Lake Baikal is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places not only in the Asian part of our country, but on the whole planet. This ancient lake (its age is approximately 25-35 million years), lying in a rift basin, is located in the southern part of Eastern Siberia. It is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth, 22% of all fresh water is concentrated here. the clearest water worldwide and 85% of Russia. The volume of water is 23 thousand km 3 (these are the five Great Lakes in the United States taken together). In addition to the value of huge reserves of fresh water, which, due to its low mineralization (100 g/l), can be safely equated with distilled water, it should also be noted that Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and has been on the list since 1996. world heritage UNESCO.

Geographical position

Lake Baikal, which has the shape of a crescent elongated from southwest to northeast, is located almost in the very center of the Eurasian continent, in Central Asia, in the southern part of Eastern Siberia. The ancient rift basin of glacial origin, in which the lake basin is located, lies in the Baikal mountainous area, surrounded by high peaks of mountain ranges and hills overgrown with dense forests (the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia in the Russian Federation).

Characteristics of Lake Baikal

The area of ​​the lake is 31.7 thousand km 2, this is the seventh place in the world after the Caspian Sea-lake, lakes Victoria, Taganika, Huron, Michigan, Upper or the area of ​​the countries of Belgium or the Netherlands. The lake is 636 km long, it is widest in the center (81 km), narrowest - near the delta of the Serenga River (27 km).

The average depth of the lake is 744.4 m higher than the maximum depths of many lakes in the world, its maximum depth, measured by Soviet scientists Kolotilo and Sulimov in 1983, was 1640 m, which made Baikal the deepest lake in the world.

The lake lies in a glacial rift basin, surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges and hills. The length of the coastline is 2 thousand km, the western coast is rocky and steep, the eastern coast is more gentle, the mountains are located tens of kilometers from the coast. The water area of ​​​​the lake has six bays (Barguzinsky, Chivyrkuisky, Proval, Posolsky, Cherkalov, Mukhor), two dozen bays (Listvennaya, Peschanaya, Aya, many closed shallow bays called sory. The only river flows out of the lake - the Angara, flows into more than 336 rivers and rivulets, among the large ones one can name the Selenga, Upper Angara, Barguzin, Snezhnaya, Kichera, etc.

Temperature regime of water

Water, due to its low mineralization, is distinguished by amazing purity, transparency (can be seen to a depth of 40 meters), oxygen saturation. In spring, the water is especially transparent and has a rich blue-blue color; in summer, as a result of the development of organic matter, the transparency decreases and the waters acquire a blue-green tint. The average annual temperature of the water surface is about +4°С, in summer the water is +16, +17°С, in the sors it reaches +22,+23°С.

Baikal is almost completely covered with ice (1-2 meters) from January to May (with the exception of a small area 15-20 km at the source of the Angara). One of the amazing mysteries of Lake Baikal is the appearance in winter period huge dark rings on the ice, which are visible only from a height. Presumably, they are formed as a result of the release of methane from the depths of the lake, and this contributes to the formation of huge steams with a diameter of hundreds of meters with a very thin layer of ice.

Winds on Baikal

Distinctive features of Baikal's climate are its winds, they blow almost always, their maximum wind speed is 40 m/s. There are more than 30 names of the winds blowing there: the wind of the northwestern direction is mountainous, the northeastern wind is barguzin, verkhovik), the southeastern wind is shelonnik, the southwestern wind is kultuk, the sarma is the wind blowing in the center of Baikal. They blow mainly along the coast, on which there are practically no places to hide from such a piercing and strong wind.

Nature of Lake Baikal

The flora and fauna of the lake is diverse and unique. Oxygenated water allows a large number of living organisms to live here, more than 2600 species and subspecies of aquatic inhabitants live here, most of them are endemic. More than 58 species of fish live in the water column, such as omul, grayling, whitefish, taimen, Baikal sturgeon, lenok, golomyanka (a unique fish consisting of 30% fat).

