Lake Baikal as a world heritage. Protected by unesco world heritage: lake baikal (russia).

Cultural criteria: vii, viii, ix, x
Year of inclusion in the List of World Heritage: 1996

One of the largest objects in the World natural heritage 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 area, at an altitude of 456 m above sea level, there is the water area of Lake Baikal, and its outer borders are mainly outlined by the so-called "first catchment", i.e. it comes about a huge "bowl" bounded by high mountain ranges - Khamar-Daban, Primorsky, Baikalsky, Barguzinsky, Ulan-Burgasy, etc.

Baikal holds the world championship in several important parameters 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) belonging 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. And in terms of its overall size, Baikal is also among 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 it is the largest lake, in the world - in 6th place). Baikal contains a gigantic volume fresh water- about 20% of all world reserves. The transparency of the Baikal waters is also striking - individual objects are visible at a depth of 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 inhabiting this lake, 3/4 are recognized as endemic, which by world standards is exclusively high rate. Among the endemics are such key elements of the lake ecosystem as 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 fishery reservoir: out of 50 fish species, 17 are of great commercial value; This list, which begins with the most famous Baikal omul, also includes sturgeon, whitefish, grayling, ide, carp, etc.

Finally, Baikal is famous for its beauty, which attracts tourists to its shores from all over the country and from abroad; it is one of the most popular regions in all of Russia. ecological tourism(observation of animals, study trails), as well as sports (mountain and water trips) and fishing (collecting gifts from the taiga, hunting and fishing). There are many picturesque bays, excellent beaches, quaint cliffs and rocky outcrops adorn the shores. Water excursions are carried out along the lake (including on several large cruise ships), and along the southwestern coast you can ride along the old Circum-Baikal railroad(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, 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 coastline is occupied by various specially protected areas, which form around the lake a kind of “reserved necklace”. This "necklace" includes three reserves - Barguzinsky (Buryatia, northeastern coast, Barguzinsky ridge, area 374.3 thousand hectares, created in 1916, has the status of a biosphere reserve), Baikalsky (Buryatia, southern coast, Khamar ridge -Daban, 165.7 thousand hectares, 1969, biosphere reserve) and Baikal-Lensky (Irkutsk region, northwestern coast, Baikal ridge, the headwaters of the Lena River, 660 thousand hectares, 1986). These are also two national parks - the Pribaikalsky (Irkutsk region, all the western and southwestern shores of the lake, the Primorsky ridge region, including the Olkhon island and the Angara sources; 418 thousand hectares, 1986) and the Zabaikalsky (Buryatia, eastern coast, Barguzinsky ridge, Svyatoy Nos peninsula, Lake Arangatui, Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky bays, Ushkany islands, 267 thousand hectares, 1986). Within the boundaries of the site World heritage also falls 1/10 of the territory of the Tunkinsky National Park, in Buryatia. 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 significance, 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 Baikal.

Secondly, the natural environment of Lake 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 and middle mountains - with pine, spruce, larch forests, cedars and fir forests, above them are replaced by dwarf cedar, rhododendrons, mountain tundra and loaches.

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 rare plants grow - large-flowered slipper, Turchaninov's meadow, incised violet).

Among about 50 species of mammals that live in the coastal zone in marshes, in the steppes and forest-steppe, in the foothill and mountain forests, as well as in the midst of alpine loaches and tundra, the most typical are 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 on Lake Baikal is now 60-70 thousand.

And among the birds (of which there are about 250 species), we mention, on the contrary, the most rare 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 is on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website whc.unesco.org/en/list/754

Lake Baikal. Vicinity of Peschanaya Bay

2016 marked the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of Lake Baikal in the World Natural Heritage List. This happened on December 5, 1996 by the decision of the 20th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in the Mexican city of Merida. Russia has submitted an application for the inclusion of Lake Baikal in the World Natural Heritage List.

To be included in the World Natural 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 of ancient life, significant geological processes in the stage of formation of landforms, geomorphological and physiographic elements that are of great importance; or
to be an outstanding example representing ecological and biological evolutionary processes, the development of ecosystems and terrestrial, river, coastal and marine communities of plants and animals; or
represent a natural phenomenon or a territory of exceptional aesthetic value; or
contain habitats of the most representative and important for conservation biological diversity species, including those habitats where species of outstanding global scientific and conservation importance and threatened with extinction are preserved.

Baikal satisfied all four. Of the thousands of natural sites on the List, just over 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 of the main value for science and protection. The lake is surrounded by mountain-taiga landscapes and specially protected natural areas, mainly preserved in their natural state and of additional value. Lake Baikal is a limnological miracle and a territory 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 to operate, as evidenced by the outflow of thermal flows from the depths of the lake.
The evolution of aquatic organisms throughout 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 additionally characterizes it as a unique phenomenon.
Lake Baikal is one of the most biodiverse lakes on Earth, it is home to 1340 animal species (745 are endemic) and 570 plant species (150 are endemic). In the forests surrounding the lake, there are 10 plant species listed in the IUCN Red Data Book, and the full range of typical boreal species is represented. "

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

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BAIKAL - A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

The problem of preserving natural heritage has always existed, sometimes becoming quite acute. The relevance of studying this topic lies in the fact that it is necessary to know the unique features of this lake, to give an idea of the planetary significance of its preservation, and also to form a careful and responsible attitude of the population.

