This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7530230.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russia ventures into deepest lake | Russia ventures into deepest lake |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russian scientists have begun a record-breaking attempt to dive to the bottom of the world's deepest body of fresh water, Lake Baikal in Siberia. | Russian scientists have begun a record-breaking attempt to dive to the bottom of the world's deepest body of fresh water, Lake Baikal in Siberia. |
| They are using two manned vessels to plunge 1,700m (5,500ft) to the bed of the lake, which contains about a fifth of the world's fresh water. | They are using two manned vessels to plunge 1,700m (5,500ft) to the bed of the lake, which contains about a fifth of the world's fresh water. |
| The mission is part of a two-year plan aimed at conserving Lake Baikal's unique ecosystem. | The mission is part of a two-year plan aimed at conserving Lake Baikal's unique ecosystem. |
| The area was declared a Unesco world heritage site in 1996. | The area was declared a Unesco world heritage site in 1996. |
| Expedition leader Artur Chilingarov, who also led a team of scientists that planted a Russian flag at the bottom of the North Pole in August last year, said the Baikal mission was a complex one. | Expedition leader Artur Chilingarov, who also led a team of scientists that planted a Russian flag at the bottom of the North Pole in August last year, said the Baikal mission was a complex one. |
| "There are technological problems, fickle weather conditions. Fresh water dictates its own special conditions," he said. | "There are technological problems, fickle weather conditions. Fresh water dictates its own special conditions," he said. |
| The two 18-tonne mini-submarines were designed to operate in seawater - but have shed hundreds of kilos to make them buoyant enough in less dense fresh water. | The two 18-tonne mini-submarines were designed to operate in seawater - but have shed hundreds of kilos to make them buoyant enough in less dense fresh water. |
| Mr Chilingarov said his team would work to overcome those difficulties and put together "a package of practical measures and recommendations" to promote conservation of the lake. | Mr Chilingarov said his team would work to overcome those difficulties and put together "a package of practical measures and recommendations" to promote conservation of the lake. |
| The BBC's James Rogers, at Lake Baikal, says the expedition is another sign of the Kremlin's desire to show the world the kind of feat a newly confident Russia is capable of. |