Lake Baikal.

Baikal was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996 according to four natural criteria .:
  (vii) An object is a natural phenomenon or 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 the ongoing geological processes in the development of the relief, or a symbol of geomorphological or physical-geographical features.
  (ix) An object is an outstanding example of ongoing environmental or biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and plant and animal communities.

(x) The facility 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.

The lake is located in the Russian Federation, on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia, stretching from the north-east to south-west for 620 km in the form of a crescent. The width of Lake Baikal varies from 24 to 80 km.

Baikal is the deepest and oldest lake on earth. The maximum depth of the lake is 1642 m. It is located at a point with coordinates 53 ° 14′59 ″ s. w. 108 ° 05′11 ″ c. (established in 1983 by the expedition of the GUNiO MO, confirmed in 2002 as a result of the Belgian-Spanish-Russian project to create a new bathymetric map of Lake Baikal)
  Baikal is located in the mainland basin: the lower point of the basin lies 1187 m below the level of the world ocean
  The average depth of the lake is 744.4 m. The water surface of the lake covers an area   31 722 km². Freshwater reserves in Baikal - 23,615.39 km³ (about 19% of the world's reserves of lake freshwater)
  The geological rift system that gave rise to Lake Baikal was formed in the Mesozoic period. The age of the Baikal basin is estimated at 20-25 million years. The Baikal rift zone belongs to territories with high seismicity, earthquakes regularly occur here, the strength of which is one or two points.
336 rivers and streams flow into Baikal. The largest of them are Selenga, Upper Angara, Barguzin, Turk, Snezhnaya, Sarma. One river flows from the lake - the Angara.

(Overview from an altitude of 734 km, altitude: 952 km.)

The Holy Nose Peninsula is the largest peninsula that divides the Chivyrkuisky and Barguzinsky bays. The largest island of the lake is Olkhon. Ushkany islands are four islands in the middle part of Baikal: Big, Round, Thin and Long. By area, they are about 10 square meters .. The islands of the Chivyrkuisky Bay - Shaggy, Naked, White Stone, Baklaniy and Kovryazhka and the islands of the Small Sea - Izhilhey, Edor, Modoto, Kharantsi, Zamotay, Ogoy, Borakchin, Khubyn, Khunuk, Bolshoi and Small Toynaki.
  In the north of the lake are the islands of Yarki and Millionnaya.
  Ushkany islands are known for the largest rookery of the Baikal seal. The Baikal seal is an endemic of the lake and a landmark of the Transbaikal National Park.

Baikal seals.

Seal cub.

Baikal has about 2600 species and subspecies of living organisms.
  About 1000 species are endemic.
The most famous fishes of Baikal: Baikal omul, grayling, whitefish, Baikal sturgeon, golomyanka.
A number of rare forms of aquatic invertebrates (sponges, amphipods) inhabit the lake.

The crustacean Baikal epishura plays a very important role in the ecosystem of the lake. This representative species of planktonic crustaceans, 1.5 mm in size, consumes organics by passing water through its body. Being a natural filter, the Baikal epishura purifies the water of the lake.

The Transbaikal National Park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal, and the Baikal National Park is located on the western coast.
  The flora of the coastal zone of Lake Baikal is represented by more than 800 species of plants.
  Among the approximately 50 species of mammals that live in the coastal zone in swamps, steppes and forest-steppes, in foothill and mountain forests, in high mountains: wild reindeer, red deer, elk, musk deer, wild boar, brown bear, wolf, fox, sable, ermine , columns, squirrel, chipmunk, marmot-tarbagan, otter, muskrat.

About 250 species of birds live in the Baikal region. The most rare species: peregrine falcon, osprey, golden eagle, black crane, white-tailed eagle.

