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Research conference on Lake Baikal opening at UNESCO

The day will begin with the opening of an exhibition titled ‘The Enchanting World of the Baikal’
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

PARIS, April 24 (Itar-Tass) — A research conference and an exhibition devoted to Lake Baikal opens at UNESCO headquarters Tuesday.

They demonstrate the results of three years of work of an expedition codenamed ‘The Worlds of the Baikal. The participants will look at and discuss the ecological programs aiming to conserve the nature of the unique lake.

The day will begin with the opening of an exhibition titled ‘The Enchanting World of the Baikal’. The divv splay consists of the pictures of the lake and the landscapes surrounding it.

Some of the biological and geological exhibits have been recovered from the seabed by the deepwater descent capsules Mir.

Reports on scientific discoveries made during the Baikal expeditions will mostly highlight the geological studies of the lake, its biological diversity and ecological problems. Scientists from Russia, Switzerland, Belgium, Mongolia, and Serbia will make reports on their findings.

This impressive action has been initiated by Russia’s mission at UNESCO.

Taking part in the conference on the Russian side are the director of the federal agency for contacts with fellow-Russians abroad /Rossodrudnichestvo/, Konstantin Kosachev, the chief of the deepwater descent expeditions on the Mir capsules, famous researcher of Arctic and Antarctic oceanic spaces Artur Chilingarov, and the dean of Moscow State University’s department of geography, Dr Nikolai Kassimov.

Mikhail Slipenchuk, a spokesman for the board of trustees of the Fund for Preserving the Beauty of the Baikal recalled in a conversation with Itar-Tass that the expeditions lasted from 2008 through to 2010 and the Mirs made 178 descents over that period of time.

The list of personalities who joined researchers during the expeditions were Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Ebeldorj, the speaker of the upper house of Russian parliament, Sergei Mironov, and Hollywood movie producer, James Cameron.

The Baikal is the world’s deepest freshwater lake, with the biggest depth registered standing at 1,642 meters. It covers an area of almost 31,700 square kilometers.

Flowing into the lake are 336 rivers and creaks. The mighty Angara is the only river flowing out of it.

The Baikal is thought to contain about one-fifth of the world’s reserve of freshwater.