828 because we are dealing with very heavy equipment. 86 00:05:28,962 --> 00:05:33,500 The weight of the crane is 2,000 ton. 87 00:05:33,667 --> 00:05:35,468 [Narrator] The crew first installs 88 00:05:36,436 --> 00:05:40,540 specially designed ramps with tracks. 89 00:05:40,674 --> 00:05:44,244 They then use steel ropes and winches to slowly pull 90 00:05:44,377 --> 00:05:48,215 each crane off the ship, one at a time. 91 00:05:50,650 --> 00:05:54,955 [Dominik] The critical is when the crane is half on the vessel 92 00:05:55,088 --> 00:05:57,123 and half on the quay. 93 00:05:59,192 --> 00:06:03,630 [Narrator] As the crane's weight gradually shifts off the ship, 94 00:06:03,763 --> 00:06:06,733 the crew must pump ballast water into tanks 95 00:06:06,866 --> 00:06:10,704 inside the hull to keep the vessel stable. 96 00:06:10,837 --> 00:06:13,506 Waves are now a critical concern. 97 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:17,777 [Dominik] If we have a swell, the vessel starts moving, 98 00:06:17,911 --> 00:06:20,814 then the crane, if it's between the vessel and the quay, 99 00:06:20,947 --> 00:06:22,983 can start moving, and can eventually, 100 00:06:23,116 --> 00:06:24,884 in the worst case, collapse. 101 00:06:25,886 --> 00:06:26,620 So that's why the operation needs to be 102 00:06:26,753 --> 00:06:29,256 on a very stable sea state. 103 00:06:29,389 --> 00:06:31,458 [Narrator] Finally, the rear of the crane 104 00:06:31,591 --> 00:06:33,560 is safely off the ship. 105 00:06:33,693 --> 00:06:36,363 [Dominik] So far, we are going quite well. 106 00:06:36,496 --> 00:06:38,298 The crane is fully at the quay, 107 00:06:38,431 --> 00:06:41,835 preparing to be pulled out into the permanent rail. 108 00:06:41,968 --> 00:06:43,470 [Narrator] Once it's operational, 109 00:06:43,603 --> 00:06:46,673 the crane will be able to move up and down the quay 110 00:06:46,806 --> 00:06:50,110 on rails like a train. 111 00:06:51,111 --> 00:06:51,945 Lifting the crane into its new home 112 00:06:52,078 --> 00:06:54,948 is no simple matter, though. 113 00:06:55,081 --> 00:06:59,152 The team must first remove the supports used for unloading 114 00:06:59,286 --> 00:07:04,024 and carefully lower the crane onto its own wheels. 115 00:07:04,157 --> 00:07:08,461 Then they use two trucks to slowly pull the steel giant 116 00:07:08,995 --> 00:07:10,230 along the quay. 117 00:07:10,363 --> 00:07:13,867 Both trucks need to maintain exactly the same speed 118 00:07:13,967 --> 00:07:16,670 to keep the crane perfectly stable, 119 00:07:16,803 --> 00:07:20,106 until it finally touches down on its rail. 120 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,142 [clang] 121 00:07:22,275 --> 00:07:26,079 Over the next few days, the team offload and install 122 00:07:26,212 --> 00:07:29,182 the remaining two mega cranes. 123 00:07:30,684 --> 00:07:35,188 Gdansk's new terminal is ready to start operating. 124 00:07:35,322 --> 00:07:38,792 ♪ ♪ 125 00:07:38,925 --> 00:07:41,628 In Katowice, the Spodek Stadium, 126 00:07:41,761 --> 00:07:47,267 constructed in the 1970s, is an icon of post-war architecture. 127 00:07:48,802 --> 00:07:53,506 In the 1950s, in Warsaw, the Palace of Culture and Science 128 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:58,044 was built to honor the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. 129 00:07:58,178 --> 00:08:02,882 For 67 years, it remained the tallest structure in Poland, 130 00:08:03,984 --> 00:08:06,319 and a reminder of the country's communist past. 131 00:08:08,988 --> 00:08:12,392 Now in Warsaw, a record-breaking new building 132 00:08:12,525 --> 00:08:15,662 dwarfs Stalin's old palace. 133 00:08:15,795 --> 00:08:19,799 ♪ ♪ 134 00:08:19,933 --> 00:08:24,804 This is Varso Tower, Poland's tallest building 135 00:08:24,938 --> 00:08:29,843 and the tallest skyscraper in the European Union. 136 00:08:29,976 --> 00:08:35,849 This 53-story colossus rises 310 meters into the sky, 137 00:08:35,982 --> 00:08:39,552 a striking symbol of both Warsaw and Poland's 138 00:08:39,686 --> 00:08:43,189 modern economic growth. 139 00:08:43,323 --> 00:08:45,225 But building something this big 140 00:08:45,358 --> 00:08:47,694 in the dense heart of the capital 141 00:08:47,827 --> 00:08:51,865 was a serious engineering challenge. 142 00:08:51,998 --> 00:08:54,467 [Maciej Olczyk] We are located in the city center, 143 00:08:54,601 --> 00:08:57,337 so it's obviously very busy place. 144 00:08:57,470 --> 00:09:00,673 And for that purpose, we had to plan very thoroughly 145 00:09:00,807 --> 00:09:03,309 the logistics of this project. 146 00:09:05,512 --> 00:09:09,482 [Narrator] The groundwork for the project begins in 2016 147 00:09:09,616 --> 00:09:13,119 with a vast foundation pit. 148 00:09:13,253 --> 00:09:16,322 The tower's central location means it's surrounded 149 00:09:16,456 --> 00:09:18,491 by buildings and busy roads. 150 00:09:18,625 --> 00:09:24,464 With such a tight footprint, space on site is at a premium. 151 00:09:25,398 --> 00:09:27,233 And the team needs to work fast. 152 00:09:30,103 --> 00:09:33,206 Prefabrication is the key to speed. 153 00:09:33,339 --> 00:09:36,109 The team builds the backbone of the tower 154 00:09:37,076 --> 00:09:39,479 using concrete pouring technology. 155 00:09:39,612 --> 00:09:43,516 Then they attach prefabricated glass and steel panels 156 00:09:43,650 --> 00:09:46,219 to build a gleaming facade. 157 00:09:47,554 --> 00:09:51,991 They push Varso Tower up to 230 meters in just three years, 158 00:09:52,125 --> 00:09:56,029 making it the second tallest building in Poland. 