The second stage of the Mir scientific expedition has started on Lake Baikal, with its first dive near Cape Tolsty close to Listvyanka. Scientists in the Mir deep sea submersibles are studying the lake ecosystem, its bottom, depths and tectonic processes, and have already found alarming signs, from oil traces to human litter. About one hundred dives lie ahead, after which practical recommendations for preserving Baikals unique nature will be prepared.

On Monday, the second stage of the scientific research expedition “Mirs” on Lake Baikal was launched. The first dive of this season took place 1 km from the settlement of Listvyanka, in the area of Cape Tolsty.
The organizer of the expedition is the Foundation for the Promotion of Lake Baikal Preservation, with the support of the Government of the Irkutsk Region, the Government of the Republic of Buryatia, and the United Russia party. The Foundation for the Promotion of Lake Baikal Preservation (FSSOB) was established in 2008 on the initiative of the Metropol Group of Companies with the aim of supporting large-scale scientific projects and research aimed at preserving Lake Baikal and developing scientific and practical recommendations.
At a press conference at the Anastasia Hotel, the organizers spoke about the results of last year’s expedition, plans for this season, and the significance of this event.
Arnold Tulokhonov, Director of the Baikal Institute of Nature Management, noted that the research was intended to draw public attention to the problems of preserving the lake’s ecosystem. “There will never be industrial activity on Baikal,” A. Tulokhonov said, commenting on the fact that traces of oil were found on the lake bottom last year. Another sensation last season was the discovery of sites where gas hydrates — the fuel of the future — had accumulated.
The program of the comprehensive expedition to study the condition of Baikal was prepared by scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Most of the research is being carried out using the Mir deep-sea manned submersibles, which is a very costly undertaking. The two stages of the expedition will cost the organizers $8.5 million. Answering a question about the impact of the economic crisis on the project’s funding, the head of Metropol Group, Mikhail Slipenchuk, said: “We did not make any luxurious things, but the main funding is coming in full, because we cannot abandon what we have put so much effort into.” The organizers once again stated the main goals of the scientific expedition: studying the condition of the lake ecosystem, researching the animal and plant life on the bottom of Baikal, and obtaining more accurate data on the lake’s maximum depths and tectonic processes. The collected scientific information will be used to forecast various natural processes on Baikal.
At 12:20, the expedition was ceremonially launched. Both Mir submersibles were delivered aboard the vessel Metropolia to the dive site. The first dive of this season took place 1 km from the settlement of Listvyanka, in the area of Cape Tolsty. On Mir-1, Arnold Tulokhonov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and pilot Viktor Nishcheta studied the bottom of Lake Baikal. The crew members of Mir-2 were Mikhail Slipenchuk, Director of the Baikal Museum of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Fialkov, and Hero of Russia, submersible pilot Vladimir Chernyaev.
The submersibles remained at a depth of 700 m for about three hours. Upon returning, the hydroastronauts immediately began sharing their impressions. Most of all, they spoke about Baikal shrimp — crustaceans that live on the lake bottom. Evgeny Chernyaev noted: “We knew what we wanted to find, and we found it.” That is, nothing unexpected happened. True, the Mir-1 submersible returned with minor damage. The crew members were very upset by the trash they saw on the bottom: cans, nets, bottles. “All this,” they concluded, “is the result of incompetent tourist activity.”
So, the first dive of this season was successful. Mir will descend to the bottom until September 15 about one hundred times, which is twice as many as last year. The expedition will move north of the first dive site. Dives are planned for July in the central part of the lake, and in August — in Northern Baikal. Based on the results of the expedition, scientists will develop a set of practical measures and recommendations related to economic activity in the Baikal region in order to preserve Baikal’s unique natural resources.