Baikal Environmental Camp 2003

This route is to be a component part of the "Great Baikal Path", which was conceived 30 years ago. Currently the path consists of 6 routes in different parts of the lake's shore.The environmental tourism being an alternative to the pulp-and-paper production at the Baikal, is a promising economic activity of the region. Every year about 200 thousand tourist visit the lake. The town of Baikalsk could become the center of the environmental tourism hosting symposia, conferences, festivals, as well as a mountain ski resort - the town has mountain ski facilities receiving skier from all over the country. President Putin tried the ski route himself. However in summer the tourist choice is not as rich as in winter. That's why the new tourist path can attract additional hiking lovers. Besides it can become the major environmental route of the natural park "Utulik-Solzan".For many years scientists, public activists and the regional authorities have been developing a state natural park in the area between the rivers Utulik-Babkha-Solzan. The park will certainly contribute to the development of environmental tourism in the region. The Baikal business-incubator and its information center are ready to develop the path further: to set up camping sites, provide tourist groups with guides, escort the groups on the path, etc."For this year Greenpeace has set up its second environmental camp within the UNESCO World Heritage object. In June we developed the projected Kalevala national park", said Andrey Petrov, head of the Greenpeace camp. "Today we are at the Baikal. The environmental tourism is a very promising sector in this country, and the Baikal is one of the most beautiful and attractive places in the world. The Baikal pulp-and-paper mill polluting this unique lake must be removed from its shore".