159 00:09:56,162 --> 00:10:00,066 The new skyscraper is now just seven meters shy 160 00:10:01,301 --> 00:10:03,670 of its neighbor, the Palace of Culture and Science. 161 00:10:03,803 --> 00:10:06,873 But the team isn't finished yet. 162 00:10:09,542 --> 00:10:10,944 [Narrator] In this workshop in Silesia province, 163 00:10:11,077 --> 00:10:14,647 over 300 kilometers away from Warsaw, 164 00:10:14,781 --> 00:10:18,985 engineers construct an 80-meter-long spire 165 00:10:19,118 --> 00:10:21,921 to sit on top of Varso Tower 166 00:10:23,056 --> 00:10:25,091 and elevate it to a record-breaking height. 167 00:10:25,225 --> 00:10:29,996 They make it in segments, each weighing roughly four tons. 168 00:10:31,998 --> 00:10:35,535 A fleet of articulated lorries transports each piece 169 00:10:35,668 --> 00:10:41,007 through the city at night, when the roads are quiet. 170 00:10:41,140 --> 00:10:45,411 At daybreak, the crew uses a specially designed crane 171 00:10:45,545 --> 00:10:48,047 anchored to the roof. 172 00:10:48,181 --> 00:10:50,250 It carefully lifts each piece 173 00:10:50,383 --> 00:10:54,354 up to the very top of the building 174 00:10:54,487 --> 00:10:57,657 where daredevil engineers are ready and waiting 175 00:10:57,790 --> 00:11:01,027 to guide each section into place by hand. 176 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,296 [Maciej] The most challenging moment in installation 177 00:11:04,631 --> 00:11:08,134 of the spire was the last pieces on the very top of the spike, 178 00:11:08,268 --> 00:11:11,938 because we had to find the proper time there was no wind, 179 00:11:12,071 --> 00:11:13,907 because otherwise we could have collision 180 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:18,645 between the crane and the steel structure. 181 00:11:18,778 --> 00:11:21,147 [Narrator] With the final piece secured, 182 00:11:21,281 --> 00:11:23,883 Varso Tower reaches its full height, 183 00:11:24,017 --> 00:11:27,253 soaring above the Warsaw skyline. 184 00:11:29,522 --> 00:11:32,992 Today, the tower is the pride of the city, 185 00:11:33,126 --> 00:11:36,362 and twice a year, a team of daring cleaners 186 00:11:36,496 --> 00:11:40,500 ensures it stays at its gleaming best, 187 00:11:41,534 --> 00:11:42,902 a potent symbol of modern Poland 188 00:11:43,036 --> 00:11:47,073 and its status as a thriving European nation. 189 00:11:47,206 --> 00:11:52,812 ♪ ♪ 190 00:11:52,946 --> 00:11:55,615 A surge of large-scale infrastructure projects 191 00:11:55,748 --> 00:12:00,920 across Poland is transforming how the country is connected. 192 00:12:01,054 --> 00:12:05,491 In Gdansk, the Vistula Spit has a new canal, 193 00:12:05,625 --> 00:12:07,327 creating fresh shipping routes 194 00:12:07,460 --> 00:12:11,164 that run into the heart of the country. 195 00:12:12,232 --> 00:12:14,000 In Warsaw, engineers are doubling the size 196 00:12:14,167 --> 00:12:16,803 of the capital's metro. 197 00:12:18,805 --> 00:12:24,410 Now, engineers are gearing up for their biggest venture yet. 198 00:12:24,544 --> 00:12:28,548 An ambitious new rail project seeks to connect Warsaw 199 00:12:28,681 --> 00:12:30,283 to the rest of the country, 200 00:12:30,416 --> 00:12:34,220 including the historic city of Lódz. 201 00:12:34,354 --> 00:12:38,958 ♪ ♪ 202 00:12:39,092 --> 00:12:43,997 Set to be completed in 2035, the CPK transport hub 203 00:12:44,130 --> 00:12:45,765 will see hundreds of kilometers 204 00:12:46,766 --> 00:12:48,668 of new high-speed rail lines built. 205 00:12:48,801 --> 00:12:51,738 They will link existing networks and converge 206 00:12:51,871 --> 00:12:53,940 on a new state-of-the-art airport 207 00:12:54,073 --> 00:12:58,077 being built between Lódz and Warsaw. 208 00:13:01,014 --> 00:13:02,815 It is here, in Lódz, 209 00:13:02,949 --> 00:13:07,153 that this ambitious engineering project begins. 210 00:13:07,286 --> 00:13:09,455 [Agnieszka Stefanska-Krasowska] We are making the future, 211 00:13:09,589 --> 00:13:10,723 we are not history. 212 00:13:10,857 --> 00:13:14,160 We are building the future for the next generation. 213 00:13:15,962 --> 00:13:18,231 [Narrator] Lódz was a textile powerhouse 214 00:13:18,364 --> 00:13:21,100 during the Industrial Revolution. 215 00:13:21,234 --> 00:13:25,838 It is now one of the country's fastest-growing cities. 216 00:13:25,972 --> 00:13:28,808 And with CPK, a high-speed railway tunnel 217 00:13:28,941 --> 00:13:33,246 will soon run up to 34 meters beneath its center. 218 00:13:35,314 --> 00:13:40,153 The longest tunnel of its kind in Poland. 219 00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:44,057 Before tunnel excavations begin, 220 00:13:44,190 --> 00:13:45,758 engineers need to safeguard 221 00:13:45,892 --> 00:13:49,929 Lódz's precious historical buildings from collapse. 222 00:13:50,063 --> 00:13:54,534 ♪ ♪ 223 00:13:54,667 --> 00:13:57,203 This is Lódz House of Culture, 224 00:13:58,271 --> 00:14:01,908 a listed historic building from the 1930s. 225 00:14:02,041 --> 00:14:04,877 It sits right next to a busy train station 226 00:14:05,011 --> 00:14:07,013 and the new high-speed rail tunnel 227 00:14:07,146 --> 00:14:10,983 will run directly beneath it. 228 00:14:11,117 --> 00:14:15,755 Without stronger foundations, the building could collapse 229 00:14:15,888 --> 00:14:18,958 during the tunnel's construction. 230 00:14:20,293 --> 00:14:24,163 To save the House of Culture, engineers are first installing 231 00:14:24,297 --> 00:14:28,000 temporary rods called micropiles, 232 00:14:28,134 --> 00:14:29,802 which act like stilts, 233 00:14:29,936 --> 00:14:33,940 supporting the building so the tunnelling can start. 