The first submersions of Mir deep-diving vehicles in Baikal

The first submersion of the deep-diving manned vehicles in Baikal confirmed the scientists’ opinion that the bottom of the Lake in the Olkhon island part is a continuous plateau. This information was provided by Irina Krylova, vice director of the Baikal Preservation Foundation which organized the Mirs on Baikal expedition.

The Mirs on Baikal expedition started on July, 29, in the village of Turka of the Republic of Buryatiya. Russian leading scientists are taking part in this project the goals of which are exploration of the flora and fauna, bottom topography and geology of Baikal. Earlier, on July, 23 and 27, the Mir-1 and Mir-2 deep-diving manned vehicles carried out test divings. 

On July, 29, the Mir-1 vehicle with president of Buryatiya Vyacheslav Nagovitsin on board submerged to the bottom of Baikal in the Izhimei cape part of the Olkhon island. At the depth of 1580 meters it made its way across the bottom to the Svyatoi Nos peninsula. For the most part of its way the bottom was a continuous plateau of almost even depth, said Irina Krylova.

Krylova denounced the information which got spread in the Media according to which on July, 29, the Mir-1 vehicle broke a record in freshwater divings having reached the depth of 1680 meters. The diving was at 1580 meters and it did not break the record of the Russian scientists of the Paisis submarine which in the early 1990s submerged to the depth of 1647 meters, said vice director of the Baikal Preservation Foundation.

During the Mir-1 diving a Buryatiya flag was installed at the bottom. As well a titanium capsule with a message for the descendants was left there. The Mir-2 submerged on July, 29, as well.

More submersions were planned for July, 30. However, they did not take place because of the weather.

The Mirs at Baikal expedition will continue in 2008 and 2009. The plan for this summer is about 60 submersions to the bottom of the Lake. The first on the list to explore are Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky gulfs.

The captains of the Mir-1 and Mir-2 vehicles are Heroes of Russia Anatoly Sagalevich and Evgeny Chernyak who got this title for the deep-diving manned vehicle submersions at the North Pole.