The coast is covered with more than 2,000 species of plants, about 2,000 species of birds nest here, a unique marine mammal lives here - the Baikal seal, in the mountainous part of the Baikal region - the smallest deer in the world - the musk deer.

(Olkhon - the largest island of Lake Baikal)

The northeastern coast of the lake is part of the protected area of ​​the Barguzin State Natural biosphere reserve Since 1996, Baikal has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Settlements and cities

Large cities located a few dozen kilometers from the lake are Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude (130 km east of the lake) and Severobaikalsk (in the northern part of the lake coast). From Irkutsk (70 km from Baikal), the closest to the oldest Baikal settlement at the headwaters of the Angara - Listvyanka, it is over three hundred years old. The tourist infrastructure is well developed here and there is the Lake Museum dedicated to the history of Baikal, its flora and fauna. Also in the village there is a nerpinarium, where they show an exciting water show with the participation of Baikal seals and the legendary Shaman-stone, a reserved rock at the source of the Angara, ancient shamanic rites were held here in ancient times.

Climate and seasons

(Clear water of Lake Baikal in summer)

Eastern Siberia lies in a temperate sharply continental climate zone However, the huge masses of water contained in Lake Baikal have a special effect on the climate of the coast and due to this, unusual microclimate conditions are formed with warm mild winters and cool summers. The water masses of the lake act as a huge natural stabilizer and make winters warmer and summers cooler than, for example, in the same Irkutsk, located at a short distance from the lake (70 km). The air temperature in summer can reach up to +35°C.

(Transparent ice on Lake Baikal in winter)

In winter, the waters of Lake Baikal are fettered by incredibly transparent and smooth ice. The temperature above the surface of the lake in the middle of winter is about -21°С, and on the coasts it is 5-10 degrees higher, on average -10°С - 17°С. Due to low evaporation cold water from the surface of the lake, clouds are very rarely formed here, so the area of ​​​​Lake Baikal is characterized by a high total duration of sunshine, cloudy and cloudy days are infrequent.

One of the oldest lakes on the planet, its age is 25 - 30 million years. On Baikal, unlike many of the oldest lakes in the world, there are no signs of aging. On the contrary, scientists suggest that Baikal is a nascent ocean. This is confirmed by the fact that its shores diverge at a speed of up to 2 cm per year, just as the continents of Africa and South America.

It is located in the south of Eastern Siberia. This is the deepest lake in the world with unique features, and the largest fresh water reservoir on the planet. It has no equal in the world in terms of age, depth, reserves and properties of fresh water, diversity and endemism of organic life. Since ancient times, it has been called the sacred sea, glorious, gray-haired and formidable. Among the many epithets, one can distinguish such as: "the world source drinking water"," the blue eye of Siberia", "an oasis of the virgin nature of the Earth", "the sacred center of North Asia", "God-made creation", "the sacred gift of nature", "a monument of nature with unique landscapes", "an invaluable treasury of the genetic wealth of the Earth", " miracle of limnology, the focus of unique natural values". Due to its unique features, Baikal was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

Baikal is one of the oldest lakes on the planet; scientists determine its age at 25-30 million years. Most lakes, especially those of glacial and oxbow origin, live for 10-15 thousand years, and then they are filled with sediments and disappear from the face of the Earth. There are no signs of aging on Baikal, like many lakes in the world. On the contrary, research recent years allowed geophysicists to hypothesize that Baikal is a nascent ocean. This is confirmed by the fact that its shores diverge at a speed of up to 2 cm per year, just as the continents of Africa and South America diverge.
Among the lakes the globe Lake Baikal ranks first in depth (1637 m). On Earth, only 6 lakes have a depth of more than 500 m. The basin of Lake Baikal morphologically represents three independent basins - the Southern one with the greatest depth mark of 1430 m, the Middle one (1637 m) and the Northern one (920 m). The Baikal depression is asymmetric. Its western side is distinguished by a steep underwater slope (40-50 ° steepness), the eastern side is more flat. Quite often in the literature about Baikal there is still a mark of the lake's depth of 1620 m. This depth was recorded in 1959 as a result of measurements with a cable lot. Echo sounding measurements in 1974 recorded the depth of the lake at 1637 m.
At present, the Baikal basin is considered as the central link of the Baikal rift zone, which emerged and developed simultaneously with the world rift system (Florensov, 1978). Geophysicists put forward a hypothesis about the divergence of the shores of Lake Baikal at a rate of 2 cm per year. The Baikal depression is slightly wider than the modern lake, but much deeper than it. The depth of the depression is determined by the height of the mountains above it, the depth of the lake and the thickness of the bottom sediments lining its bottom. The deepest point of occurrence of bottom sediments of the lake is at a depth of approximately 6 - 8 thousand meters below the level of the world ocean. The "roots" of the basin cut through the entire earth's crust and go into the upper mantle to a depth of 50-60 km. Studies point to an anomalously high heating of the bowels under Baikal. This is the deepest basin of the earth's land.