234 00:14:35,675 --> 00:14:39,245 Geotechnical specialist Wojciech Smolen 235 00:14:39,378 --> 00:14:42,148 is overseeing the works. 236 00:14:42,281 --> 00:14:44,717 [Wojciech Smolen] During my experience, during my career, 237 00:14:44,851 --> 00:14:49,155 I have already worked many years with those technologies, 238 00:14:50,223 --> 00:14:53,826 but I haven't used it on a scale like here. 239 00:14:56,195 --> 00:15:00,433 [Narrator] 360 carefully positioned micropiles 240 00:15:00,566 --> 00:15:04,003 will reach up to 26.5 meters deep 241 00:15:04,137 --> 00:15:07,406 under the House of Culture. 242 00:15:07,540 --> 00:15:10,977 They will support the structure's weight 243 00:15:12,245 --> 00:15:14,447 while the team first casts a stronger new foundation 244 00:15:14,580 --> 00:15:16,816 for the building. 245 00:15:16,949 --> 00:15:20,253 They can then safely excavate the tunnel chamber, 246 00:15:20,386 --> 00:15:23,489 removing the micropiles as they go, 247 00:15:23,623 --> 00:15:26,859 to make way for the train line that will run through it 248 00:15:26,993 --> 00:15:29,395 in seven years' time. 249 00:15:29,762 --> 00:15:33,866 ♪ ♪ 250 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,035 [Wojciech] We are checking if the micropile, 251 00:15:37,003 --> 00:15:39,005 if the machine is for sure vertically, 252 00:15:39,138 --> 00:15:40,773 because it's very important. 253 00:15:41,741 --> 00:15:43,009 The micropile is designed to bear load 254 00:15:43,142 --> 00:15:45,077 only in its vertical position. 255 00:15:45,211 --> 00:15:49,015 When it's inclined, the forces working on the micropile 256 00:15:49,148 --> 00:15:51,284 are different. 257 00:15:51,417 --> 00:15:54,921 [Narrator] Space inside the building is tight. 258 00:15:55,054 --> 00:15:58,591 So workers must split each 12-meter steel pile 259 00:15:58,724 --> 00:16:00,993 into six two-meter segments, 260 00:16:01,127 --> 00:16:04,030 so they can squeeze them below the ceiling. 261 00:16:04,163 --> 00:16:07,433 The team then screws the sections together 262 00:16:08,401 --> 00:16:11,838 as they drill down, piece by piece. 263 00:16:11,971 --> 00:16:13,573 [Wojciech] The most challenging thing about this work 264 00:16:13,706 --> 00:16:19,078 is that we are working in a very limited space with big machines. 265 00:16:24,283 --> 00:16:26,886 [Narrator] It takes all day to fit 18 pile segments 266 00:16:27,019 --> 00:16:31,424 into the foundations of the House of Culture. 267 00:16:31,557 --> 00:16:34,794 [Wojciech] Today we finished three piles, micropiles, 268 00:16:34,927 --> 00:16:38,965 so it's a very good result for a shift. 269 00:16:39,098 --> 00:16:41,500 [Narrator] With the cultural center secure, 270 00:16:41,634 --> 00:16:45,004 Lódz and the rest of Poland can look forward to a future 271 00:16:45,137 --> 00:16:48,274 of high-speed rail for all. 272 00:16:50,109 --> 00:16:52,411 Currently, it takes one and a half hours 273 00:16:52,545 --> 00:16:55,214 to drive from Lódz to Warsaw. 274 00:16:55,348 --> 00:17:00,820 The new rail line will cut this time to just 40 minutes. 275 00:17:00,953 --> 00:17:05,157 It will also slash journeys to Poznan and Wroclaw, 276 00:17:05,291 --> 00:17:09,095 connecting these vital business hubs. 277 00:17:09,228 --> 00:17:14,834 The CPK project is set to cost around 30.8 billion euros 278 00:17:14,967 --> 00:17:17,837 and take 10 years to complete. 279 00:17:17,970 --> 00:17:20,373 But this investment could revolutionize 280 00:17:21,107 --> 00:17:22,975 the nation's connectivity. 281 00:17:23,109 --> 00:17:27,480 ♪ ♪ 282 00:17:28,948 --> 00:17:31,183 Polish engineers not only innovate in infrastructure, 283 00:17:31,317 --> 00:17:34,287 but are masters of architecture. 284 00:17:34,420 --> 00:17:36,889 ♪ ♪ 285 00:17:37,023 --> 00:17:41,160 ♪ ♪ 286 00:17:41,294 --> 00:17:44,864 Poland's climate swings between scorching summers 287 00:17:44,997 --> 00:17:48,067 and freezing winters. 288 00:17:49,235 --> 00:17:52,939 Engineers here must build for these extremes. 289 00:17:53,072 --> 00:17:55,741 High in the Karkonosze Mountains, 290 00:17:55,875 --> 00:17:58,778 the saucer-like Sniezka Observatory 291 00:17:58,911 --> 00:18:03,249 is designed to endure fierce winds. 292 00:18:03,382 --> 00:18:06,752 On the rocky outcrop of Niedzica-Zamek, 293 00:18:06,886 --> 00:18:09,355 medieval builders engineered their castle's 294 00:18:09,488 --> 00:18:12,959 thick stone walls to insulate in winter 295 00:18:13,092 --> 00:18:15,995 and keep cool in summer. 296 00:18:17,863 --> 00:18:20,366 In Zakopane, one extraordinary 297 00:18:20,499 --> 00:18:21,634 feat of engineering 298 00:18:21,767 --> 00:18:25,104 rises from the snow each year. 299 00:18:28,307 --> 00:18:30,810 This is the remarkable construction site 300 00:18:30,943 --> 00:18:36,949 of Snowlandia, a vast and extraordinary snow maze. 301 00:18:38,751 --> 00:18:40,820 Every winter for the last decade, 302 00:18:40,953 --> 00:18:45,124 engineers have built this frozen wonder from scratch 303 00:18:45,725 --> 00:18:46,726 to thrill visitors 304 00:18:47,059 --> 00:18:49,362 to one of Poland's most popular ski resorts. 305 00:18:58,537 --> 00:19:01,340 [Narrator] It takes thousands of tons of snow 306 00:19:01,474 --> 00:19:05,177 to construct the up to three-meter-high walls. 307 00:19:07,780 --> 00:19:10,650 When complete, its twisting corridors 308 00:19:10,783 --> 00:19:14,086 stretch up to a kilometer long. 309 00:19:16,756 --> 00:19:18,858 This marvel of snow architecture 310 00:19:18,991 --> 00:19:24,497 is the brainchild of Zakopane local Jaroslaw Sitarz. 