The Unique Natural Site of Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is the
deepest (1,637m) and the oldest (it formed about 25 mn years ago)
lake in the world. It contains over 20% of world fresh water
reserves and large amounts of hydrocarbons (gas hydrates). The lake
has the most diverse flora and fauna of all fresh-water
reservoirs.
In 1996, Unesco included Baikal in the World
Heritage List. In 2009, it was listed as one of the Seven Wonders
of Russia.
Anthropogenic pressure on the Baikal ecosystem
increases and the lake calls for being monitored by world class
experts using cutting-edge scientific methods, equipment and
technologies.
In 2008, METROPOL Group established the Fund for
Protection of Lake Baikal for this purpose. Artur Chilingarov, a
Deputy of the State Duma, Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the
Russia and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
is the President of the Fund. Mikhail Slipenchuk, the Head of
METROPOL Group, PhD in Economics, is the Chairman of the
Guardianship Board. A.M.Sagalevich, the Director of the Manned
Submersibles Laboratory of the P. P. Shirshov Institute of
Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Hero of Russia, PhD
in Geography and professor, is the Chairman of the Technical
Board.