The Baikal region has a high seismicity - it is one of the most seismically active inland regions of the planet. Strong earthquakes occur with a frequency of 7 points - 1-2 years, 8 points - 5 years. In 1862, during a ten-point earthquake in the northern part of the Selenga delta, a land area of ​​200 square meters went under water. km with 6 uluses, in which 1300 people lived, and a new gulf Proval was formed. Weak earthquakes are recorded almost daily. Every year their number reaches 2 thousand or more. Scientists call Baikal the "ancient temechka of Asia"

Baikal is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Along the entire length of the western coast, mountain ranges come close to Baikal and almost sheer into the water. The highest peaks of the mountain ranges: Primorsky ridge - Three-headed char (1728 m), Baikal ridge - Mount Chersky (2572 m), Barguzinsky ridge - the highest mark (2840 m), Khamar-Daban - Mount Khan-Ula (2371 m).
In terms of area, Baikal (31,500 sq. km) ranks eighth in the world among lakes and is approximately equal to the area of ​​such a country as Belgium.

Baikal is the largest storage of fresh water on the planet (23 thousand cubic km), which exceeds the volume of water contained in the five Great Lakes of North America - Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario combined, or 2 times more than in Lake Tanganyika. About 20% of the world's fresh lake water reserves are concentrated in the Baikal basin (excluding glaciers, snowfields and ice, where the water is in a solid state).

In spring, after the lake is freed from ice, water transparency reaches 40 m, which is ten times more than in other lakes. For example, in the Caspian Sea, the water transparency is 25 m, in Issyk-Kul - 20 m. In Baikal, a silver coin thrown into the water can be traced to a depth of 30-40 m.
The climate of Lake Baikal and its coast has the features of a maritime climate and differs significantly from the climate of the surrounding area. The huge water masses of the lake in the summer warm up to a depth of 200-250 m and, like an accumulator, accumulate a large number of heat. Therefore, the winter on Baikal is milder and the summer is cooler than in the rest of Siberia. The air temperature difference between Irkutsk and the coast of Lake Baikal in the daytime can reach 8-10°C. The absolute maximum for the period of meteorological observations in Irkutsk reached +36°С, the absolute minimum was -50°С. The remoteness of Irkutsk from the seas and its location in the center of the Asian continent give the climate a sharply continental character. The maximum daily temperature differences can exceed 30°C.

This is a world and Russian unique, the official status of which was confirmed when the lake-sea in 1996 was included in the list of cultural and cultural monuments. natural heritage humanity. It is worth recalling that the Convention for the Protection of Such Objects was adopted on November 23, 1972 by the UNESCO General Conference taking place in Paris. The formation of the World Heritage List pursued a noble goal - the identification, study and protection of monuments, complexes, areas - creations of man or nature, of exceptional value from a historical, artistic, scientific, natural, archaeological or ethnographic point of view.

How do they get on the World Heritage List?

In order for one or the other geographical area was inscribed on the World Heritage List as a natural asset, it had to meet at least one of the following criteria:

I. To be an extremely valuable example of one of the stages of the history of the Earth, including evidence of primitive life forms, significant geological processes currently taking place, participation in the evolution of the morphology of the territory, as well as important morphological characteristics;

II. Significant ecological and biological processes of evolution and development of terrestrial, coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems, as well as plant and animal communities, should take place on its territory;

III. Constitute natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value;

Why Baikal?

