The route in the south of Olkhon will bypass vulnerable areas, and the endemic Olkhon vole will serve as an indicator of tourists’ impact.
An eco-trail is being designed at Cape Kobylya Golova in the south of Olkhon, where the steppe meets Baikal and flagstone rock outcrops rise above Lake Nuku-Nur. Its aim is to fit a tourist route into a fragile island ecosystem. To do so, GPS and drones were used to build an orthophoto map, a digital elevation model and a map of ecological constraints; the trail will run only where it is safe.
The indicator is the Olkhon vole, a tiny endemic species: scientists have set up permanent sample plots of 800 square metres to monitor how tourists affect its habitat. Tree-felling, aggressive chemicals and concrete are prohibited on the trail — the structures will be prefabricated, on screw piles. In 2028 the researchers will return to the plots and adjust the route if necessary.
Source (in Russian): IrCity, 13 October 2026.
