Lake Baikal

Ecological shield of the Baikal

Long since from ancient times in Russia, the springs were treated as sacred places. Baikal was called “The Holy Lake” from time immemorial. Thousands of scientific books were written about it. Songs are sung about Baikal, sagas and fairy- tales are told.

             Baikal holds one fifth of the world resource of fresh water. It is unique and valuable because its water contains very little amount of mineral additives. Its world of flora and fauna is very diverse. Here live many kind of organisms which you’ll never meet anywhere else, all over the world.

The Golomyanka is the most interesting fish of Baikal. The difference from other fishes is that they are live-bearers. Here also lives north seal Nepra and itt remains a scientific mystery how the seals originally came to Lake Baikal.

            Animals and aquatic plants purify water of the lake, and even the smallest disturbance in the natural complex of the Baikal may have serious consequences.

            In the seventies, building of various factories started at Baikal. It was thought that there was no danger of pollutions for the lake, that it will “digest” it. For example because of the hydroelectric power station of Irkutsk, the level of water raised one meter up and a turbidity of the water followed it. Therefore amount of fish dropped sharply.

Timber industry has disturbed the water of the rivers which flow into Lake Baikal, and it followed disappearing half of inflow feeding the lake. Today two cellulose factories bring large damage for the lake. Dirty, toxic water is thrown-out into Selenga river and into the small reservoirs and accumulates. Its content could burst into Baikal, in the case of some kind of natural disaster and this action could finally kill the lake. Despite the building of water cleaning equipment, this water gives damage to the lake anyway. Recently; watercraft was polluting the water of Baikal by the petrol products but shipping had been stopped in 1988 after pressure of the ecologists.

            Full exchange of water of Baikal happens ones in 400 years, and this means the waste remain there for ages. Therefore the problems of Baikal become more and more severe.

            From the very beginning of building of the factories active actions were taken for the salvage of “The Holy Lake”. Many known writers tried to protect it: B. Rasputin, O. Volkov and others. In 1987 an organization “Movement of Baikal” was founded on the initiative of B. Rasputin. According to expert calculation here, there is required several tens of billions of rubles for stopping the progress of the critical situation.  

            Nowadays it is very important to save this natural wonder, not to use it for material needs but for the contentment and delight brought by this ancient lake.

            In my opinion; these cellulose factories must be shut down, and more investment and time have to be given for safekeeping and protection of the lake. Otherwise it will be too late and coming generations will not forgive us this irreparable loss.

Bondir Olga,

School at Russian Embassy

In London, Great Britain