World Heritage Site "Lake Baikal"

Lake Baikal   refers to world natural heritage sites. In 1996, Baikal, together with the coastal zone, with a total area of \u200b\u200babout 8.8 million hectares. was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Baikal holds the world championship in several important ways at once. Lake Baikal is the oldest freshwater body of our planet - its age is determined at 25 million years.
   Baikal, which occupies a huge ancient graben (tectonic fault), which belongs to one of the largest rift systems in the world, is recognized as the deepest lake in the world - its maximum depth exceeds 1600 m. Baikal is also one of the largest lakes in the world in size: it has a length of 636 km, and its water surface extends over an area of \u200b\u200b3.15 million hectares (in Russia it is the largest lake in the world - in 6th place).
   A huge amount of fresh water is enclosed in Lake Baikal - approximately 20% of all world reserves. The transparency of the Baikal waters is also amazing - individual objects are visible at a depth of up to 40 m.

The lake is distinguished by the richest and most unusual freshwater life: of the several thousand species and varieties of plants and animals that inhabit this lake, 3/4 are recognized as endemic, which is an extremely high indicator by world standards. Among the endemics are such key elements of the lake ecosystem as the epishura, the Baikal omul and the seal (Baikal seal), as well as viviparous fish - Golomyanka, as well as a number of rare forms of aquatic invertebrates (sponges, amphibians, amphipods, etc.) .
   Baikal is a valuable fishing reservoir: out of 50 fish species, 17 are of great commercial importance; this list, which begins with the most famous Baikal omul, also includes sturgeon, whitefish, grayling, etc.

Baikal is famous for its beauty, which attracts tourists from all over the country and from abroad to its shores. It is one of the most popular areas of ecological tourism in Russia (observation of animals, study trails), as well as sports (mountain and water trips) and commercial tourism (collection of taiga gifts, hunting and fishing). There are many picturesque bays, there are excellent beaches, the coast is decorated with bizarre cliffs and rock outcrops.
   Water excursions are carried out on the lake, and along the southwestern shore you can take a ride along the old Circum-Baikal Railway   (1905), with a mass of tunnels and bridges, which is a real monument of engineering.
   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, and ancient burials were discovered. There are many interesting monuments of history and culture. Currently, around the entire Baikal great Baikal trail.

The area of \u200b\u200bLake Baikal stands out for its high biodiversity. Thus, the local flora is represented by more than 800 species of higher plants, including a number of endemic and rare forms. Among the approximately 50 species of mammals that live in the coastal zone in swamps, steppes and forest-steppes, in foothill and mountain forests, as well as in the midst of mountain char and tundra, the most typical are wild reindeer, red deer, elk, musk deer, wild boar , brown bear, wolf, fox, sable, ermine, columns, squirrel, chipmunk, marmot-tarbagan, otter and muskrat. Among the birds (about 250 species in total), the rarest are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation: peregrine falcon, osprey, golden eagle, black crane and white-tailed eagle (the last two are also in the International Red Book).

