Editing Lake Baikal (section)

===Environmental concerns===
Environmentalists have previously acknowledged pollution at Lake Baikal.<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-04-01|title=Russian Scientists Ring the Alarm on Lake Baikal's Pollutants|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/04/01/russian-scientists-ring-the-alarm-on-lake-baikals-pollutants-a65038|access-date=2021-02-14|website=The Moscow Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stewart|first=John Massey|title='The great lake is in great peril': Siberia's sacred sea, bigger than Belgium and older than any other lake, Baikal is threatened by pollution from industry and agriculture|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12617234-600-the-great-lake-is-in-great-peril-siberias-sacred-sea-bigger-than-belgium-and-older-than-any-other-lake-baikal-is-threatened-by-pollution-from-industry-and-agriculture/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=New Scientist|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It faces a series of detrimental phenomena including the disappearance of the omul fish, the rapid growth of putrid algae and the death of endemic species of sponges across its area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/lake-baikal-russia-crippled-algae-fish-poaching-pollution|title=World's deepest lake crippled by putrid algae, poaching and pollution|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=2017-10-19|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-12-17|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Environmental advocacy for the lake began in the late 1950s.<ref>{{cite book| author=Brown, Kate Pride | title=Saving the Sacred Sea: The Power of Civil Society in an Age of Authoritarianism and Globalization | year=2018 | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0-19-066094-9}}</ref> Since 2010, more than 15,000 metric tons of toxic waste have flowed into the lake.

====Baykalsk Pulp and Paper Mill====
[[File:Bajkal'sk paper.jpg|thumb|left|Baykalsk Pulp and Paper Mill in 2008, 5 years before its 2013 closure]]
The [[Baykalsk Pulp and Paper Mill]] was constructed in 1966, directly on the shoreline of Lake Baikal. The plant bleached paper using [[chlorine]] and discharged waste directly into Lake Baikal. The decision to construct the plant on Lake Baikal resulted in strong protests from Soviet scientists; according to them, the ultra-pure water of the lake was a significant resource and should have been used for innovative chemical production (for instance, the production of high-quality viscose for the aeronautics and space industries). The Soviet scientists felt that it was irrational to change Lake Baikal's water quality by beginning paper production on the shore. It was their position that it was also necessary to preserve endemic species of local biota, and to maintain the area around Lake Baikal as a recreation zone.<ref>Sobisevich A. V., Snytko V. A. [https://www.academia.edu/35660969 Some aspects of nature protection in the scientific heritage of academician Innokentiy Gerasimov] // Acta Geographica Silesiana. 2018. Vol. 29, # 1. pp. 55–60.</ref> However, the objections of the Soviet scientists faced opposition from the industrial lobby and only after decades of protest, the plant was closed in November 2008 due to unprofitability.<ref>{{cite news|author=Tom Parfitt in Moscow |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/nov/12/pollution-water-russia-deripaska |title=Russia Water Pollution |work=The Guardian |date= 12 November 2008|access-date=2 January 2012 |location=London}}</ref><ref name=test>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacredland.org |title=Sacred Land Film Project, Lake Baikal |publisher=Sacredland.org |access-date=2 January 2012}}</ref>

On 4 January 2010, production was resumed. On 13 January 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin introduced changes in legislation legalising the operation of the plant; this action brought about a wave of protests from ecologists and local residents.<ref name=Levy-IHT-11092010>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/world/europe/12raids.html?_r=2&ref=europe|title=Russia Uses Microsoft to Suppress Dissent|author=Clifford J. Levy|work=International Herald Tribune|date=11 September 2010|access-date=10 December 2011}}</ref> These changes were based on the determination Prime Minister Putin made through a visual verification of Lake Baikal's condition from a miniature submarine, where he said: "I could see with my own eyes – and scientists can confirm – Baikal is in good condition and there is practically no pollution".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126609485 |title=Russians Debate Fate of Lake: Jobs Or Environment? |publisher=Npr.org |date=10 May 2010 |access-date=2 January 2012}}</ref> Despite this, in September 2013, the mill underwent a final bankruptcy, with the last 800 workers slated to lose their jobs by 28 December 2013.<ref>[http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/30/21547148-tide-of-discontent-sweeps-through-russias-struggling-rust-belt Tide of discontent sweeps through Russia's struggling 'rust belt' – NBC News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215174302/http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/30/21547148-tide-of-discontent-sweeps-through-russias-struggling-rust-belt |date=15 December 2013 }}. Worldnews.nbcnews.com (30 November 2013). Retrieved on 15 May 2014.</ref> The mill has since shut down, though its reservoirs of [[lignin]] sludge remain an environmental hazard.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Panin |first1=Alexander |title=Polluting Baikal Paper Mill Finally Shuts Down |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2013/10/13/polluting-baikal-paper-mill-finally-shuts-down-a28543 |access-date=13 August 2022 |work=The Moscow Times |date=13 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Khurshudyan |first1=Isabelle |title=This Siberian town lost everything when the mill closed. It's now struggling to find a future. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/05/13/russia-industrial-mill-closed-siberia/ |access-date=13 August 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=13 May 2021}}</ref>

====Cancelled East Siberia–Pacific Ocean oil pipeline====
[[File:Frozen Lake Baikal. (32419140034).jpg|thumb|The lake in winter, its ice thick enough to support a 2004 [[Mitsubishi Pajero]]]]
{{Main|Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean oil pipeline}}

