Mass tourism has grown exponentially over the past decade, bringing nearly 2 million tourists to the sparsely populated shores of Lake Baikal.

Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia is one of the natural wonders of the world. Lake Baikal is deeper than the Grand Canyon, older than the Amazon rainforest, and as voluminous as all of the US Great Lakes combined. It is home to more species than any other lake on earth, many of which cannot be found anywhere else. The Baikal water is exceptionally pure, completely oxygenated at its maximum depth and covered by a meter of clear ice in winter. These unique conditions have enabled the development of a complex and interdependent ecosystem that preserves the purity of the lake and the flourishing of its web of life.

However, human interventions have threatened the stability of Lake Baikal’s ecosystem. These anthropogenic threats began in the early 20th century; At the end of this century a new legal system emerged to counter these threats. However, these protective efforts were never fully implemented, and the new millennium brought a number of new problems, although the legacy of the damage of the 20th century has not yet been fully resolved. Some of these threats are local while others are global. However, without concerted action by governments, industry and individuals, a global treasure will continue to deteriorate.

Scientific studies have documented the steadily deteriorating conditions of water quality, forest cover and biological diversity of Lake Baikal. It has also identified major sources of anthropogenic damage to Lake Baikal. Some of them, such as persistent organic pollutants and microplastics, are found in bodies of water around the world. However, some, such as uncontrolled mass tourism and global climate change, have unique effects on Lake Baikal due to their particular social and natural systems.

Mass tourism has grown exponentially over the past decade, bringing nearly 2 million tourists to the sparsely populated shores of Lake Baikal. A large number of guest houses have appeared in many shallow bays and bays on Lake Baikal, many of which are illegally built and do not comply with local regulations. In the absence of modern sewage systems, these intensively used primitive systems carry nutrients into the warm shallow water and lead to algae mats in the shallow water. A decade ago, these algae were practically non-existent. They have become the dominant biomass in the lake’s shallow coastal zone and there is a risk of suffocating other endemic species that are vital to the Baikal ecosystem. The algal blooms are directly linked to Baikal tourism, as evidenced by both their location and the timing of their growth.

Immediate action can be taken to eliminate local pollution sources. There is a critical need for modern sewage systems at major Lake Baikal tourist attractions, as well as sewage recycling systems for the thousands of boats that navigate the lake water. Municipal waste infrastructure is also required to prevent microplastic waste and pollution. Finally, tighter administration is needed to curb illegal construction and development in the protected areas around Lake Baikal.

However, not all threats to Lake Baikal are local in origin. The lake is also exposed to severe consequences of global climate change. Lake Baikal’s ecosystem depends on its intensely cold temperatures. Many of its species love the cold and are very sensitive to changes in temperature. As water temperatures rise, critical species can suffer more from parasitic infections and diseases. Since many of these species are filter feeds that create the clarity of Baikal water, they are important components of the ecosystem. The clarity of Lake Baikal enables phytoplankton to develop under the winter ice cover, which in turn form the basis for the entire food chain. In addition, it is the cold temperature of Lake Baikal that is largely responsible for the water being churned and its massive depths being supplied with oxygen, thereby supporting many unique life forms. While climate change affects ecosystems around the world, Lake Baikal is more sensitive than most and the region has the highest recorded average temperature rise in all of Russia.

The common threats from uncontrolled tourism development and global climate change will continue to threaten Lake Baikal and its thousands of endemic species unless decisive action is taken. The global community must address the carbon emissions that cause dangerous climate change, while national, regional and local authorities balance local development with sustainability.

Reference: Kate Brown et al., Effects on humans and ecological health at Lake Baikal, WIREs Water (2021). DOI: 10.1002 / wat2.1528

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