Lake Baikal

One can hardly find anything similar to Lake Baikal. It is called a lake of “superlatives” because it is the oldest lake – it is 20-30 million years. It is also the biggest lake – it is equal to the territories of Belgium and Holland taken together. It is the deepest lake – its depth in some places reaches 1,600 metres. Lake Baikal is unique by the diversity of wildlife – there are only 60 varieties of fish in the lake, 70% of which can be found nowhere else.

Who named it Baikal? Some people believe that the name originated from Chinese words “northern”, others are of the opinion that the Yakutians gave the name to the lake, because the word “Baikal” means in Yakutian “the rich lake”. So far it is not clear which of the variants is true. In fact, both of them are close to it.

But as you know Baikal is being polluted.

The main pollutants are:

1. Baikal and Selenginsk pulp and paper plants.

2. Ulan-Ude industrial complex. A number of industrial enterprises on the side of the Chita region.

3. Industrial wastes of industrial complexes in Irkutsk, Angarsk and Buryatia.

4. The Baikal-Amur Mainline, the Trans-Siberian Railway.

All of them effect the environment, polluting as they do surface waters with sewage and with harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

The coast of Baikal is covered with forest of a variety of trees: the birch, the aspen tree and firs of different species. The cedars are even found here of 120 feet in height.

Scientists are most concerned about fur-bearing animals – as their population decreased, fur earning also declined. Scientists are expressing growing concern over the ecological situation in the Lake Baikal areas.

Exercise 11*. It is quite evident that environmental pollution is an urgent issue today. One of the main ways to solve the soil pollution is to start recycling trash. Look at what can be made from recycled products. Prove that recycling is an important step in waste handling. Use the information from the text.

Use the following openers:

· I’m inclined to think that ...

· I suppose that ...

· In short ...

· To tell the truth ...

Exercise 12*. What environmental organizations do you know? Read the text and be ready to

share information with your group-mates.

1. Friends of the Earth – one of the biggest environmental groups in the UK with such campaigns as Tropical Rain forests, Land Use and Transport, Water and Waste, Air Pollution and Global Warming. It is the strongest of the three at local level.

2. Greenpeace – the best known of the groups. It is an international organization, which work focuses on global warming and pollution in all its forms.

3. Global Action Plan – a new organization aiming to empower individuals and communities to take effective local environmental action. They run a six-month programme designed to “to bring your household into environmental balance”.

4. Royal Society for Nature Conversation – the most established “conservation” group. They are running a junior section “watch”, and some campaigns.

5. World Development Movement – one of the few development groups in the UK to work effectively on environmental issues. WDM focuses on trade, Third World debt, aid and justice. They are active locally.

6. World Wildlife Fund For Nature – the biggest of the organizations, mainly engaged in fundraising. Nationally their work on environmental education is excellent and they have a good school network and youth section.

Exercise 13*. Think of the name of the environmental organization you would like to start

running. Prove that it is high time to take care of the earth. Be ready to tell about

the aim, practical actions and contribution of this organization to environmental

protection.

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