The study of this issue began with a visit to the Baikal Limnological Museum. The scientific direction of the museum is the study of the peculiarities of the evolution of the ecosystem of Lake Baikal. The museum provides in-depth information about the history of the origin and existence of Lake Baikal, presents the biological diversity of the lake, the relationship of abiotic and biotic factors, introduces specially protected areas, talks about the study of the lake, and even gives the opportunity to virtual dive to the bottom of Lake Baikal. natural heritage baikal planetary

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia includes 26 sites, including: 16 of them are included in the list according to cultural criteria, 10 sites - according to natural ones.

2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of Lake Baikal in the World Natural Heritage List. This happened on December 5, 1996. To be included in the List of World Natural Heritage, a candidate site must meet at least one of four criteria, Baikal meets all four. Of the thousands of natural sites on the List, just over a dozen satisfy all four criteria.

Baikal is an exceptional natural beauty; it presents a number of unique phenomena.

Baikal is the deepest lake on the planet, its depth is 1637 m, the transparency of the water is about 40 m, which is ten times more than in other lakes. For example, in the Caspian the transparency of the water is 25 m, in Issyk-Kul - 20 m. On Lake Baikal, a silver coin thrown into the water can be traced to a depth of 30-40 m.

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

Known as the Galapagos of Russia, the lake, thanks to its ancient age and isolation, has developed a unique freshwater ecosystem, the study of which is of enduring importance for understanding the evolution of life on Earth. The lake is home to 1340 animal species (745 endemic) and 570 plant species (150 endemic). This species diversity has developed due to the high oxygen content in the water.

After Baikal is included in the List of the World Natural Heritage, special attention is paid to its ecological state. At present, there are two large administrative regions of Russia, the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia, on the territory of the Lake Baikal drainage basin. Possessing industrial and agricultural potential, these entities determine state of the art ecosystems of the lake, being a source of pollution.

The lake has been at risk more than once, not so long ago it was planned to lay an oil pipeline in the Baikal drainage basin and in five other territories that have the status of protected, but this project did not pass the state ecological expertise.

Today there is a new threat over Lake Baikal: the planned construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Selenga River and its tributaries by Mongolia, which may lead to the degradation of Lake Baikal. Selenga - largest river, flowing into the lake, provides up to 80% of the water flow into the lake. The construction of dams on the river will significantly change the ecosystem of the river, the consequences are only negative - there will be a deterioration in water quality and deterioration of water supply conditions, degradation of wetlands, loss of geological stability and an increase in the risk of landslides, erosion, earthquakes.

The Limnological Institute highlights new problem: pollution of the coastal zone of Lake Baikal, which was announced by Irkutsk scientists in 2014, has become catastrophic in the full sense of the word. About 60% of the lake coast is covered with spirogyra-algae, characteristic of warm stagnant water bodies, previously almost never found in Lake Baikal, its closest relative lives in the area of inflow Wastewater Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill.

They cover almost 1 km of the coast with a thick layer of a strip 2-3 meters wide, emitting an unpleasant odor. Residents of the village of Maksimikha note the disappearance of the coastal whitefish, which spawns near the coast, this is due to the fact that the decomposition of algae in the coastal strip is incompatible with the reproduction of fish and other inhabitants of Lake Baikal, since oxygen is consumed by microorganisms, and its content in the water is sharply reduced. As a result of a decrease in the oxygen content in water, the death of organisms that need oxygen occurs - zooplankton, fish, and its laid eggs.

Fertilizer minerals can enter Lake Baikal with liquid household waste(nitrogen and phosphorus), sewage (nitrogen), detergents (washing powder contains phosphorus salts), with industrial waste pulp and paper industries. Decomposing biomass, organic waste, secondary pollution. Eutrophication is the process by which lakes gradually become swamps and do not usually live long.

Therefore, we can conclude that the lake is currently experiencing an increased anthropogenic load.

Moreover, the development of Spirogyra poses a danger to humans. Fields of rotting algae attract masses of seagulls and other birds, with their feces enter and actively multiply intestinal bacteria, which during storms are washed into the lake itself. This is the so-called secondary sanitary pollution, which has already been diagnosed by the staff of the Limnological Institute.

It is possible that the mass death of sponges, a natural filter of Baikal water, is associated with the appearance of Spirogyra in the lake. The alga occupies the spawning grounds of the yellowfly fish, and it, in turn, is the favorite food of the Baikal omul. That is, the consequences can affect the population of the latter. Sponges, on the other hand, first die out, and then colonies of blue-green bacteria appear on them, and some genera of these bacteria can produce toxins of various effects, including those affecting the central nervous system, the liver, and can, for example, cause cirrhosis.