311 00:19:24,630 --> 00:19:26,399 [speaking Polish] 312 00:19:26,532 --> 00:19:28,167 [Jaroslaw Sitarz, translated] I'm associated with winter, 313 00:19:29,268 --> 00:19:31,003 with snow, basically from birth, from a child, 314 00:19:31,137 --> 00:19:36,175 because my dad built the first ski lift here in the '70s. 315 00:19:38,377 --> 00:19:42,415 [Narrator] The team designs the maze in a new pattern each year 316 00:19:42,548 --> 00:19:47,620 and uses special molds to shape its walls. 317 00:19:47,753 --> 00:19:50,322 [Jaroslaw] This year we have 119 passages 318 00:19:50,456 --> 00:19:53,025 and 85 transverse walls. 319 00:19:54,260 --> 00:19:57,063 There are thousands of tons of snow to dump, to form. 320 00:19:57,196 --> 00:20:01,367 It's not easy either, because there's a lot of time pressure. 321 00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:03,335 [Narrator] Each winter is a waiting game 322 00:20:03,469 --> 00:20:07,306 for the temperature to dip below zero degrees, 323 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,976 the perfect conditions for maze-making. 324 00:20:11,110 --> 00:20:15,247 This is when Jaroslaw's team springs into action, 325 00:20:16,515 --> 00:20:19,718 deploying a fleet of four heavy-duty snow machines. 326 00:20:21,087 --> 00:20:24,824 First, they create huge piles of snow. 327 00:20:24,957 --> 00:20:27,927 Then they use high-powered snow blowers 328 00:20:28,728 --> 00:20:30,563 to fill the custom-made molds, 329 00:20:30,696 --> 00:20:34,934 shaping the labyrinth's walls one section at a time. 330 00:20:37,403 --> 00:20:39,638 Their most powerful machine spits out 331 00:20:39,772 --> 00:20:43,209 1,300 tons of snow per hour. 332 00:20:43,342 --> 00:20:49,648 ♪ ♪ 333 00:20:49,782 --> 00:20:51,650 Each wall requires the equivalent 334 00:20:51,784 --> 00:20:56,021 of around nine truckloads of snow. 335 00:20:57,256 --> 00:20:59,258 Workers climb on top of the walls as they fill them 336 00:20:59,391 --> 00:21:04,830 to distribute the snow evenly and compact it with shovels. 337 00:21:04,964 --> 00:21:07,800 This forces the snow crystals closer together, 338 00:21:07,967 --> 00:21:10,970 squeezing out any air trapped between them, 339 00:21:11,103 --> 00:21:16,142 increasing the density and making the snow walls stronger. 340 00:21:16,275 --> 00:21:21,981 [Jaroslaw] Well, we try every year to improve, modify, 341 00:21:22,715 --> 00:21:23,749 build more and more solidly, 342 00:21:23,883 --> 00:21:27,887 so that it can last as long as possible. 343 00:21:31,056 --> 00:21:34,693 [Narrator] Once the long vertical walls are solid... 344 00:21:34,827 --> 00:21:38,164 ♪ ♪ 345 00:21:38,297 --> 00:21:43,002 ...the team carve the intersections through the maze. 346 00:21:43,135 --> 00:21:48,474 They use powerful chainsaws, with blades over a meter long, 347 00:21:49,441 --> 00:21:52,878 to slice the ice away, block by block. 348 00:21:53,012 --> 00:21:58,851 ♪ ♪ 349 00:21:58,984 --> 00:22:01,854 Beside the main labyrinth, the team is also building 350 00:22:01,987 --> 00:22:04,790 a series of igloos where adventurers 351 00:22:04,924 --> 00:22:07,660 can explore a winter wonderland. 352 00:22:07,793 --> 00:22:12,431 ♪ ♪ 353 00:22:13,766 --> 00:22:17,970 They hold 11 chambers with intricately carved sculptures. 354 00:22:18,103 --> 00:22:20,439 Each sculpture can take up to two days 355 00:22:20,573 --> 00:22:23,776 to carve from the snow and ice. 356 00:22:26,078 --> 00:22:30,616 At the maze construction site, the team builds the dead ends, 357 00:22:30,749 --> 00:22:35,854 positioned to catch out players as they turn the corners. 358 00:22:38,290 --> 00:22:42,728 Five days later, the maze transforms 359 00:22:42,862 --> 00:22:46,732 into a dense labyrinth of twists and turns, 360 00:22:46,866 --> 00:22:50,002 and excited families queue up to try their luck 361 00:22:50,135 --> 00:22:53,772 at Poland's famous puzzle. 362 00:22:53,906 --> 00:22:57,610 [Jaroslaw] My pride is huge, due to the fact 363 00:22:57,743 --> 00:23:00,679 that guests can visit us not only from Poland, 364 00:23:00,813 --> 00:23:04,183 but actually from all over the world. 365 00:23:04,316 --> 00:23:08,454 ♪ ♪ 366 00:23:08,587 --> 00:23:10,756 [Narrator] The south of the country was the center 367 00:23:10,890 --> 00:23:13,692 of the late medieval Kingdom of Poland, 368 00:23:13,826 --> 00:23:15,127 and is now home to some of its 369 00:23:15,261 --> 00:23:18,764 most historical architectural wonders. 370 00:23:18,898 --> 00:23:21,333 St. Mary's Basilica in Kraków, 371 00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:24,303 with its distinctive asymmetrical towers, 372 00:23:24,436 --> 00:23:28,007 is filled with detailed Gothic designs. 373 00:23:28,140 --> 00:23:31,310 The thousand-year-old Wawel Castle complex 374 00:23:32,044 --> 00:23:32,978 was the seat of the king. 375 00:23:33,112 --> 00:23:34,947 It was built over many centuries 376 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:39,685 and features an eclectic mix of architectural styles. 377 00:23:41,687 --> 00:23:43,255 Just outside Kraków, 378 00:23:43,389 --> 00:23:48,294 a structure of extraordinary scale lies hidden from view. 379 00:23:52,531 --> 00:23:55,267 [Narrator] This is the town of Wieliczka, 380 00:23:55,401 --> 00:23:57,903 14 kilometers from Kraków. 381 00:23:58,037 --> 00:24:02,174 On the surface, nothing appears out of the ordinary. 382 00:24:04,910 --> 00:24:07,446 But hidden deep beneath the streets 383 00:24:07,579 --> 00:24:10,816 lies an engineering wonder, 384 00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:15,020 one of the world's largest historical salt mines. 