Rubbish removed from Russia’s Lake Baikal

The shores on Russia’s Lake Baikal are undergoing a much needed makeover. Environmental activists and tourists have joined forces to embark on a massive clean-up operation. According to one tourist from St Petersburg, removing rubbish was much easier in days gone by.

“Unfortunately, like the rest of the world, we are living in a world of high consumption. Not long ago, in the Soviet Union, we didn’t have such a problem, because we simply never had plastic bottles or (disposable) diapers and other products of civilization that are not biodegradeable. For their disposal, a very long time is needed,” said Elena Babaeva.

Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world and home to more than 1500 indigenous species, but some visitors seemingly fail to understand how they impact the lake’s ecology.

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