Baikal is unique natural complex of interest and as an object scientific research, and as an unconditional aesthetic value.

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Baikal is a World Natural Heritage Site. In 2016, it will already be 20 years since Lake Baikal was included in the World Natural Heritage List. This happened on December 5, 1996 by the decision of the 20th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in the Mexican city of Merida. Russia has submitted an application for the inclusion of Lake Baikal in the World Natural Heritage List.

1 of 2

To be included in the World Natural 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 of ancient life, significant geological processes in the stage of formation of landforms, geomorphological and physiographic elements that are of great importance;
or be an outstanding example representing ecological and biological evolutionary processes, the development of ecosystems and terrestrial, river, coastal and marine communities of plants and animals;
or represent a natural phenomenon or area of exceptional aesthetic value;
or contain habitats of the most representative and important species for the conservation of biological diversity, including those areas where species of outstanding global scientific and conservation importance and threatened with extinction are preserved.

Baikal met all four criteria.

Of the thousands of natural sites on the List, just over 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 of the main value for science and protection. The lake is surrounded by mountain-taiga landscapes and specially protected natural areas, mainly preserved in their natural state and of additional value.

Lake Baikal is a limnological wonder and a territory 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 to operate, as evidenced by the outflow of thermal flows from the depths of the lake.
The evolution of aquatic organisms, which took place throughout this long period, 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 additionally characterizes it as a unique phenomenon.
Lake Baikal is one of the most biodiverse lakes on Earth, it is home to 1340 animal species (745 are endemic) and 570 plant species (150 are endemic). In the forests surrounding the lake, there are 10 plant species listed in the IUCN Red Data Book, and the full range of typical boreal species is represented. "

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

to adopt the Federal Law on Lake Baikal;
redesign the Baikal PPM in order to eliminate it as a source of pollution;
to reduce the discharge of pollutants into the Selenga River;
to increase the resource provision for the activities of nature reserves and national parks adjacent to the lake;
continue to support scientific research and monitoring at Lake Baikal.

Located in the south of Eastern Siberia. It is the world's deepest lake with unique features and the most large reservoir fresh water 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 and formidable. Among the many epithets, one can single out such as: "world source of drinking water", "blue eye of Siberia", "oasis of virgin nature of the Earth", "sacred center of North Asia", "god-made creation", "sacred gift of nature", "natural monument with unique landscapes "," an invaluable treasury of the Earth's genetic wealth "," a miracle of limnology, a 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 of glacial and old age, 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 Lake Baikal, like many lakes in the world. On the contrary, research recent years allowed geophysicists to hypothesize that Baikal is an emerging ocean. This is confirmed by the fact that its shores diverge at a rate 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 terms of depth (1637 m). On Earth, only 6 lakes have a depth of more than 500 m. Morphologically, the depression of Lake Baikal represents three independent basins - the South with the highest depth mark of 1430 m, the Middle (1637 m) and the North (920 m). The Baikal depression is asymmetrical. Its western side is distinguished by a steep underwater slope (40-50 ° steepness), the eastern one is more gentle. Quite often in the literature about Lake 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 arose and develops simultaneously with the world rift system (Florensov, 1978). Geophysicists have 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 it. The deepest point of occurrence of bottom sediments of the lake is located at a depth of about 6 - 8 thousand meters below sea level. The "roots" of the depression cut through the entire earth's crust and extend into the upper mantle to a depth of 50-60 km. Studies indicate an abnormally high heating of the bowels of the 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 with an area of 200 square meters went under water. km with 6 uluses, in which 1300 people lived, and a new Proval Bay was formed. Weak earthquakes are recorded almost daily. Their number reaches 2 thousand and more annually. Scientists call Baikal "the ancient crown of Asia"

Baikal is surrounded by mountains from all sides. Along the entire length of the western coast, mountain ranges come close to Lake Baikal and almost abruptly break off into the water. The highest peaks of the mountain ranges: Primorsky ridge - Trekhgolovy loch (1728 m), Baikalsky ridge - Chersky mountain (2572 m), Barguzinsky ridge - the highest mark (2840 m), Khamar-Daban - Mount Khan-Ula (2371 m).
In terms of area, Baikal (31500 sq. Km) ranks eighth in the world among lakes and is approximately equal to the area of a country like 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 - Upper, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario combined, or 2 times more than in Lake Tanganyika. The Baikal basin contains about 20% of the world's fresh lake water reserves (excluding glaciers, snowfields and ice, where the water is in a solid state).

In the spring, after the lake is freed from ice, the transparency of the water reaches 40 m, which is ten times more than in other lakes. For example, in the Caspian the transparency of the water is 25 m, in Issyk-Kul - 20 m. On Lake 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 features of a maritime climate and differs significantly from the climate of the surrounding area. In summer, the huge water masses of the lake warm up to a depth of 200-250 m and, like a battery, 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 difference in air temperature between Irkutsk and the coast of Lake Baikal in the daytime can reach 8-10 ° C. The absolute maximum during 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 drops can exceed 30 ° C.