385 00:24:15,387 --> 00:24:16,288 [crunch] 386 00:24:16,422 --> 00:24:19,892 For more than 700 years, miners excavated 387 00:24:20,025 --> 00:24:23,095 around 9 million cubic meters of earth, 388 00:24:23,228 --> 00:24:29,401 rock, and salt, creating a secret subterranean city. 389 00:24:29,535 --> 00:24:34,273 Nine layers of countless shafts, tunnels, and chambers 390 00:24:34,406 --> 00:24:39,445 spread 245 kilometers under the ground, 391 00:24:39,578 --> 00:24:44,183 reaching 327 meters deep. 392 00:24:44,316 --> 00:24:46,719 ♪ ♪ 393 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,023 Today, Wieliczka's salt mine is no longer active, 394 00:24:51,156 --> 00:24:56,195 but its immense scale attracts over a million visitors a year. 395 00:24:58,931 --> 00:25:02,000 They come to explore its winding corridors 396 00:25:02,134 --> 00:25:05,537 and take in hidden structures carved more recently 397 00:25:05,671 --> 00:25:08,707 within the mine's salt caverns. 398 00:25:11,944 --> 00:25:15,014 The extraordinary wonders include a chapel 399 00:25:15,147 --> 00:25:19,218 where the altar, statues, and even the chandeliers 400 00:25:20,018 --> 00:25:22,221 are carved entirely from salt. 401 00:25:24,223 --> 00:25:26,492 To stabilize these vast caverns, 402 00:25:26,625 --> 00:25:28,827 nine levels below the ground, 403 00:25:28,961 --> 00:25:31,296 miners built meticulously engineered 404 00:25:31,430 --> 00:25:34,900 wooden support towers. 405 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:39,905 Remarkably, many have remained intact for centuries. 406 00:25:41,306 --> 00:25:42,808 But with its corridors and chambers 407 00:25:42,941 --> 00:25:46,812 under constant pressure from the surrounding rock, 408 00:25:46,945 --> 00:25:48,981 ongoing engineering is essential 409 00:25:49,114 --> 00:25:53,986 to safeguard the caverns from collapse. 410 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:57,689 ♪ ♪ 411 00:25:57,823 --> 00:26:02,528 Kamil Broniowski leads the morning shift... 412 00:26:02,661 --> 00:26:04,730 [bell rings] 413 00:26:04,863 --> 00:26:08,934 ...in tunnels strictly off-limits to visitors. 414 00:26:10,903 --> 00:26:13,038 Around 400 miners like Kamil 415 00:26:13,172 --> 00:26:16,442 still work around the clock here, 416 00:26:16,575 --> 00:26:21,013 maintaining the vast network of tunnels and chambers. 417 00:26:23,148 --> 00:26:27,319 Because the town above is at risk if the caverns cave in. 418 00:26:27,453 --> 00:26:30,989 ♪ ♪ 419 00:26:31,123 --> 00:26:34,226 [Kamil Broniowski] The pressure wants to crush the chambers, 420 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,428 crush the tunnels. 421 00:26:37,329 --> 00:26:39,198 Eventually, the mine will collapse. 422 00:26:41,967 --> 00:26:43,669 [Narrator] This tunnel on the fourth level 423 00:26:43,802 --> 00:26:49,174 shows critical signs of decay and needs urgent support. 424 00:26:50,742 --> 00:26:52,811 [Kamil] This rock is quite loose. 425 00:26:52,945 --> 00:26:55,948 You can see a lot of it is falling off the wall 426 00:26:56,081 --> 00:26:58,717 as I just gently scratch it. 427 00:26:58,851 --> 00:27:00,819 [drilling] 428 00:27:03,155 --> 00:27:05,824 [Narrator] Kamil's team use pneumatic drills 429 00:27:05,958 --> 00:27:08,427 to clear away the weathered rock. 430 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:14,766 ♪ ♪ 431 00:27:14,900 --> 00:27:18,003 Now they can fit the supports. 432 00:27:18,136 --> 00:27:19,371 [bell rings] 433 00:27:20,339 --> 00:27:22,474 The mine is a World Heritage Site, 434 00:27:22,608 --> 00:27:25,811 so engineers must use the materials and techniques 435 00:27:26,945 --> 00:27:28,480 of their forefathers, hundreds of years ago, 436 00:27:28,614 --> 00:27:32,351 to preserve this secret wonder. 437 00:27:32,484 --> 00:27:36,021 They take logs harvested from local forests 438 00:27:37,222 --> 00:27:40,058 and transport them down the narrow vertical shaft. 439 00:27:41,927 --> 00:27:44,396 Old locomotive lines help propel them 440 00:27:44,530 --> 00:27:49,034 through the winding underground network 441 00:27:49,168 --> 00:27:54,640 to the construction site where they shape them to size 442 00:27:54,773 --> 00:27:59,278 and slot the supports into place. 443 00:27:59,411 --> 00:28:02,814 They install a support beam every one meter 444 00:28:02,948 --> 00:28:05,584 and slot wooden planks in between 445 00:28:05,717 --> 00:28:09,755 to secure the walls and ceiling. 446 00:28:09,888 --> 00:28:12,457 The engineering work here is so vital, 447 00:28:12,591 --> 00:28:17,663 it carries on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 448 00:28:17,796 --> 00:28:21,200 ♪ ♪ 449 00:28:21,333 --> 00:28:25,237 It takes the team a day to shore up just a single meter 450 00:28:26,305 --> 00:28:30,842 of the mine's 245 kilometers of tunnels. 451 00:28:30,976 --> 00:28:34,813 [Kamil] The mine is very special to the local community. 452 00:28:36,081 --> 00:28:39,651 It's a very important monument of history of our country. 453 00:28:39,785 --> 00:28:42,220 Working here is a very large privilege, 454 00:28:42,354 --> 00:28:45,257 because you are part of this history. 455 00:28:45,624 --> 00:28:49,895 ♪ ♪ 456 00:28:50,028 --> 00:28:53,932 [Narrator] Over 30% of Poland is forested. 457 00:28:54,066 --> 00:28:56,969 This shaped a legacy of using timber to build 458 00:28:57,102 --> 00:29:02,174 astonishing wooden structures across the country. 459 00:29:02,307 --> 00:29:04,076 In Kwiatoniu, 460 00:29:05,043 --> 00:29:06,945 the 17th century-old Orthodox Church 461 00:29:07,079 --> 00:29:10,515 has layered spires and intricate carpentry. 