Editing Lake Baikal (section)

===Research===
[[File:Vladimir Putin about his descent to the bottom of Lake Baikal.jpeg|thumb|[[Vladimir Putin]] giving an interview after completion of the dive aboard [[Mir (submersible)|Mir-1]]]]
Several organizations are carrying out natural research projects on Lake Baikal. Most of them are governmental or associated with governmental organizations. The [[Baikalian Research Centre]] is an independent research organization carrying out environmental, educational and research projects at Lake Baikal.<ref>[http://www.baikal-research.org/ Байкальский исследовательский центр] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218031450/http://www.baikal-research.org/ |date=18 February 2020 }} (Baikal Research Centre; in Russian). www.baikal-research.org</ref>

In July 2008, Russia sent two small [[submersible]]s, [[Mir-1 (sub)|Mir-1]] and [[Mir-2 (sub)|Mir-2]], to descend {{convert|1592|m|abbr=on}} to the bottom of Lake Baikal to conduct geological and biological tests on its unique ecosystem. Although originally reported as being successful, they did not set a world record for the deepest freshwater dive, reaching a depth of only {{convert|1580|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Dive">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7530230.stm |work=BBC News |title=Russians in landmark Baikal dive |date=29 July 2008 |access-date=4 April 2010}}</ref> That record is currently held by [[Anatoly Sagalevich]], at {{convert|1637|m|ft|abbr=on}} (also in Lake Baikal aboard a [[Pisces-class deep submergence vehicle|Pisces]] submersible in 1990).<ref Name="Dive"/><ref>Gallant, Jeffrey (29 July 2008) {{cite web|url=http://www.divingalmanac.com/records_baikal.html |title=Russian submersible dives in Lake Baikal do not establish new freshwater depth record |access-date=4 June 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922195516/http://www.divingalmanac.com/records_baikal.html |archive-date=22 September 2008 }}. DivingAlmanac.com</ref> Russian scientist and federal politician [[Artur Chilingarov]], the leader of the mission, took part in the Mir dives alongside Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Submarines to plumb deepest lake |date=19 July 2008 |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/53147/Submarines-to-plumb-deepest-lake|author=PA News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=A Rugged Guys' heart to heart|last=Barry|first=Ellen|date=23 May 2011|work=International Herald Tribune}}</ref>

Since 1993, [[neutrino]] research has been conducted at the [[Baikal Deep Underwater Neutrino Telescope]] (BDUNT). The Baikal Neutrino Telescope NT-200 is being deployed in Lake Baikal, {{convert|3.6|km|abbr=on}} from shore at a depth of {{convert|1.1|km|abbr=on}}. It consists of 192 optical modules.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baikalweb.jinr.ru/|title=Baikal Lake Neutrino Telescope|publisher=Baikalweb|date=6 January 2005|access-date=30 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831210755/http://baikalweb.jinr.ru/|archive-date=31 August 2010}}</ref>