Lake Baikal
The Peace and Majestic Silence of Baikal Turned into "The Industry of Tourism and Recreation"According the press bureau of the Governer of Irkutsk Oblast "It is necessary to create a task force to address the spread of the tourism and recreation industry on the island of Olkhon." This decision was made on December 17th at a meeting dedicated to the development of Olkhon. Presently, infrastructure is already being created. Specifically, in 2005 a power line will be extended to the island, costing the regional budget over 200 million roubles. In 2006 the road from Bayandai to Elantsy will undergo extensive repairs, costing the regional treasury an additional 150 million roubles. Every year about six and a half thousand tourists come to Olkhon on tours and about five thousand travel there independently. The quantity of tourists visiting on package tours can be increased three or four-fold by increasing the range of recreational services offered. There is no doubt that Baikal was designated a World Heritage Site for precisely this reason, so that as many people as possible could experience the lake. However, with this approach to the development of tourism, Olkon could become a victim of short-sighted business interests. The village of Listviyanka and many bays on the "Maloe Morye" (Small Sea) are already meeting a similar fate. Fences sealing off private property, piles of garbage, music blaring from speakers, and the roar of jet skis - that's what you can find at the Maloye Morye now. "Govorin (the governor of Irkutsk Oblast - editor's note) came to Olkhon and said 'Build resorts, attract tourists,' but I think, where do we put the garbage from the resorts we already have? No one is going to ship it out of here," says resident of Olkhon Bella Borboeva. Bella Borboeva also wants to build a resort and start a farm on Olkhon. "We need to live too. But we want to have environmentally friendly technologies. My project isn't ready yet, but I am already searching for ways to use our waste in order to integrate it into the project. We want to create a farm community, which would provide tourists with green vegetables, meat, and dairy products as well as building a resort. It is unfortunate that it is impossible to obtain land near the lake. They say everything has already been taken." The residents of Olkhon are waiting for the time when the electricity will come. But they are not the only ones, many entrepreneurs with residency in Moscow and Irkutsk are waiting as well. Many island properties designated for agriculture in the Pribaikalskii national park have already been rented, and as soon as the electricity is switched on there will be one large construction site. One can find out how this will look by taking a drive along the shortest route to Baikal from Irkutsk to Listvyanka. The views of Siberian forests have been replaced by idiotic castles, dirty, cramped piers, and a narrow strip of land along the shore already fenced off by private ownership. The view of Shaman's Rock, the legendary point at the source of the Angara River, has also been blocked off by a certain renter. "I'm ashamed the take tourists to Listvyanka. There isn't even a place where you can go down to the shore. Everywhere there is either garbage or fences," said Tatayana Labova, a tour guide from Irkutsk. Olkhon is the largest island in Baikal. There are 143 designated "natural and architectural monuments" here. Only 30 years ago Olkhon had the highest habitat density of the imperial eagle anywhere in the Asian part of Russia. The Tazheranskaya Steppe, with its multitude of rare and ancient plants, is located here and in the area of the Maloye Morye. The unique, enchanting beauty of Baikal in these parts is more vulnerable than anywhere else. According to a press release from the Irkutsk oblast administration, "The Irkutsk oblast administration assistant head of economic development and trade explained that development of the island should be carried out in a comprehensive fashion, considering social, economic, and environmental factors." |
A journey by train on the banks of baikal, May 2006 The Peace and Majestic Silence of Baikal Turned into "The Industry of Tourism and Recreation" Transneft is Digging a Grave for Baikal The Battle for Baikal: Before its too Late! (from old English site) |