The Unique Natural Site of Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is the deepest (1,637m) and the oldest (it formed about 25 mn years ago) lake in the world. It contains over 20% of world fresh water reserves and large amounts of hydrocarbons (gas hydrates). The lake has the most diverse flora and fauna of all fresh-water reservoirs.

In 1996, Unesco included Baikal in the World Heritage List. In 2009, it was listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Russia.

Anthropogenic pressure on the Baikal ecosystem increases and the lake calls for being monitored by world class experts using cutting-edge scientific methods, equipment and technologies.

In 2008, METROPOL Group established the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal for this purpose. Artur Chilingarov, a Deputy of the State Duma, Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Russia and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is the President of the Fund. Mikhail Slipenchuk, the Head of METROPOL Group, PhD in Economics, is the Chairman of the Guardianship Board. A.M.Sagalevich, the Director of the Manned Submersibles Laboratory of the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Hero of Russia, PhD in Geography and professor, is the Chairman of the Technical Board.