462 00:29:10,649 --> 00:29:14,820 And in Swidnica, the Holy Trinity Church of Peace 463 00:29:16,021 --> 00:29:18,724 is the largest wooden Baroque temple in Europe. 464 00:29:20,292 --> 00:29:23,028 Hidden in the quiet town of Gliwice 465 00:29:23,161 --> 00:29:27,199 stands a record-breaking wonder of wooden engineering. 466 00:29:31,303 --> 00:29:34,406 [Narrator] This is Gliwice Radio Tower. 467 00:29:34,539 --> 00:29:36,808 Soaring 111 meters high, 468 00:29:36,942 --> 00:29:41,146 it's Europe's tallest wooden structure. 469 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,116 The tower is made from Siberian larch, 470 00:29:44,249 --> 00:29:49,321 known for its exceptional strength and durability. 471 00:29:49,454 --> 00:29:51,923 Wood beams are laid in a lattice pattern 472 00:29:52,057 --> 00:29:55,927 and secured with thousands of brass bolts. 473 00:29:57,796 --> 00:30:03,769 This Silesian Eiffel Tower was constructed in the mid 1930s. 474 00:30:05,137 --> 00:30:06,338 It is one of the only surviving 475 00:30:06,471 --> 00:30:10,142 wooden radio transmitters from its era. 476 00:30:12,044 --> 00:30:15,580 And its incredible height means it's still in use today 477 00:30:15,714 --> 00:30:18,183 as a mobile phone antenna. 478 00:30:18,316 --> 00:30:21,987 ♪ ♪ 479 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:25,190 It's thanks to Polish conservation specialists 480 00:30:25,324 --> 00:30:28,860 that the tower still stands today. 481 00:30:30,862 --> 00:30:34,099 Twice a year, they make the 111-meter climb 482 00:30:34,232 --> 00:30:38,937 to inspect its condition and make critical repairs. 483 00:30:45,243 --> 00:30:50,916 [Narrator] Andrzej Wnuk is in charge of the daring operation. 484 00:30:51,049 --> 00:30:53,952 [Andrzej Wnuk, translated] This tower is a symbol of Gliwice. 485 00:30:54,086 --> 00:30:57,089 It's certainly very gratifying that we managed to maintain it 486 00:30:57,222 --> 00:31:02,527 for so long, and we continue to keep it in good condition. 487 00:31:02,661 --> 00:31:05,330 [Narrator] The team attaches their safety equipment 488 00:31:05,464 --> 00:31:09,000 and then begins the long ascent to the top. 489 00:31:09,134 --> 00:31:13,872 ♪ ♪ 490 00:31:20,912 --> 00:31:24,883 [Narrator] The exhausting climb takes 30 minutes. 491 00:31:29,554 --> 00:31:31,323 [Narrator] The conservators are on a mission 492 00:31:31,456 --> 00:31:34,760 to remove the tower's medium-wave antenna, 493 00:31:35,427 --> 00:31:37,028 which is now out of use. 494 00:31:39,231 --> 00:31:41,333 The antenna is 100 meters long 495 00:31:41,466 --> 00:31:45,170 and made from metal with a rubber casing. 496 00:31:49,875 --> 00:31:53,078 [Narrator] The team cut it into manageable sections 497 00:31:53,211 --> 00:31:57,449 to safely lower it to the floor. 498 00:31:57,582 --> 00:31:58,884 By removing the antenna, 499 00:31:59,017 --> 00:32:03,088 they take unnecessary weight off the wooden structure. 500 00:32:04,589 --> 00:32:06,892 ♪ ♪ 501 00:32:07,025 --> 00:32:08,827 In the early 1930s, 502 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:12,831 radio towers were often built from wood. 503 00:32:12,964 --> 00:32:15,200 Wood was plentiful and cheap, 504 00:32:15,367 --> 00:32:17,302 and the enormous heights required 505 00:32:18,637 --> 00:32:21,273 were most easily achieved with a wooden lattice design. 506 00:32:21,406 --> 00:32:24,376 ♪ ♪ 507 00:32:24,509 --> 00:32:28,013 The downside, though, was the risk of fire. 508 00:32:28,146 --> 00:32:31,850 ♪ ♪ 509 00:32:31,983 --> 00:32:35,821 As the team continues to cut down the old antenna, 510 00:32:35,954 --> 00:32:39,558 experienced climber Aleksandra Pietrakowska 511 00:32:39,691 --> 00:32:42,327 ascends to the tower's peak. 512 00:32:43,895 --> 00:32:45,330 [Aleksandra Pietrakowska, translated] I think what drives me the most in this job 513 00:32:45,464 --> 00:32:49,668 is adrenaline, challenges, taking the next step, 514 00:32:49,801 --> 00:32:52,103 proving to yourself that a person can cope, 515 00:32:53,104 --> 00:32:54,406 that you just need to calmly approach it. 516 00:32:54,539 --> 00:32:59,044 ♪ ♪ 517 00:32:59,177 --> 00:33:03,415 [Narrator] A bolt has broken on the tower's lightning rod, 518 00:33:03,548 --> 00:33:05,584 so Aleksandra must replace it 519 00:33:05,717 --> 00:33:10,355 with a historically accurate replica. 520 00:33:10,488 --> 00:33:12,824 Keeping the lightning rod securely in place 521 00:33:12,958 --> 00:33:16,761 is crucial to prevent the wooden skyscraper 522 00:33:16,895 --> 00:33:20,398 from catching fire if it gets struck by lightning. 523 00:33:20,532 --> 00:33:25,704 ♪ ♪ 524 00:33:25,837 --> 00:33:30,675 ♪ ♪ 525 00:33:33,612 --> 00:33:35,447 [Narrator] It's a great team effort. 526 00:33:35,580 --> 00:33:38,683 Aleksandra and her colleagues successfully replace 527 00:33:38,817 --> 00:33:43,121 the new bolt and reattach the lightning rod. 528 00:33:45,757 --> 00:33:46,992 The town of Gliwice 529 00:33:47,125 --> 00:33:49,895 and the surrounding Silesian countryside 530 00:33:50,862 --> 00:33:52,964 stretches out for miles around them. 531 00:33:53,098 --> 00:33:56,701 [Andrzej] There were experts who claimed that the tower 532 00:33:56,835 --> 00:33:59,204 only had a dozen years left. 533 00:34:00,272 --> 00:34:04,042 That was 25 years ago, and it's still standing. 