It will be interesting for the reader to get acquainted with the content of the decision, which was adopted by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on December 5, 1996. “Lake Baikal is a classic case of a World Heritage site that satisfies all four natural criteria. The lake is located in the central part of the site. The features of the lake, hidden to a greater extent from the eyes of water, are of the main value for science and protection. The lake is surrounded by mountain-taiga landscapes and specially protected natural areas, mostly preserved in their natural state and of additional value. Lake Baikal is a limnological wonder and an area with the following excellent qualities:

The geological rift system that gave rise to Lake Baikal was formed in the Mesozoic period. Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake on Earth. Various tectonic forces still continue their action, as evidenced by the outlets of thermal flows from the depths of the lake.

The evolution of aquatic organisms that has taken place during this long period has led to the formation of an exceptionally unique endemic fauna and flora. Lake Baikal is the "Galapagos Islands of Russia", is of exceptional value for the study of evolution.

The picturesque landscape around the Baikal basin with mountain ranges, boreal forests, tundra, lakes, islands and steppes provides an exceptionally beautiful environment for Lake Baikal. Baikal is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth (20% of all world reserves), which additionally characterizes it as a unique phenomenon.

Lake Baikal is one of the most biodiverse lakes on Earth, with 1,340 animal species (745 endemic) and 570 plant species (150 endemic). In the forests surrounding the lake, there are 10 species of plants listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and a complete composition of typical boreal species is presented.

One can at least briefly supplement those priorities and evidence of merit that distinguish the sacred sea in the world natural community.

The first place in antiquity among the fresh water bodies of the world: about 25 ~ 30 million years, while usually lakes exist for 10-15 thousand years.

The first place among the lakes of the world according to the official maximum depth mark is 1637 m (1640 meters according to the data obtained during the descent of the Mir 1 and 2 bathyscaphes in July 2009), with an “average” depth of 730 meters.

The first place among terrestrial reservoirs of the planet in terms of reserves of fresh high-quality water is 23.6 thousand cubic kilometers.

The first place in terms of the presence of endemic species in flora and fauna: out of more than 2000 species and varieties of Baikal animals and plants, from 30 to 60% in different environments habitats are recognized as endemic, i.e. existing only in this location.

The sixth place in size among the freshwater reservoirs of the earth: ahead are only the African lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and the three Great North American lakes (not counting the Aral and Caspian, which are often called seas).

And these priorities are not the only ones, but only large-scale ones, there are many other, more “small” ones, which we will talk about in this book.

Since Baikal is not only a natural, but also a cultural heritage, let us dwell on this aspect. According to global criteria, each cultural property submitted for inscription on the World Heritage List must:

be a masterpiece of human creative genius; or

show the importance of the process of transmission in time or cultural geographical area of ​​universal values ​​in the field of culture, architecture, monumental art, urban planning or landscape design; or

be a unique or extremely important evidence of the existence or disappearance of some civilization or cultural tradition; or

be an outstanding example of an architectural or landscape ensemble that marks one of the periods in the history of human development; or

represent an outstanding example of human formation of a landscape or settlement characteristic of a certain culture, especially if this culture has turned out to be defenseless in the face of irreversible historical changes; or

be associated directly or indirectly with events, traditions, ideas, beliefs or creative acts of outstanding world significance...

If we take into account the originality and uniqueness of the values, cults and rituals of the Buryats, Evenks, Tofalars, Soyots, Yakuts, Russian old-timers, primarily the Siberian Cossacks and the Old Believers - Semey, then we can confidently say that the socio-cultural community does not correspond to these standards .

Inclusion in the list of objects approved by the UNESCO Convention “On the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage” poses the most serious tasks for cooperation between different peoples in the field of nature protection of the “sacred lake”, like any other “object” of the Convention.