State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Barguzinsky"   —The first state reserve of Russia — was created in 1916 in order to preserve the complete elimination of the Barguzin sable, restore its range and numbers on the north-eastern coast of Lake Baikal, and also to help restore the sable population in the country.
   The reserve is located on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia and has an area of \u200b\u200b374.3 thousand ha, of which 15.0 thousand ha falls on the water area of \u200b\u200bLake Baikal and 111.2 thousand ha occupies a biosphere test site.
   In 1986, the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve was included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
   The reserve occupies the north-eastern coast of Lake Baikal and the western slopes of the Barguzinsky ridge. The maximum ridge heights within the reserve are up to 2668.2 m, the minimum are from 455.9 m. In the valleys of the rivers Ezovka, Bolshaya, Talamush and Davshe, there are thermal springs with water temperatures in some of them above 70 ° C.
   The reserve is located in several high-altitude zones. The coast of Baikal is bordered by larch forests, followed by mountain taiga. The upper border of the forest is formed by birch forests, fir trees and spruce forests with powerful developed tall grass and shrubbery. About 32% of the territory of the reserve is occupied by a high mountainous loach belt.
In the flora, 876 species of higher vascular plants, 1241 species of algae, 132 species of fungi, 212 species of lichens and 147 species of bryophytes were noted in the flora. Of their endemic species, astragalus triphagos, meadow Turchaninova, bluegrass Smirnov are noted, from relict species, they are lanceolate, three-flowered bedstraw, common coop. 5 species of flowering plants and 3 species of lichens are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, 31 species of flowering and 6 species of lichens are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Buryatia.
   The fauna of the reserve is typically taiga, but with some features caused by the close proximity of Lake Baikal. Five species of mammals - Barguzin sable, reindeer, red deer, brown bear, black-capped marmot - are among the most valuable representatives of the fauna.
   The main route of communication in the reserve, given the inaccessibility of the territory, is water, along Lake Baikal, through which it is possible to travel on the ice road by road in winter.
Baikal State Nature Biosphere Reserve   organized in 1969 on the southern shore of Lake Baikal, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Khamar-Daban ridge.
   The purpose of the reserve is to protect in a natural form the unique landscapes of the southern Baikal region.
   The reserve is located on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia and has an area of \u200b\u200b165.7 thousand ha. The state nature reserve Kabansky was transferred to the reserve.
   In 1986, the Baikal Reserve was given the status of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In accordance with the Ramsar Convention, the territory of the Kabansky nature reserve is assigned to wetlands of international importance as a habitat for waterfowl.
   The relief of the territory formed about 1 million years ago. The seismicity of the axial part of the Khamar-Daban ridge is estimated at 7 points. The length of the northern slope of the ridge facing Lake Baikal reaches 35 km with a vertical drop of 1,860 m, the southern slope of 12-15 km with a vertical drop of 1,550 m. Alpine-type landscapes with sharp mountain peaks and steep slopes are typical of the ridge.
   The flora of the reserve is characteristic of the mountains of Southern Siberia and includes more than 800 species of higher vascular plants, 308 species of mosses, 651 species of lichens (9 species of lichens are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation). More than 60% of the reserve is forested. Starting at heights of 1800 m above sea level, the alpine zone begins, represented by low-grass meadows, mountain tundra, shrubby wastelands.
The fauna of the reserve is typical of the mountains of southern Siberia. The mammalian fauna is represented by 49 species (sable, red deer, elk, Siberian roe deer, musk deer, etc.), the ichthyofauna - 17 species (grayling, lenok, taimen).
   The Baikal Reserve has a number of routes for scientific and ecological tourism.

State Nature Reserve Kabansky   formed in 1974, has an area of \u200b\u200b18.0 thousand hectares and is located in the delta of the Selenga River.
   Mallard, gray duck, red-headed dive, crested blacken nest in large numbers on the territory of the reserve; colonies of gulls, river terns, gray herons settle. During the migration period, thousands of ducks, waders, gulls, gulls and other birds find favorable conditions for resting and feeding.
   Of the birds that live in the reserve, they are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation: White-tailed Eagle, Siberian Crane, Black Stork, Sukkon, Golden Eagle, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Saker Falcon, etc.

State Nature Reserve "Baikal-Lensky"   located in the Irkutsk region and covers an area of \u200b\u200b659.9 thousand hectares. The reserve was established in 1986 in order to preserve mountain taiga landscapes and a number of natural phenomena.
   The reserve is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Baikal, in the region of the Baikal Range. The height fluctuations are quite significant - from 455 m (the level of Lake Baikal) to 2 thousand m and more.
   By the nature of the relief, the territory of the reserve belongs to the Sayano-Baikal mountain-folded region; there are also glacial landforms.
   The hydrographic network of the reserve is extremely rich and diverse. Here, the Lena River originates, the length of which within the reserve is approximately 250 km.
   Vegetation is represented by seven types: forest, steppe, shrubby, tundra, meadow, marsh and water. The dominant type of vegetation is forest. Forest area is 86.4%, where larch, pine and cedar prevail. There are sections of relict Daurian steppes.
   The reserve contains 922 species of vascular plants, 133 species of mushrooms, 312 species of lichens, 179 species of mosses. Of the vascular plants, 54 species are endemic to the Baikal region and southern Siberia.
   Protected species include Rhodiola rosea, Altai onions, dwarf lily, Turchaninov pike, etc.
   The fauna of the reserve is diverse: taiga species - brown bear, squirrel, sable, elk, chipmunk, pine nut, wood grouse, hazel grouse; steppe species - long-tailed gopher, Daurian jackdaw, cinder, and others; southern taiga species - Siberian roe deer, red deer; wetland species - gray crane, black stork.

