Lake Baikal – the green pearl of Siberia

This is considered the green pearl of Siberia, one of the most famous tourist destinations of Russia. The development of tourism in recent years has been changing life in Baikal, but with it comes an environmental story – the other side of the “smokeless industry”.

Olkhon Island was once a wild land in the middle of Lake Baikal, separated from the mainland by a strait more than 1km long. No gas, no running water and electricity appeared here only after 2005. Olkhon is not only beautiful, but also famous for its sacred cliffs, one of the nine holy places of Asia.

Mr. Nikita Bencharov – Khuzhir Village, Olkhon Island, Irkutsk Province, Russia said: “I came to Olkhon for the first time more than 30 years ago, of course there were no tourists. It was very difficult to get here, at that time. This is a place where the civilized world has not touched. Local people are closed to their lifestyle, nature is beautiful and has not been hurt.”

Life on the island now takes on new colors as thousands of tourists from all over the world come here. Olkhon’s population has moved from traditional agriculture and fishing to tourism. Only in the capital of the island is Khuzhir village with a population of nearly 1.5 thousand people, which has welcomed about half a million tourists every year.

Ms. Svetlana Shataeva – Khuzhir Village, Olkhon Island said: “The more free visitors, the more spontaneous landfills, especially at lakeside campsites. While there is a lack of infrastructure for collection and treatment here. waste management. Currently, the national reserve is having to strictly control this problem.”

Of the thousands of tons of waste collected here each year, the biggest problem for environmentalists is plastic bags. Up to 500,000 plastic bags each season stay on Olkhon Island and the wind brings them back into the water. The world’s largest natural freshwater lake is in danger of losing its clarity due to algae produced by pollution.

Vast and magnificent – Baikal each season brings a different beauty, each place is associated with legends about the sacred land of the Buryat people. It is believed that the shamans on Olkhon Island for generations have had supernatural energy to connect people with Heaven, Earth, and Baikal’s Soul. And also what attracts many tourists.

Tourism is changing lives in Olkhon, the island known as the heart of Lake Baikal. Along with participating in tourism development, local people are also making efforts to preserve the ecological environment so that their sacred island always retains its wild and fresh beauty along with the unique values ​​of the island. nature of eastern Siberia.

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