Scientists have shown natural oil emissions on Lake Baikal

Every year, natural oil is released to the surface on Lake Baikal. On April 23, scientists from the Baikal Museum of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) published photos of this phenomenon.

"Scientists of the Baikal Museum, during the expedition work to study the Baikal seal near the village of Sukhaya, came across places where oil accumulated under the ice over the winter came out," reads a message posted on the VKontakte social network.

According to scientists, this natural phenomenon was first described in 1733 by the naturalist Johann Gmelin. These emissions are not related to industrial production, they occur without human intervention. Experts specified that up to 4 tons of oil can be released per year.

It is also noted that despite the presence of such minerals, Lake Baikal remains one of the cleanest ecosystems in the world.

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On March 24, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that Russian regions would be able to receive subsidies for the creation of sewage treatment plants near Lake Baikal. He clarified that this initiative concerns two subjects — Buryatia and Irkutsk region. According to him, these measures will improve the ecological condition of Lake Baikal.