Severobaikalsk & BAM

Interview

For the current threats of Lake Baikal please read the interview I had with Yevgeni and Ana in the second Ecopod news letter. Both are involved in the construction of the Great Baikal Trail and their efforts of protecting this beautiful area. In order to do this they develop eco-tourism and environmental education.

Further reading

Regonial eco groups: Baikal Wave www.baikalwave.eu.org and Baikal Watch www.earthisland.org

Explanation of the current planned project for a new dam: www.ecology.govuk.ru

Baikal Web World, with information about wildlife of the lake, www.bww.irk.ru

Research questions

1. Is the TB electrified and has it double tracks?
   Yes

2. Same question for the Baikalo Amurskaya Magistral (BAM-railway line)
   Sometimes

3. How cool is BAM?
   Warm from inside, cool from the outside

4. What to do with racism?
   Nothing, as you won’t encounter it

5. Is Siberia really that cold?
   Unfortunately, yes

6. Try ice fishing in/on Lake Baikal.
   My hands froze off, but it worked

7. Can you really see fish swimming through the 1 meter layer of ice of Lake Baikal?
   Yes!

8. Will I find the mysterious black-eyed nerpa?
   No 🙁 Very few left

9. Will I encounter bears?
   Didn’t see them, despite being in their habitat