Recall that in the preamble to this international instrument, adopted by the seventeenth session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Paris, November 6, 1972), the following aspects are especially emphasized:

Noting that cultural and natural heritage is increasingly threatened by destruction caused not only by traditional causes of damage, but also by the evolution of social and economic life, which aggravates them with even more dangerous harmful and destructive phenomena;

Whereas the damage or disappearance of any object of cultural or natural heritage constitutes a detrimental impoverishment of the heritage of all the peoples of the world;

Whereas the protection of this heritage at the national level is often insufficient because of the high costs it requires and the lack of economic, scientific and technical resources of the country in whose territory the property to be protected is located;

Recalling that the Constitution of the Organization provides that it will help to promote progress and disseminate knowledge, ensuring the conservation and protection of the universal heritage of mankind, and recommending to the peoples concerned the appropriate international conventions;

Considering that the existing international conventions, recommendations and resolutions in favor of cultural and natural values ​​testify to the importance that the preservation of unique and irreplaceable values ​​is for all peoples, regardless of which people they belong to;

Whereas certain cultural and natural heritage values ​​are of exceptional interest and should therefore be preserved as part of the world heritage of all mankind;

Whereas, due to the scale and seriousness of the new dangers that threaten them, the entire international community should participate in the protection of natural and cultural heritage, providing collective assistance that, without replacing the activities of the State concerned in whose territory the value is located, its effective complement;

Whereas, to this end, it is necessary to adopt new provisions in the form of a convention establishing an effective system for the collective protection of objects of outstanding universal importance, organized on a permanent basis in accordance with modern scientific methods ...

Emphasizing the above aspects of the issue, the convention showed its significance and the prospects for decisions on saving and protecting not only human, but also natural world. The implementation of many of the most serious tasks outlined by the Convention on the scale of the Baikal region implies at least convergence, and best of all, integration of the positions and views of representatives of different peoples on the essence and interconnection of economic, spiritual and environmental problems. And in order to bring something closer, to connect, it is necessary to understand both general and particular issues of human interaction with environment practiced both at national and international levels. And it is important to do this not only in relation to nature in general, but also in relation to its specific objects, in our case, to Baikal. People living on its shores, like no one else, need to understand that the world status of the Holy Sea is not so much honor and respect, but the daily responsibility of the owner and the burdensome duty of a caring son.

Application. Monuments of the cultural and historical heritage of mankind on the territory of Russia

On the UNESCO World Heritage List Russian Federation there are 25 items (for 2012), this is 2.6% of total number(962 for 2012). 15 sites are listed under cultural criteria, with 6 of them recognized as a masterpiece of human genius, and 10 sites are included under natural criteria, with 4 of them recognized as natural phenomena of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance (Criterion VII). In addition, as of 2012, 26 sites in Russia are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, of which Russia is the successor, ratified the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on October 12, 1988. The first objects located on the territory were listed in 1990 at the 14th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Cultural Criteria

I. The object is a masterpiece of human creative genius.

II. The object testifies to the significant mutual influence of human values ​​in a given time period or in a particular cultural space, in architecture or technology, in monumental art, in city planning or landscape design.

III. The object is unique or at least exceptional for a cultural tradition or civilization that still exists or has already disappeared.

IV. The property is an outstanding example of a structure, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape that illustrates a significant period in human history.

V. The site is an outstanding example of a traditional human structure, with traditional use of the land or sea, exemplifying a culture (or cultures) or human interaction with the environment, especially if it becomes vulnerable due to the strong influence of irreversible changes.

VI. The object is directly or materially connected with events or existing traditions, with ideas, beliefs, artistic or literary works and is of exceptional global importance. (In the opinion of the UNESCO Committee, this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with another criterion or criteria).

natural criteria

VII. The object is natural phenomenon or a space of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.

VIII. The object is an outstanding example of the main stages of the history of the earth, including a monument of the past, a symbol of ongoing geological processes in the development of the relief, or a symbol of geomorphic or physiographic features.

IX. The site is an outstanding example of ongoing ecological or biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and plant and animal communities.

