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| Russia claims world-record dive | Russia claims world-record dive |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Russian scientists say they have broken the world record for the deepest dive in a body of fresh water, plumbing the depths of Lake Baikal in Siberia. | |
| Russian news reports said two manned mini-submarines successfully plunged 1,680m (5,512ft) to the lake's bed. | Russian news reports said two manned mini-submarines successfully plunged 1,680m (5,512ft) to the lake's bed. |
| The mission is part of a two-year plan aimed at conserving the ecosystem of Lake Baikal, which contains about one-fifth of the world's fresh water. | |
| The area was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1996. | |
| 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 expedition organiser as saying. | |
| Before the expedition set off, leader Artur Chilingarov described it as a complex one. | Before the expedition set off, leader Artur 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 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. |
| 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 Rogers, at Lake Baikal, says the Baikal 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 Rogers, at Lake Baikal, says the Baikal expedition is another sign of the Kremlin's desire to show the world the kind of feat a newly confident Russia is capable of. |