The greatest sculptor and architect of all time - the nature.By its unique shape and unique, and their range is constantly reminding the greatness of humanity, beauty and power.The territory of Russia is very high, which is why its expanses are many wonderful creations of nature.The story of their origin is often associated with a variety of myths and legends that are of interest of thousands of people from around the world.Russian miracle of nature - Lake Baikal - attracts huge number of tourists and researchers due to its unique characteristics.
Occurrence
To this day, the origin of the age of the lake and its controversial scientists.Lake Baikal is the oldest body of water on Earth, its formation took place more than 30 million years ago, with a similar type of education glacial lakes "live" no more than 10-15 thousand years.During this time, there are irreversible processes of siltation and water logging.In this sense, the Baikal - a miracle of nature, its waters are transparent, have the lowest levels of contamination by organic and mineral compounds, and the coastline changes gradually upward.The stone bowl, in which the largest volume of fresh water on the planet is surrounded by nearly all sides by mountain slopes.This profound depression, located on the land, according to many scientists, goes through the crust to the upper layers of the mantle.Therefore, it is assumed that the tectonic processes resulted in the formation of the reservoir.When and how did this ancient sea, remains to be seen, but the nature of Baikal confronts mankind with a lot of questions.
Geography
the vastness of East Siberia from the north-east to south-west stretched crescent-shaped expanse of water.Lake Baikal is located in central Asia, on the border of the Republic of Buryatia and Irkutsk region.Its length is 630 km, the width ranges from 25 to 80 km.The area of the body of water is comparable with the territory of some European countries (Netherlands, Belgium), it is about 32 000 sq.km.The coastline is often changed, its maximum length is fixed at around 2,200 km.Bottom topography is varied, there are coastal shelves and ridges, but by far the Lake Baikal - the deepest lake on the planet.Hydrographic research and acoustic sounding bottom are held regularly.According to the latest data confirmed the maximum depth of 1642 meters, with an average of more than 700 meters.Second place among the deep-water lakes Tanganyika and occupied the Caspian Sea (Caspian Sea).
Research
nature of Baikal has always impressed people with his primitive, diversity and monumentality.The first information about the lake date back to the XVI century, this time in Siberia attracted researchers as the inexhaustible source of furs, ores of precious metals and stones.Russian embassies sent to China for the first time a great deal, "Ocean Sea" on the map.At the same time N. Spafary discloses a body of water like Lake Baikal, the fauna and flora of its coast.Since the founding of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1723) by Peter 1 begins focused study reservoir properties of its waters, origin, flora and fauna.Archaeologists, historians, folklorists, geologists, ecologists are fundamental studies of Lake Baikal, which to this day is full of mysteries.
Water and ice
Baikal water is saturated with oxygen, it contains a very small percentage of organic and mineral compounds and can be used as distilled.In the spring it is the most transparent, misses the sun's rays, has a blue tint, items found at the bottom can be seen at a depth of 40 meters.The temperature of the water masses varies depending on the depth: the bottom layers of the summer warms up to 4 0C, surface 0C to + 9, and in the shallow bays of the maximum value of 15 0C.Due to the formation on the surface of a large amount of water bioplanktona acquires a greenish tint, its transparency decreases to 8 meters.Ice on Lake Baikal is the subject of study by many scholars.Its thickness reaches 1-1.5 meters, while it is transparent.In coastal areas in shallow water spatter and grottoes formed at low temperatures, the ice cracked with a distinctive sound, reminiscent of a shot or a bolt.Unique ice Baikal "hills" are conical formations hollow core, their height can reach 6 meters.The holes are located in the hills away from the coast.The hills can form a kind of mountain ranges or placed one by one.
seismically
weak earthquakes (1-2 points) are observed in Baikal constantly.Tectonic processes are changing bottom topography and the coastal zone.Stronger earthquakes occur quite regularly, and their effects depend on the strength of aftershocks.In 1862, as a result of one of them with a capacity of 10 points has changed delta Selenga, sank a large populated area of land.The last recorded earthquake of 6 points recorded in 2010.Probably tectonic processes associated with growth in the lake.So, it is growing by 2 cm.
sources and sinks
volume of fresh water of Lake Baikal is about 24,000 km3, is greater only in the Caspian Sea, but it is salty.It feeds Siberian Sea due to the large influx of streams and rivers.Their approximate number is 330-340 pieces, depending on time of year.In the spring during snow melt in the surrounding hillsides number of streams is greatly increased.To the greatest waterways of Lake Baikal are the Selenga River (bring half the volume of total inflows), Barguzin, Upper Angara, Turk, Sarma, etc.Reducing the amount is due to the natural process of evaporation from the surface of the lake.The main drain is happening in the hangar.By the way, this river involves a lot of legends and stories.The people call it beauty, the only daughter of the old lake.
flora and fauna of Lake Baikal
Nature is diverse and unique.The rocky slopes are covered with forest thickets, which are inhabited by a large number of animals: bears, deer, foxes, eagles, etc. D. Total scientists has about 2,650 species of animals and plants, and 65-70% of them are not found in the global ecosystem, ie.They are endemic.The uniqueness of the fauna of the lake due to its oxygen saturation throughout the depth and the ability to cleanse itself.Epishura crustacean (zooplankton), the Baikal seal, viviparous golomyanka, cisco, sturgeon, grayling, benthic sponge gives an idea of the diverse fauna of the lake.The great mass of the lake flora consists of algae that live in different environments (diatoms, golden, blue and green).Bottom layers even at the maximum depths are populated densely enough, the organic matter is a source of power for deep-water inhabitants.By many indicators (age, properties of water, depth, unique animals and plants), the lake is a unique ecosystem on a global scale, which is why the protection of the Baikal nature - is one of the priorities of our state.
Ecology
rapidly growing clash of civilization and untouched nature, as a rule, it ends with the victory of man-made world.Even 150 years ago, the waterfront and were impassable forests, in which travelers were afraid to go because of the large number of bears.Today, massive deforestation, pollution of rivers and air, as well as poaching became a threat to the existence of a unique ecosystem as the nature of Baikal.The enormous harm caused to plants located on the coast and large towns and cities.A huge step for the conservation of the lake was the closure of a paper mill and transferring the pipeline to a safe distance from the area.The level of water pollution by organic and inorganic compounds is very high due to the inflow of the river Selenga.Industrial and municipal waste water discharged from its oil flow and get into Lake Baikal.Nature conservation and environmental protection system is currently being conducted on the basis of the 1999 federal law.It regulates activities that are permitted to carry out on the lake.Virtually all coastal areas and the lake itself should be a huge reserve, which will be organized civilized conditions for recreation, tourism and research ecosystem.In 1996 the lake was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage, t. E. Received the status of a monument, protected by mankind.
Tourism
beautiful nature of Lake Baikal annually attracts a large number of people.The most popular destination is eco-tourism, hiking and horseback riding on the reserved places in high demand from foreigners.Local leisure activities also in demand (skiing, boating and catamarans on Lake Baikal, and so on. D.).But most visitors come here to look at this miracle of nature.Baikal is always different: the serene surface of the lake is replaced by the storms, the unique climate and beauty of coastal forests can be observed for hours.Number of attractions created by nature and man of great archaeological, cultural and historical sites are located along the route of hiking trails.