V. The property includes the most important or significant natural habitat for the conservation of biological diversity in it, including endangered species of exceptional world value from the point of view of science and conservation.

#	Name	Location	Time of creation	Year of listing	№	Criteria
1	Historical center of St. Petersburg and related complexes of monuments	City of federal significance: St. Petersburg Region: Leningradskaya	XVIII-XX centuries	1990	540	I, II, IV, VI
2	The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost	Nearest city: Medvezhyegorsk Republic: Karelia	XVIII-XIX centuries	1990	544	I, IV, V
3	Moscow Kremlin and Red Square		XIII-XVII centuries	1990	545	I, II, IV, VI
4	Historical monuments of Novgorod and its environs	City: Novgorod Region: Novgorod Federal District: Northwestern	XI-XVII centuries	1992	604	II, IV, VI
5	Cultural and historical ensemble " Solovetsky Islands»	Nearest city: Arkhangelsk Region: Arkhangelsk Federal District: Northwestern	XVI-XVII centuries	1992	632	IV
6	White stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal	City: Vladimir, Suzdal Region: Vladimirskaya Federal District: Central	XII-XIII centuries	1992	633	I, II, IV
7	Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye	City of federal significance: Moscow Federal District: Central	16th century	1994	634	II
8	The architectural ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra	City: Sergiev Posad Region: Moscow Federal District: Central	XV-XVIII centuries	1993	657	II, IV
9	Virgin forests of Komi	Komi Republic Federal District: Northwestern	-	1995	719	VII, IX
10		The Republic of Buryatia Region: Irkutsk	-	1996	754	VII, VIII, IX, X
11	Volcanoes of Kamchatka	Territory: Kamchatka	-	1996	765	VII, VIII, IX, X
12	Central Sikhote-Alin	Territory: Primorsky Federal District: Far East	-	2001	766	X
13	Golden Altai Mountains	Altai Republic Federal District: Siberian	-	1998	768	X
14	Ubsunur hollow	Tyva Republic Federal District: Siberian (Shared with Mongolia)	-	2003	769	IX, X
15	Western Caucasus	Territory: Krasnodar, Republic: Adygea Federal District: Southern	-	1999	900	IX, X
16	Historical and architectural complex "Kazan Kremlin"	City: Kazan Republic of Tatarstan Federal District: Privolzhsky	XVI-XXI centuries	2000	980	II, III, IV
17	Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery	Nearest city: Kirillov Region: Vologda Federal District: Northwestern	XV-XVII centuries	2000	982	I, IV
18	curonian spit	Nearest city: Zelenogradsk Region: Kaliningrad Federal District: Northwestern (Shared with Lithuania)	-	2003	994	V
19	Citadel, Old city and fortifications of Derbent	The Republic of Dagestan Federal District: North Caucasian	VI-XIX centuries	2003	1070	III, IV
20	Wrangel Island	Autonomous Okrug: Chukotsky Federal District: Far East	-	2004	1023	IX, X
21	Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent	City of federal significance: Moscow Federal District: Central	XVI-XVII centuries	2004	1097	I, IV, VI
22	Historic center of Yaroslavl	City: Yaroslavl Region: Yaroslavl Federal District: Central	XVI-XX centuries	2005	1170	II, IV
23	Struve geodetic arc (2 points)	Nearest city: Kingisepp Region: Leningradskaya Federal District: Northwestern (Together with Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine)	19th century	2005	1187	II, III, VI
24	Putorana Plateau	Territory: Krasnoyarsk Federal District: Siberian	-	2010	1234	VII, IX
25	Lena Pillars	Nearest city: Pokrovsk Saha Republic Federal District: Far East	-	2012	1299	VIII

Cultural criteria: vii, viii, ix, x
Year of inscription on the World Heritage List: 1996

One of the largest World Natural Heritage sites is a gigantic area (8.8 million hectares), located in the south of Eastern Siberia, not far from the borders with Mongolia. In the center of this range, at an altitude of 456 m above sea level, there is the water area of ​​Lake Baikal, and its outer boundaries are mainly delineated by the so-called "first catchment area", i.e. we are talking about a huge "bowl", limited by high mountain ranges- Khamar-Daban, Primorsky, Baikal, Barguzinsky, Ulan-Burgas, etc.