National Park "Pribaikalsky"   located within the Slyudyansky, Irkutsk and Olkhonsky districts of the Irkutsk region. Established in 1986, consists of several plots with a total area of \u200b\u200b417.3 thousand ha.
   There are 3 key ornithological territories of international importance in the park: “Olkhon and Priolkhonye Island” with an area of \u200b\u200b220 thousand hectares; "South Baikal Falcon-like Migration Corridor" with an area of \u200b\u200b7.5 thousand hectares; "The source and upper course of the Angara River"   an area of \u200b\u200b2.5 thousand hectares.
   The relief of the park is extremely rugged with small differences in elevation. The hydrographic network is very well developed: about 150 different watercourses (rivers, rivers, streams, etc.) flow here, 60 of which flow directly into Lake Baikal. The park has about 80 lakes of various origins.
   On the territory of the park, 5 species of water-bearing plants, 37 species of fern-shaped plants, 13 species of gymnosperms and 1277 species of angiosperms were noted. 16 species of plants are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (Altai onions, calypso bulbous, astragalus olkhon, etc.).

Of the representatives of the animal world, 25 species of fish, 4 species of amphibians, 5 species of reptiles, 320 species of birds (including 200 species of breeding ones), 63 species of mammals live here. The southwestern coast of Lake Baikal is a “route” for the mass autumn flight of birds of prey (up to 2 thousand per day).
   One of the main activities of the Pribaikalsky National Park is the development of natural, historical and cultural tourism. The park has a lot of interesting places: majestic cliffs, rocks, picturesque bays and bays, caves; about 1 thousand archaeological sites: ancient settlements, cave paintings, stone "tent" graves, etc.
National Park "Transbaikal"   located in the Barguzinsky district of the Republic of Buryatia. The park was established in 1986 and has an area of \u200b\u200b268.1 thousand ha, including the water area of \u200b\u200bLake Baikal - 37.0 thousand ha.
   Two ranges extend across the territory of the park: Barguzinsky (the highest point - 2376 m above sea level) and Sredinny (the highest point - 1877 m above sea level).
   The largest inland lakes of the park are Arangatuy and Small Arangatuy, as well as Lake Bormashovoe, famous for its mineral waters. The most famous thermal water outlets are the Zmeiny, Nechaevsky, Kulinoe springs.
The vertical zonation characteristic of the Transbaikalia mountains is well traced in the structure of the vegetation cover. Coniferous species dominate in the composition of forests (pine, cedar elfin, cedar, larch, fir).
   The flora of vascular plants totals more than 700 species, among which there are many endemic, rare and relict.
   The mammalian fauna has about 50 species, the bird fauna - about 250 species, the reptile fauna - 6 species and the amphibians - 3 species. The Ushkany Islands is the largest population of seals on Lake Baikal. Siberian sturgeon is a particularly valuable and rare species.
   One of the main activities of the park is the development of natural tourism. Large recreational sites are indicated here: the Chivyrkuisky and Barguzinsky bays, the Svyatoy Nos peninsula, the Barguzinsky ridge and the Chivyrkuisky isthmus. Wet ecosystems of the Chivyrkuy Isthmus is one of the largest bird nesting sites on Lake Baikal. The thermal springs of Zmeeva Bay are famous for their healing properties.
   To object World Heritage "Lake Baikal"   also includes: a small part of the territory of the Tunkinsky National Park and the Frolikhinsky State Nature Reserve.

Tunkinsky National Park   located on the territory of the Tunkinsky district of the Republic of Buryatia and covers an area of \u200b\u200b1183.7 thousand hectares. The park was created in 1991.
   Within the park, the Tunkinsky Goltsy, the Khamar-Daban ridge and the chain of intermountain hollows stand out. Mineral waters of the Tunkinsky Depression have a wide range of healing properties.
   The dominant type of vegetation in the park is taiga. More than 40 species of rare plants are distributed here, many of which are relics and endemic.
   The national park has more than 300 species of vertebrate animals. Birds number over 230 species, including nesting birds - 200 species. In recent years, attempts have been made to restore the population of the two-humped camel in Tunkinskaya Valley, which was widespread here in former times.
   One of the main activities of the Tukinsky National Park is the development of natural, historical, cultural and recreational tourism.

