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UNESCO Geopark to be created on Baikal

The plan of Baikal UNESCO Geopark comprises several centres to be focused on different areas. For example, Buguldeika will become a centre for geophysics and geology. The Institute of Earth’s Crust of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences will act as an academic supervisor. Elantsy will become a centre for geographers and will be supervised by the Institute of Geography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a leader in the study of landscapes and the impact of modern anthropogenic processes thereon. Chernorud rural settlement will become a centre of geology. The planned co-managers for this direction will be: The Institute of Earth’s Crust of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and several universities exploring geological and geographical fields of study: the Irkutsk State University and the Irkutsk National Research Technical University. A centre for archaeological research is to be created in the area of Sakhyurta. Studies of water and aquatic organisms are planned in Olkhon Island, in Uzury settlement, located near the deepest part of Lake Baikal. The beginning of the implementation of the project on the creation of Baikal UNESCO Geopark is scheduled for October 2017.

The project of Baikal UNESCO Geopark was created owing to the international cooperation and exchange of experience with France and, as scientists assure, it is adapted for the conditions of Baikal region and aimed at the development of educational tourism on Baikal. The project will allow not only to preserve the unique natural resources of the lake, but also to eliminate traces of adverse human impact on the world heritage site of UNESCO. The Irkutsk Scientific Centre of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Scientific is prepared to undertake the scientific and organisational function, accounting for 30% of the entire work load.


Source: Press service of the Federal Agency on Subsoil Usage

Опубликовано: 13 October 2017