Russian oil pipelines state company [[Transneft]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transneft.ru/Default.asp?LANG=EN|title=Transneft|publisher=Transneft|access-date=21 October 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061004021120/http://www.transneft.ru/Default.asp?LANG=EN <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 4 October 2006}}</ref> was planning to build a trunk pipeline that would have come within {{convert|800|m|ft|abbr=on}} of the lake shore in a zone of substantial seismic activity. Environmental activists in Russia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baikalwave.eu.org/Eng/index-e.html|title=Baikal Environmental Wave |access-date=21 October 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060825011926/http://www.baikalwave.eu.org/Eng/index-e.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 25 August 2006}}</ref> Greenpeace, Baikal pipeline opposition<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baikal-pipe.net/?page_id=64 |title=Baikal pipeline |access-date=21 October 2006  |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723022331/http://baikal-pipe.net/?page_id=64 |archive-date=23 July 2011}}</ref> and local citizens<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baikalwave.eu.org/Eng/news.html#a2 |title=The Right to Know: Irkutsk Citizens Want to be Consulted |access-date=7 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711115354/http://baikalwave.eu.org/Eng/news.html |archive-date=11 July 2007  }}</ref> were strongly opposed to these plans, due to the possibility of an accidental oil spill that might cause significant damage to the environment. According to the Transneft's president, numerous meetings with citizens near the lake were held in towns along the route, especially in Irkutsk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spb.ecology.net.ru/enwl/2006/03/15_16.htm|title=Тема: (ENWL) Власти Иркутской обл. выступили против прокладки нефтепровода к Тихому океану|access-date=3 August 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070928094910/http://spb.ecology.net.ru/enwl/2006/03/15_16.htm|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> Transneft agreed to alter its plans when Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the company to consider an alternative route {{convert|40|km|mi|sp=us}} to the north to avoid such ecological risks.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 April 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4945998.stm |title=Putin orders oil pipeline shifted |work=BBC News |access-date=21 October 2006}}</ref> Transneft has since decided to move the pipeline away from Lake Baikal, so that it will not pass through any federal or republic natural reserves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20060907165225.shtml|title=Transneft charged with Siberia-Pacific pipeline construction|publisher=BizTorg.ru |access-date=21 October 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.transneft.ru/press/Default.asp?LANG=EN&ATYPE=9&ID=11661|title=New route|publisher=Transneft Press Center |access-date=21 October 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061004021848/http://www.transneft.ru/press/Default.asp?LANG=EN&ATYPE=9&ID=11661 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 4 October 2006}}</ref> Work began on the pipeline two days after President Putin agreed to changing the route away from Lake Baikal.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 April 2006|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4954554.stm|title=Work starts on Russian pipeline|work=BBC News |access-date=4 December 2007}}</ref>

====Proposed uranium enrichment center====
In 2006, the Russian government announced plans to build the world's first international uranium enrichment center at an existing nuclear facility in [[Angarsk]], a city on the [[Angara River|river Angara]] some {{convert|95|km|abbr=on}} downstream from the lake's shores. Critics and environmentalists argued it would be a disaster for the region and are urging the government to reconsider.<ref name=critic>{{cite web |url=http://www.newint.org/columns/currents/2008/05/01/environment/ |title=Saving the Sacred Sea: Russian nuclear plant threatens ancient lake |publisher=Newint.org |access-date=2 January 2012 |date=2 May 2008 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224211745/https://newint.org/columns/currents/2008/05/01/environment/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After enrichment, only 10% of the uranium-derived radioactive material would be exported to international customers,<ref name=critic/> leaving 90% near the Lake Baikal region for storage. [[radioactive waste|Uranium tailings]] contain radioactive and toxic materials, which if improperly stored, are potentially dangerous to humans and can contaminate rivers and lakes.<ref name=critic/>

An enrichment center was constructed in the 2010s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eng.iuec.ru/|title=The International Uranium Enrichment Center {{!}} JSC IUEC|website=eng.iuec.ru|access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref>

====Chinese-owned bottled water plant====
Chinese-owned AquaSib had been purchasing land alongside the lake and in 2019 started building a [[bottling plant]] and pipeline in the town of [[Kultuk, Slyudyansky District, Irkutsk Oblast|Kultuk]]. The goal was to export 190 million liters of water to China even though the lake had been experiencing historically low water levels. This spurred protests by the local population that the lake would be drained of its water, at which point the local government halted the plans pending analysis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/03/15/siberian-authorities-halt-construction-of-lake-baikal-bottling-plant-after-backlash-a64818|title=Siberian Authorities Halt Construction of Lake Baikal Bottling Plant After Backlash|date=15 March 2019}}</ref>{{Needs update|date=May 2025}}

====Other pollution sources====
According to ''[[The Moscow Times]]'' and ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'', an increasing number of an [[invasive species]] of [[algae]] thrive in the lake from hundreds of tons of liquid waste, including fuel and excrement, regularly disposed into the lake by tourist sites, and up to 25,000 tons of liquid waste are disposed of every year by local ships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenmbland.com/#!earths-deepest-lake-is-seriously-ill/cbfp|title=StephenMBland|website=StephenMBland}}</ref><ref>[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russias-baikal-biggest-lake-in-the-world-becoming-a-swamp/506641.html Russia's Baikal, Biggest Lake in the World, 'Becoming a Swamp']. 8 September 2014 19:35. ''[[The Moscow Times]]''.</ref>