534 00:34:05,143 --> 00:34:08,313 [Narrator] Thanks to the work of Andrzej and his team, 535 00:34:08,446 --> 00:34:11,850 this engineering icon of the Polish landscape 536 00:34:12,817 --> 00:34:14,619 will survive for generations to come. 537 00:34:14,753 --> 00:34:17,722 ♪ ♪ 538 00:34:20,625 --> 00:34:23,762 Over the centuries, Polish engineers have not only 539 00:34:23,895 --> 00:34:27,599 innovated in architecture and infrastructure, 540 00:34:27,732 --> 00:34:31,403 they've also built extraordinary machines. 541 00:34:31,536 --> 00:34:35,073 ♪ ♪ 542 00:34:35,206 --> 00:34:38,143 Modern Polish engineers are pushing innovation 543 00:34:38,276 --> 00:34:43,348 to spectacular new heights to draw visitors to the country. 544 00:34:43,481 --> 00:34:45,083 In the Sudeten Mountains, 545 00:34:45,216 --> 00:34:49,020 the spiraling Skywalk Tower lifts thrill-seekers 546 00:34:49,154 --> 00:34:52,991 62 meters above the treetops. 547 00:34:53,124 --> 00:34:56,561 In Lódz, the EC1 is a science center 548 00:34:56,695 --> 00:35:01,733 built in the heart of a former industrial power station. 549 00:35:02,968 --> 00:35:05,003 Now in the northwestern region of West Pomerania, 550 00:35:05,136 --> 00:35:07,973 a bold new theme park is aiming to become 551 00:35:08,106 --> 00:35:12,677 the next destination on Poland's tourism map. 552 00:35:15,146 --> 00:35:18,650 The landscape between Warsaw and the Baltic coast 553 00:35:18,783 --> 00:35:22,153 is a patchwork of arable fields. 554 00:35:22,287 --> 00:35:24,089 but this traditional farming area 555 00:35:24,222 --> 00:35:30,128 is gearing up for a boost from a wonder of modern engineering. 556 00:35:30,261 --> 00:35:31,863 This is the construction site 557 00:35:31,997 --> 00:35:37,502 of Pomerania's brand new Hossoland theme park. 558 00:35:38,737 --> 00:35:40,972 Engineers here are building 50 attractions 559 00:35:41,106 --> 00:35:43,141 across four themed sectors 560 00:35:43,274 --> 00:35:47,979 that are inspired by Baltic legends and fairy tales. 561 00:35:48,113 --> 00:35:52,183 Once complete, this multimillion-euro complex 562 00:35:53,351 --> 00:35:54,953 will be among the largest theme parks in Europe. 563 00:35:55,086 --> 00:35:57,522 [Anna Olszonowicz, translated] There has never been such 564 00:35:57,656 --> 00:36:01,292 a project here in West Pomerania. 565 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:03,828 [Narrator] The most challenging part of the construction 566 00:36:03,962 --> 00:36:08,500 is Hossoland's three mighty roller coasters. 567 00:36:08,633 --> 00:36:12,904 The gravity-defying Aurora coaster is the largest. 568 00:36:14,205 --> 00:36:18,443 It has a 400-meter-long track that launches passengers 569 00:36:18,576 --> 00:36:21,079 up to 20 meters into the air. 570 00:36:21,212 --> 00:36:25,884 ♪ ♪ 571 00:36:26,017 --> 00:36:27,686 Workers manufacture the sections 572 00:36:27,819 --> 00:36:31,856 of the roller coaster off-site 573 00:36:31,990 --> 00:36:35,660 and they bolt together at the park, like a flat pack, 574 00:36:35,794 --> 00:36:38,797 to speed up construction. 575 00:36:41,032 --> 00:36:42,367 The pieces will only fit 576 00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:46,404 if they all sit in perfect alignment, 577 00:36:46,538 --> 00:36:48,807 like a 3D jigsaw. 578 00:36:54,446 --> 00:36:57,582 [Narrator] Engineer Michal Demski is overseeing 579 00:36:57,716 --> 00:37:00,785 the nerve-racking assembly. 580 00:37:02,787 --> 00:37:03,788 [Michal Demski, translated] We have the closure 581 00:37:03,922 --> 00:37:06,424 of the highest point on our coaster. 582 00:37:06,558 --> 00:37:10,228 According to the design, everything should fit perfectly. 583 00:37:17,936 --> 00:37:20,738 [Narrator] At the Hossoland theme park... 584 00:37:24,175 --> 00:37:27,112 [Narrator] ...the team wrestles the roller coaster segment 585 00:37:27,245 --> 00:37:28,680 into the gap. 586 00:37:28,813 --> 00:37:33,318 Then they hammer the bolts into place. 587 00:37:34,619 --> 00:37:37,222 When the park opens, a train of 10 suspended carriages 588 00:37:37,355 --> 00:37:42,527 will race along these tracks at up to 50 kilometers per hour. 589 00:37:42,660 --> 00:37:43,928 It can weigh up to 10 tons 590 00:37:44,062 --> 00:37:48,099 when packed with thrill-seeking passengers, 591 00:37:48,233 --> 00:37:51,469 so the structural integrity of the roller coaster 592 00:37:51,603 --> 00:37:54,339 is paramount. 593 00:37:54,472 --> 00:37:59,177 They carefully fine-tune the alignment, 594 00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:03,248 so the ride runs as smoothly as possible. 595 00:38:11,956 --> 00:38:14,025 [Narrator] As the track specialists bolt the segments 596 00:38:14,159 --> 00:38:19,831 together, construction across the grounds is in full swing. 597 00:38:21,466 --> 00:38:23,601 Workers are busy assembling the remaining 598 00:38:23,735 --> 00:38:27,472 large-scale structures and adding the finishing touches 599 00:38:27,605 --> 00:38:31,009 to the park's 130 sculptures. 600 00:38:31,142 --> 00:38:35,446 ♪ ♪ 601 00:38:35,580 --> 00:38:39,484 20 meters above, at the Aurora roller coaster, 602 00:38:39,617 --> 00:38:43,354 the installation of the track segment is complete. 603 00:38:50,461 --> 00:38:53,198 [Michal] First, I'm waiting to do a test drive, 604 00:38:53,331 --> 00:38:55,834 and then I can't wait to open the park 605 00:38:55,967 --> 00:39:00,305 when the guests are here and watch the first reactions. 606 00:39:00,438 --> 00:39:02,907 [Narrator] Soon, this whole area will be filled 607 00:39:03,041 --> 00:39:06,578 with thrill-seekers from all over Poland and beyond, 608 00:39:06,711 --> 00:39:11,683 ready to experience these hair-raising new attractions. 