Baikal holds the world championship in several important parameters at once. So, this is the oldest freshwater reservoir on our planet - its age is usually determined at 25 million years. Further, Baikal, which occupies a huge ancient graben (tectonic fault), which belongs to one of the world's largest rift systems, is recognized as the deepest lake in the world - its maximum depth mark is 1620 m. Yes, and in terms of its overall size, Baikal is also one of the largest lakes in the world : it has a length of 636 km, and its water surface extends over an area of ​​3.15 million hectares (in Russia this is the most large lake, in the world - in 6th place). Baikal contains a gigantic amount of fresh water - approximately 20% of all world reserves. The transparency of Baikal waters is also amazing - individual objects are visible at a depth of up to 40 m. high rate. Among the endemics are such key elements of the lake ecosystem as the epishura crustacean, Baikal omul and seal (Baikal seal), as well as viviparous fish - golomyanka plus a number of rare forms of aquatic invertebrates (sponges, amphipods, etc.).

Baikal is a valuable fishing reservoir: out of 50 species of fish, 17 are of great commercial importance; this list, which begins with the most famous Baikal omul, also includes sturgeon, whitefish, grayling, ide, carp, etc.

Finally, Baikal is famous for its beauties, which attracts tourists from all over the country and from abroad to its shores, this is one of the most popular regions in Russia for ecotourism (animal watching, educational trails), as well as sports (mountain and water hiking) and fishing (gathering gifts from the taiga, hunting and fishing). There are many picturesque bays, there are excellent beaches, the coast is decorated with bizarre cliffs and rocky outcrops. Water excursions are carried out on the lake (including on several large cruise ships), and along the southwestern shore you can ride along the ancient Circum-Baikal railway(1904), with a mass of tunnels and bridges, which is a real monument of engineering art. On the shores of Lake Baikal (which was discovered by Russian pioneers in the middle of the 17th century), traces of settlements from the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, ancient burials were found, there are many interesting monuments of history and culture. At present, the Great Baikal Trail (GBT) is being designed around the entire Baikal.

A significant part of the Baikal coast is occupied by various specially protected areas, which form around the lake, as it were, a “reserved necklace”. This "necklace" includes three reserves - Barguzinsky (Buryatia, northeast coast, Barguzinsky Range, area 374.3 thousand hectares, created in 1916, has the status of a biosphere reserve), Baikalsky (Buryatia, South coast, Khamar-Daban ridge, 165.7 thousand ha, 1969, biosphere reserve) and Baikal-Lensky (Irkutsk region, northwestern coast, Baikal ridge, sources of the Lena River, 660 thousand ha, 1986). These are also two national parks - Pribaikalsky (Irkutsk region, the entire western and southwestern coast of the lake, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe Primorsky Range, including Olkhon Island and the sources of the Angara; 418 thousand hectares, 1986) and Zabaikalsky (Buryatia, eastern coast, Barguzinsky ridge, Svyatoi Nos peninsula, lake Arangatui, Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky bays, Ushkany Islands, 267 thousand hectares, 1986). 1/10 of the territory of the Tunkinsky National Park, in Buryatia, also falls within the boundaries of the World Heritage site. The “reserved necklace” also includes a number of reserves and natural monuments, including two federal reserves - on Lake Frolikha and Kabansky (the latter is in the Selenga River Delta, a wetland international importance protected under the Ramsar Convention). The natural environment of Lake Baikal is notable, firstly, because it performs the most important protective (buffer) function in relation to the water area. It is clear that the fate of the lake itself largely depends on the ecological state of the landscapes surrounding Baikal.

