On February 3, 2013 the events under the name DAY OF BAIKAL organized by the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal and the Organizing Committee of the Moscow International Festival of Nature “Golden Turtle” took place at the Central House of Artists.
Opening DAY OF BAIKAL, the President of the Festival, a member of the Federation Council O. Panteleyev said: “Such the events give hope that Baikal will be saved”. He also stressed that in recent years attention to the environment around Lake Baikal has increased markedly, including thanks to the FPLB.
Executive Director of the FPLB R. Afonin read the welcome address of the FPLB President A. Chilingarov, in which the President urged to work together to create favorable conditions around the lake for a healthy environment and for further development of the region.
A welcoming speech of the Chairman of the FPLB Board of Trustees, State Duma Deputy M. Slipenchuk was read by Deputy Director of the FPLB I. Krylova. M. Slipenchuk in his address recalled that 2013 was declared the Year of Russia in protecting the environment: “Today one of the priorities is preservation and improvement of the environment. According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, every citizen has the right to a healthy environment. And most things depend on our efforts”.
R. Afonin and I. Krylova presented a letter of commendation to President of the Moscow International Festival of Nature “Golden Turtle” O. Panteleyev for the organization of the unique cultural and educational project, as well as for the contribution to promotion of ecological initiatives and popularization of the environmental activities on Baikal.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Buryatia, Head of the Plenipotentiary Representative of Buryatia to the President of the Russian Federation A. Lekhatinov in his speech stressed that tourism should be developed and civilized. He expressed the hope that the expected amendments to legislative acts on the Baikal natural territory will contribute to this.
Head of the Buryat Cultural Society “Uryaal” B. Dugarov noted that people, traditionally inhabit the lake, consider that even a bad word, thrown to the side of Lake Baikal, should be condemned.
The representatives of the environmental project “Save Baikal” told about their work. This youth voluntary movement conducts environmental and educational activities on the lake. Over 2012 volunteers were able to collect 600 tons of garbage, more than half of which were taken away to be recycled. The activists called everyone to join the Friends of Lake Baikal.
Hero of Russia, commander of the manned submersible “Mir” E. Chernyaev expressed his impressions about diving in the cleanest lake in the world. Director Gayane Petrosyan and Head of the Laboratory of Remote Sensing of Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, scientific director of the project “Hurricane” Lev Dessinov told about the unique experiment within the expedition “Mirs at Lake Baikal”.
The representative of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology A. Egorov gave a lecture on the scientific results of the expedition “Mirs at Lake Baikal”, including those told about the nature of gas hydrates, found during the dives.
Chief Editor of magazine “Ikhtiosfera” Oleg Komardin demonstrated a slide show of fishes and endemics of Baikal. At the end of the presentation there took place an informative quiz, the winners of which were awarded by the FPLB and “Ikhtiosfera”.
In the area of cinema the film “To the depths of Lake Baikal”, dedicated to the dives of the manned submersible “Mir” was shown. The workshops of photographer Olga Kamenskaya and cameraman of underwater shooting at Baikal Vyacheslav Krasakova aroused a lot of interest. Speaking about the creation of the photo exhibition “Baikal. The kingdom of ice and water”, the author Olga Kamenskaya told that Baikal amazes by its virginal nature. So far, on the shores of Lake Baikal there are places where hundreds of kilometers no man has gone before. Her photographs illustrate: Baikal – is a single planet, alive, vibrant, colorful, severe and at the same time in need of our protection. In the Presentation area the film “Orthodoxy in Baikal”, which tells of the spiritual environment of the Baikal region was also shown.
In addition to the educational program the festival guests saw plenty of entertainments. The performances by the artists of the Buryat culture Society “Uryaal” with folk songs and dances took place on the main stage. For the smallest guests of the festival a special game program in the national Buryat yurt was organized by the Museum of Nomadic Culture. Everybody could enjoy real Buryat tea, with milk, butter and salt. The visitors of all ages actively involved in the merry Buryat national dance “Ekhor”. At the end of DAY OF BAIKAL, following an ancient tradition, the visitors tied colored ribbons on the symbolic tree of wishes.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Buryatia, Head of the Plenipotentiary Representative of Buryatia to the President of the Russian Federation A. Lekhatinov addresses to the audience (left: Deputy Director of the FPLB I. Krylova)

Executive Director of the FPLB R. Afonin hands thanks to the President of the Festival, member of the Federation Council of Russia O. Panteleyev (left: Director of the Festival A. Myaskov)

Performance of Eugene Zolotorev (group “Namgar”) and Dashi Nadtsalov

Spectators and participants of DAY OF BAIKAL

Welcoming speech of the President of the Festival, member of the Federation Council of Russia O. Panteleyev

The lecture of scientist A. Egorov (the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology)

Games of the Museum of Nomadic Culture

Balls with the FPLB logo to all yurt guests

Stand of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal

Chief Editor of magazine “Ikhtiosfera” Oleg Komardin asks the questions about the Baikal endemics

Winners get the prizes

Welcoming speech of Head of the Buryat culture Society “Uryaal” B. Dugarov

Dashima Tsibikova performs the national dance of Baikal people

Photo exhibition of Olga Kamenskaya “Baikal. The kingdom of ice and water”

The employee of the Museum of Nomadic Culture and the soloist of ensemble “Angara” greeted guests in national costumes

Report of Director Gayane Petrosyan and Head of the Laboratory of Remote Sensing of Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, scientific director of the project “Hurricane” Lev Dessinov

Presentation of the activists of the environmental movement “Save Baikal”

Visitors of the exhibition and the Festival Director A. Myaskov tie ribbons on the tree of wishes

Workshops of photographer Olga Kamenskaya

Buryat national dance “Ekhor”