609 00:39:14,219 --> 00:39:17,889 Poland has a long history of creating groundbreaking ways 610 00:39:18,022 --> 00:39:22,594 to cross the country's rugged landscape. 611 00:39:22,727 --> 00:39:24,829 Polish engineers designed one of Europe's 612 00:39:24,963 --> 00:39:29,667 first high-altitude cable cars. 613 00:39:29,801 --> 00:39:32,570 The Elblag Canal uses 19th century 614 00:39:32,704 --> 00:39:38,977 water-powered machinery to haul boats uphill on tracks. 615 00:39:39,110 --> 00:39:41,446 In Mecina, engineers are using 616 00:39:41,579 --> 00:39:42,680 an ingenious machine 617 00:39:42,814 --> 00:39:46,017 to build a record-breaking new tunnel. 618 00:39:50,388 --> 00:39:52,624 This is the site of one of Poland's 619 00:39:52,757 --> 00:39:56,828 most ambitious railway projects. 620 00:39:56,961 --> 00:39:58,529 [Mateusz Wanat, translated] This is a very big undertaking 621 00:39:58,663 --> 00:40:01,432 that our country has not yet faced. 622 00:40:02,467 --> 00:40:03,534 Never in the history of the construction 623 00:40:03,668 --> 00:40:07,338 of both road and rail infrastructure. 624 00:40:07,472 --> 00:40:10,174 [Narrator] When complete, the new route will link 625 00:40:11,175 --> 00:40:12,977 Poland's second largest city, Kraków, 626 00:40:13,111 --> 00:40:17,315 to the beauty of the Carpathian mountain range. 627 00:40:17,448 --> 00:40:20,718 But to make the connection, the team must rebuild 628 00:40:21,419 --> 00:40:21,920 the railway lines running 629 00:40:22,053 --> 00:40:23,821 through the mountains. 630 00:40:23,955 --> 00:40:26,524 They'll have to dig 20 new tunnels, 631 00:40:26,658 --> 00:40:30,828 and one of them will be nearly four kilometers long, 632 00:40:31,763 --> 00:40:33,765 the longest rail tunnel in Poland. 633 00:40:36,801 --> 00:40:38,202 The biggest problem with digging 634 00:40:38,336 --> 00:40:43,474 the record-breaking tunnel is the region's fragile bedrock, 635 00:40:43,608 --> 00:40:45,977 which risks collapse. 636 00:40:49,047 --> 00:40:52,817 So engineers are racing to assemble a colossal machine 637 00:40:52,950 --> 00:40:57,088 that will reinforce the tunnel walls as it digs. 638 00:40:57,221 --> 00:41:00,491 ♪ ♪ 639 00:41:00,625 --> 00:41:03,328 This tunnel excavating machine is one of the largest 640 00:41:03,461 --> 00:41:07,298 of its kind ever used on Polish soil. 641 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:13,504 A large cutter head spins at the front of the machine, 642 00:41:13,638 --> 00:41:18,710 to burrow through at up to 30 meters per day. 643 00:41:18,843 --> 00:41:22,647 As it digs, precast concrete panels are fed 644 00:41:22,780 --> 00:41:24,582 into the back of the machine, 645 00:41:24,716 --> 00:41:27,452 and it presses them onto the walls 646 00:41:27,585 --> 00:41:30,288 to stop the tunnel from collapsing. 647 00:41:33,524 --> 00:41:37,962 The most crucial stage of the machine assembly 648 00:41:38,096 --> 00:41:43,334 is fitting the enormous 245-ton cutter head. 649 00:41:43,468 --> 00:41:46,104 [Marcin Curkowicz, translated] The wind is going to play a big role. 650 00:41:46,237 --> 00:41:51,042 Even the smallest mistake could throw everything off. 651 00:41:51,175 --> 00:41:57,715 [Narrator] The team uses two monster 600-ton-capacity cranes 652 00:41:57,849 --> 00:42:01,119 to raise the cutter head from the ground. 653 00:42:03,087 --> 00:42:06,324 Then they slowly start to move it across the site 654 00:42:06,457 --> 00:42:09,394 towards its final position at the front 655 00:42:10,194 --> 00:42:11,929 of the tunnel-digging machine. 656 00:42:12,063 --> 00:42:18,136 ♪ ♪ 657 00:42:18,269 --> 00:42:21,005 [creaking] 658 00:42:21,139 --> 00:42:24,042 Finally, once the cutter head is in position 659 00:42:24,642 --> 00:42:25,777 above the machine, 660 00:42:25,910 --> 00:42:30,381 the most complex phase of the operation begins. 661 00:42:31,315 --> 00:42:32,417 With just two meters of clearance 662 00:42:32,550 --> 00:42:35,153 between the machine and the tunnel entrance, 663 00:42:35,286 --> 00:42:39,223 the crane operators lower the cutter head into place 664 00:42:39,357 --> 00:42:42,093 with extreme precision. 665 00:42:42,460 --> 00:42:47,432 ♪ ♪ 666 00:42:47,565 --> 00:42:50,635 It takes several hours of painstaking work 667 00:42:50,768 --> 00:42:52,303 to position the cutter head, 668 00:42:52,437 --> 00:42:56,107 and the team can at last prepare the bolts 669 00:42:56,707 --> 00:42:58,109 for the final fix. 670 00:43:00,978 --> 00:43:03,114 [Marcin] Even though the wind picked up at times 671 00:43:03,247 --> 00:43:05,283 during the cutter head connection, 672 00:43:05,416 --> 00:43:08,186 it didn't disrupt us, and I think the whole team 673 00:43:08,319 --> 00:43:13,057 can be proud of what we achieved today. 674 00:43:13,991 --> 00:43:15,193 [Narrator] Over the next 10 months, 675 00:43:15,326 --> 00:43:18,663 the machine will dig the nearly four-kilometer tunnel. 676 00:43:18,796 --> 00:43:22,500 When complete, travelers on this new rail line 677 00:43:23,801 --> 00:43:25,002 will be able to reach the breathtaking towns 678 00:43:25,136 --> 00:43:28,539 and ski resorts in Poland's Carpathian Mountains 679 00:43:28,673 --> 00:43:30,875 in record time. 680 00:43:33,778 --> 00:43:37,748 Poland is a modern European nation 681 00:43:37,882 --> 00:43:42,353 that's forging a bright and vibrant future. 682 00:43:42,487 --> 00:43:47,024 Its booming economy continues to fuel innovation, 683 00:43:47,158 --> 00:43:52,396 taking European engineering to ever greater heights. 684 00:43:52,530 --> 00:43:55,399 ♪ ♪ 685 00:43:55,533 --> 00:44:00,204 ♪ ♪ 54564

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