Secondly, the natural environment of Baikal is of great value in itself: after all, these are vast forests and swamps, the richest fauna and flora, exotic alpine landforms (glacial lakes and cirques, canyons, sharp ridges). The coast and foothills are mainly covered with steppes and forest-steppes, low mountains and middle mountains are covered with pine, spruce, larch forests, cedars and fir forests, above them they are replaced by elfin cedar, rhododendrons, mountain tundra and bald mountains.

The flora of the coastal zone of Lake Baikal is represented by more than 800 species of higher plants, including a number of endemic and rare forms (for example, in the Baikal national park grow rare plants- large-flowered slipper, Turchaninov's meadow, incised violet).

Among the approximately 50 species of mammals that live in the coastal zone in swamps, in the steppes and forest-steppes, in foothill and mountain forests, as well as in the middle of high-mountain bald mountains and tundra, the most typical are such as wild reindeer, maral, elk, musk deer, wild boar, Brown bear, wolf, fox, sable (including the famous Barguzin subspecies), ermine, Siberian weasel, squirrel, chipmunk, tarbagan marmot, otter and muskrat. Large rookeries of the Baikal seal are located on the Ushkany Islands, the total number of this animal in Baikal is now 60-70 thousand people.

And among the birds (of which there are about 250 species), we will mention, on the contrary, the rarest ones listed in the Red Book of Russia, such as: peregrine falcon, osprey, golden eagle, black crane and white-tailed eagle (the last two are also in the International Red Book). Large concentrations of waterfowl are observed in the area of ​​Lake Arangatui, and in winter - in the non-freezing sources of the Angara. This site on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website whc.unesco.org/en/list/754

Lake Baikal. Surroundings of Peschanaya Bay

Lake Baikal. Surroundings of Peschanaya Bay

In 2016, 20 years have passed since Lake Baikal was included in the World Natural Heritage List. This happened on December 5, 1996 by decision of the 20th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in the Mexican city of Merida. Russia has filed an application for the inclusion of Baikal in the World Natural Heritage List.

To be inscribed on the Natural World Heritage List, a candidate property must meet at least one of four criteria:

• to be an outstanding example representing the main stages of the development of the Earth, including evidence ancient life, significant geological processes in the stage of formation of landforms, geomorphological and physiographic elements of great importance; or
• be an outstanding example representing ecological and biological evolutionary processes, the development of ecosystems and terrestrial, river, coastal and marine plant and animal communities; or
• represent a natural phenomenon or area of ​​exceptional aesthetic value; or
• contain the habitats of the most representative and important species for the conservation of biological diversity, including those areas where species of outstanding global importance in terms of science and conservation, and endangered.

Baikal satisfied all four. Of the thousands of natural sites on the List, just over a dozen meet the four criteria.

The decision adopted by the UNESCO Committee noted:

“Lake Baikal is a classic case of a World Heritage Site, fulfilling all four natural criteria. Baikal itself is the main object of the nomination. The features of the lake, hidden to a greater extent from the eyes of water, are of the main value for science and protection. The lake is surrounded by mountain-taiga landscapes and specially protected natural areas, mostly preserved in their natural state and representing additional value. Lake Baikal is a limnological wonder and an area with the following excellent qualities:

• The geological rift system that gave rise to Lake Baikal formed during the Mesozoic period. Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake on Earth. Various tectonic forces still continue their action, as evidenced by the outlets of thermal flows from the depths of the lake.
• The evolution of aquatic organisms that has taken place throughout this long period has led to the formation of unique endemic flora and fauna. Lake Baikal is the "Galapagos Islands of Russia" and is of exceptional value for the study of evolution.
• The picturesque landscape around the Baikal basin with mountain ranges, boreal forests, tundra, lakes, islands and steppes provides an exceptionally picturesque environment for Lake Baikal. Baikal is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth (20% of all world reserves), which additionally characterizes it as a unique phenomenon.
• Lake Baikal is one of the most biodiverse lakes on Earth, with 1,340 animal species (745 endemic) and 570 plant species (150 endemic). In the forests surrounding the lake, there are 10 species of plants listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and a complete composition of typical boreal species is presented.

When Baikal was included in the World Natural Heritage List, the Russian leadership was given special recommendations.