G frolikhinsky State Nature Reserve located in the Severobaikalsky district of the Republic of Buryatia. It was founded in 1986 in order to preserve the number and reproduction of wild animals, their habitats, as well as to protect rare and endangered species and preserve natural monuments, such as Singing Sands of Turali, Papakh Rock, Lake Frolikha, Ayaya Bay, Cape Haman -Kit, Frolikhinsky source, etc.
   The reserve area is 109.2 thousand ha. Most of the territory is occupied by coniferous taiga forests, the main forest-forming species of which are Siberian pine, Daurian larch, spruce, fir, cedar elfin. The hunting fauna of the reserve includes the following species: elk, red deer, musk deer, wild reindeer, bear, lynx, wolverine, sable, squirrel, red fox, capercaillie, hazel grouse.

Cultural criteria: vii, viii, ix, x
World Heritage Listing Year: 1996

One of the largest World Heritage sites is a gigantic range (8.8 million hectares), located in the south of Eastern Siberia, near the borders with Mongolia. In the center of this area, at an altitude of 456 m above sea level, is the Baikal water area, and its external borders are mainly outlined by the so-called “first catchment”, that is, we are talking about a huge "chalice" bounded by high mountain ranges - Khamar-Daban, Primorsky, Baikal, Barguzinsky, Ulan-Burgas, etc.

Baikal holds the world championship in several important ways at once. So, this is the oldest freshwater body of water 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 largest rift systems in the world, 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 \u200b\u200b3.15 million hectares (in Russia it is the largest lake in the world - in 6th place). A huge volume of fresh water is enclosed in Baikal - 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. The lake is distinguished by the richest and most unusual freshwater life: out of several thousand species and varieties of plants and animals that inhabit this lake, 3/4 are recognized as endemic, which by world standards is exclusively high rate. Among the endemic species, there are such key elements of the lake ecosystem as the copepod, 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, common carp, etc.

Finally, Baikal is famous for its beauty, which attracts tourists from all over the country and from abroad to its shores, it is one of the most popular areas of ecological tourism in Russia (animal monitoring, study trails), as well as sports (mountain and water hiking) and fishing (collecting gifts of the taiga, hunting and fishing). There are many picturesque bays, there are excellent beaches, the coast is decorated with bizarre cliffs and rock outcrops. Water excursions are carried out around 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. 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 discovered, there are many interesting historical and cultural monuments. Currently, the Great Baikal Trail (BBT) 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 a kind of “protected necklace”. This “necklace” includes three nature reserves - Barguzinsky (Buryatia, northeast coast, Barguzinsky ridge, an area of \u200b\u200b374.3 thousand hectares, created in 1916, has the status of a biosphere reserve), Baikalsky (Buryatia, south coast, Khamar ridge -Daban, 165.7 thousand hectares, 1969, biosphere reserve) and Baikal-Lensky (Irkutsk region, northwest coast, Baikal ridge, the sources of the Lena River, 660 thousand hectares, 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 ridge, with the inclusion of Olkhon Island and the origins of the Angara; 418 thousand hectares, 1986) and Zabaikalsky (Buryatia, eastern coast, Barguzinsky ridge, Svyatoy Nos peninsula, Lake Arangatui, Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky bays, Ushkany islands, 267 thousand ha, 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 nature reserves and natural monuments, including two federal nature reserves - on the Frolikha and Kabansky lakes (the latter in the Selenga River Delta, a wetland of international importance, protected under the Ramsar Convention). The natural environment of Lake Baikal is remarkable, firstly, in that 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 Lake Baikal.

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

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, rare plants grow in the Pribaikalsky National Park - large-flowered slipper, Turchaninova meadow, incised violet).

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

And among the birds (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 \u200b\u200bLake Arangatui, and in winter - in the ice-free sources of the Angara. This item is on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website whc.unesco.org/en/list/754

Lake Baikal. The surroundings of Peschanaya Bay

In 2016, 20 years have passed since the inclusion of Lake Baikal in the List of World Natural Heritage. 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. An application for inclusion of Baikal in the World Natural Heritage List has been submitted by Russia.

