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LAKE BAIKAL
By Daniel Lewis and Tom Zochowski
BIOLOGY
There are more than 2600 species and
varieties of animal and over 1000 species of
plants in Baikal. New species are also
discovered from time to time. It is believed
that at only 70-80% of Baikal's living
organisms are known to science. In the past
when Russian science wasn’t at it’s present
state, an average of 10 species were
discovered annually.. About 40% of the plants
and 85% of animal species living in Baikal are
found only in Baikal.
CLIMATE
Because of the amount of water in
Baikal and its mountainous
surroundings, it has an unusual
climate. It’s warmer in the winter, and
cooler in the summer than surrounding
areas by about 10 degrees.
GEOGRAPHY
Lake Baikal is the world’s oldest and
deepest lakes, situated nearly in the
center of Asia in a huge stone bowl. It
is 445m above sea level and 31470
square kilometres. The deepest part of
the lake is 1673m and average is
730m. It is also one of the clearest and
contains over 20% of the world’s fresh
water.
CULTURE
This lake has great significance in the
culture of the Russians. It is to them
what the grand canyon is to
Americans. It’s always something
that’s been admired for its beauty and
biodiversity. Folk songs have been
written about it as well. Two of these
songs are well known in Russia and its
neighboring countries, such as Japan.
POLITICS
The Baikal territory is extremely complicated
with its political arrangements. Political
borders split the Baikal watershed practically
in half between Russia and Mongolia,
although Lake Baikal itself lies entirely within
Russia. Within the watershed there are 3
separate states and 1 Autonomous Region,
12 different Mongolian states, over 45
national parks, strict nature reserves and
significant cultural sites in both regions, and
over 25 counties in Russia and 116 counties
in Mongolia
ECONOMICS
Differences in economic development both
within the Russian states of the Baikal
watershed and among the Russian and
Mongolian portions of the watershed are
significant. First, overall economic
development within each country, as
measured by GDP per capital, was $4000 for
Russia and $2200 for Mongolia. In Russia,
both Irkutsk and Buryatiaʼs economies are
based on their considerable mineral wealth of
gold, coal, oil and gas. Tourism is also an
upcoming economic sector within the Baikal
Basin.
ISSUE #1
In 2008 the Russian government
proposed an idea that they would import
nuclear waste from other countries and
store is in a site around 65 miles from
Lake Baikal. This storage of nuclear
waste could possibly lead to
contamination and ruin this world
heritage site.
SOCIAL
-Surrounding communities would be drastically affected by this. Nuclear waste mutates
DNA, causes cancerous growth and other abnormalities, and also affect the reproductive
system
ECONOMIC
-This is probably another one of Russia’s get rich quick schemes. It is true that it would
generate insane revenue, but at what cost?
POLITICAL
-Siberia would become recognized as a region for nuclear waste disposal. This obviously
doesn’t portray a good impression for the country.
ENVIRONMENTAL
-Nuclear waste accidents during shipment or processing could do massive damage to the
lake region and its ecosystem.
CULTURAL
-Lake Baikal has always been recognized as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world,
and a global treasure. If it’s contaminated and polluted by nuclear waste, this reputation will
be destroyed.
ISSUE #2
Lake Baikal and the space around it is a
conflict of interests to many organizations.
Since the political holds on the lake and the
space around is very confusing. Some
organizations want to use the space for
economic purposes while others are
interested in protecting its environmental
aspects. There is conflict within many aspects
since no agreement can be reached due to
political complications.
SOCIAL
-This creates problems and a state of uncertainty as no agreement can be reached. Many
people are being obstructed from the opportunity of jobs because governments cant decide
if they would like to go the economic or environmental route.
ENVIRONMENTAL
- Lake Baikal is under attack from pollution and since the governments cant reach an
agreement to stop it every moment that is spent debating, is a moment where unique
species are harmed.
POLITICAL
-This is causing conflict within governments as they can not reach an agreement. This
causes unrest between and stressed relations between themselves.
ECONOMIC
- The governments are being denied funding for any environmental efforts so they are
tempted to go the economic route which would cause an increase in revenue. Is that a good
trade money for the destruction of one the wonders of the world?
CULTURAL
-This causes tension between cultures as they are involved with their respective
governments. This reflects back into their everyday life as their cultures conflict with each
other and makes their cultures harder to maintain as they will be under fire from the others.
The End
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