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| Russians in landmark Baikal dive | Russians in landmark Baikal dive |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Russian scientists say they have reached the bottom of the world's deepest body of fresh water - Lake Baikal in Siberia. | Russian scientists say they have reached the bottom of the world's deepest body of fresh water - Lake Baikal in Siberia. |
| However, they did not break the record for the deepest freshwater dive, as was originally reported. | However, they did not break the record for the deepest freshwater dive, as was originally reported. |
| The Mir-1 submarine descended 1,580m (5,184ft), organisers said, and not a record 1,680m as was earlier claimed. | The Mir-1 submarine descended 1,580m (5,184ft), organisers said, and not a record 1,680m as was earlier claimed. |
| The mission is part of a research project at Lake Baikal, which contains about 20% of the world's fresh water. | The mission is part of a research project at Lake Baikal, which contains about 20% of the world's fresh water. |
| The lake was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1996. | The lake was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1996. |
| See map of region | See map of region |
| Russia's Interfax and Itar-Tass news agencies cited expedition organisers as saying that the Mir I and Mir II mini-submarines had touched the bottom of the lake. | Russia's Interfax and Itar-Tass news agencies cited expedition organisers as saying that the Mir I and Mir II mini-submarines had touched the bottom of the lake. |
| "This is a world record for a submarine diving in fresh water," Interfax quoted an organiser as saying. | "This is a world record for a submarine diving in fresh water," Interfax quoted an organiser as saying. |
| However, it was later confirmed that the dive did not go as deep as first thought. | However, it was later confirmed that the dive did not go as deep as first thought. |
| "There was no record... We'll try again," expedition leader Artur Chilingarov, a Russian parliamentarian and celebrated Arctic explorer, said after the dive. | "There was no record... We'll try again," expedition leader Artur Chilingarov, a Russian parliamentarian and celebrated Arctic explorer, said after the dive. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| One of the submarines is lowered into the water, ready for the mission | One of the submarines is lowered into the water, ready for the mission |
| The mission team plan to make up to 60 dives in total. | The mission team plan to make up to 60 dives in total. |
| The current record of 1,637m was set in Lake Baikal in the 1990s. | The current record of 1,637m was set in Lake Baikal in the 1990s. |
| The Mir capsules are already in the record books for their undersea expeditions - descending to depths greater than 4,000m. | The Mir capsules are already in the record books for their undersea expeditions - descending to depths greater than 4,000m. |
| 'Confident Russia' | 'Confident Russia' |
| Before the expedition set off, Mr Chilingarov described it as a complex one. | Before the expedition set off, Mr Chilingarov described it as 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 also led a team of scientists to the North Pole in August last year - where they controversially staked Russia's claim by planting a flag on the seabed. | Mr Chilingarov also led a team of scientists to the North Pole in August last year - where they controversially staked Russia's claim by planting a flag on the seabed. |
| The BBC's James Rodgers, at Lake Baikal, says the latest expedition is another sign of the Kremlin's desire to show the world the kind of feat a newly confident Russia is capable of. | The BBC's James Rodgers, at Lake Baikal, says the latest expedition is another sign of the Kremlin's desire to show the world the kind of feat a newly confident Russia is capable of. |
| Environmentalists had expressed concern that Russia intended to exploit the lake's mineral wealth, but expedition leaders insisted the mission was for research and conservation purposes only. | Environmentalists had expressed concern that Russia intended to exploit the lake's mineral wealth, but expedition leaders insisted the mission was for research and conservation purposes only. |
| Mr Chilingarov said his team would put together "a package of practical measures and recommendations" to promote conservation of the lake. | Mr Chilingarov said his team would put together "a package of practical measures and recommendations" to promote conservation of the lake. |
| Lake Baikal, formed 25 million years ago, is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. | Lake Baikal, formed 25 million years ago, is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. |
| One of the most unusual animals unique to the lake is the Baikal seal - one of the few seals to spend its life in fresh water. | One of the most unusual animals unique to the lake is the Baikal seal - one of the few seals to spend its life in fresh water. |
| Back to link | Back to link |
| Was it a good idea to dive in Lake Baikal? Should the lake have been left alone? Do you share the concerns of the environmentalists? Send us your comments using the form below. | |