To be included in the World Natural Heritage List, a candidate property must satisfy at least one of four criteria:

• to be an outstanding example representing the main stages of the Earth’s development, including evidence of ancient life, significant geological processes at the stage of formation of relief forms, geomorphological and physiographic elements of great importance; or
• to be an outstanding example representing ecological and biological evolutionary processes, the development of ecosystems and land, river, coastal and marine communities of plants and animals; or
• represent a natural phenomenon or territory of exceptional aesthetic significance; or
• contain habitats of the most representative and important species for conservation of biological diversity, including those areas where species that are of outstanding world importance from the point of view of science and conservation, and are in danger of extinction, are preserved.

Baikal satisfied all four. Of the thousands of natural objects contained in the List, a little more than a dozen satisfy four criteria.

The decision adopted by the UNESCO Committee noted:

“Lake Baikal is a classic case of a World Heritage site that meets 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 by water, are the main value for science and protection. The lake is surrounded by mountain-taiga landscapes and specially protected natural areas, mainly preserved in a natural state and of additional value. Lake Baikal is a limnological miracle and a territory possessing 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 to operate, as evidenced by the emergence of thermal flows from the depths of the lake.
• The evolution of aquatic organisms over the course of this long period has led to the formation of a 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 of Lake Baikal. Baikal is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth (20% of all world reserves), which further characterizes it as a unique phenomenon.
• Lake Baikal is one of the most biodiversity lakes on Earth, it contains 1340 species of animals (745 are endemic) and 570 species of plants (150 are endemic). In the forests surrounding the lake, there are 10 species of plants listed in the Red Book of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and the full composition of typical boreal species is presented. ”

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

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee put Lake Baikal on the list for the conservation of the unique gene pool of our planet as the most outstanding example of a freshwater ecosystem. Baikal is the oldest (25 million years) and the deepest (1700 meters) lake in the world. Its natural reservoir holds 20% of all unfrozen fresh water in the world.

The lake is characterized by a variety of endemic species of flora and fauna, which are of exceptional importance for modern evolutionary science. In addition, in the protected nature reserve zone of the lake there are many other natural values \u200b\u200bfor humanity, including a picturesque view of the coastal zones. The UNESCO Committee last year revised the boundaries of the protected area of \u200b\u200bthe conservation area, from which five urban industrial areas that threaten environmental pollution of the lake were excluded.

Currently, the State Duma of Russia is considering the adoption of a law to protect natural resources around Lake Baikal. Representatives of the UNESCO organization expressed their concern on many issues related to the integrity of the ecological balance of the lake, including the impossibility of chemical pollution in the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe territories adjacent to Lake Baikal.

Located in the southeast of Siberia, Lake Baikal is a natural habitat for several freshwater endemic species, the most prominent representative of which is the Baikal seal. A wide variety of plants around Lake Baikal is explained by the climatic asymmetry of the lake, spread over a vast territory of 3.15 million hectares. In the western part of the lake, coniferous forests and mountain steppes surround, in the eastern part, pine forests predominate, and the northern shores are covered with deciduous trees.

The formation of geological structures in the lake basin took place even during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, however, some tectonic movements are still observed now, as evidenced by many heat sources at the bottom of the lake. Baikal is considered a unique lake in the world due to the biological diversity of life forms in its waters and around the lake - 1340 species of animals (745 endemic) and 570 species of plants (150 endemic). In the forests around Baikal there are about 10 species of animals that are on the verge of extinction.

It is not for nothing that scientists call Lake Baikal “Galapagossa of Russia”, because the evolution of aquatic flora and fauna that took place over a million centuries is truly unique for this region. Tourists with pleasure come to this remote corner of Russia cut off from civilization to admire the most beautiful landscapes. The hollow of a deep fresh lake looks amazing at any time of the day, surrounded by mountains, northern forests, tundra and steppe meadows.

The Baikal region has about 1,200 historical, architectural and cultural monuments, 100 of which are under state protection. Some of these monuments are sacred relics of local residents. I'd like to believe that the unique wonders of the Baikal ecosystem will be preserved for our descendants. Now the Russian government is taking many measures to solve these global problems with the support of scientists from around the world.