Ru

Guardians
of Lake Baikal

Protecting Baikal: The En+ approach

The En+ approach: science-based analysis

The En+ approach: science-based analysis

In order to address the Baikal issues correctly and in the most efficient ways we joined forces with the leading Russian academics. The collaboration spans from the analysis of the contamination of the lake to creating new forecasting algorithms.
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The En+ approach: voluntary initiatives

The En+ approach: voluntary initiatives

Our clean-up projects of Baikal have attracted thousands of people from all over Russia. Together we have made significant progress in preserving the lake and making it a better place for future generations.
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The En+ approach: educational platforms

The En+ approach: educational platforms

We consider it essential to establish frank and open dialogue with the younger generations around protecting Lake Baikal. Our aim is to impress upon them the importance of looking after our natural surroundings, and their feedback is invaluable to our understanding of how we can further enhance our efforts.
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The En+ approach: cooperation with stakeholders

The En+ approach: cooperation with stakeholders

En+ Group firmly believes that stakeholder engagement is a vital step to addressing complex issues. We work closely with local communities, NGOs and authorities to address the issues of lake Baikal.
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Lake Baikal
The largest, oldest and deepest lake on the planet

20%

of the world’s fresh water reserves

31,500 km2

the surface of Baikal is comparable in size to Belgium

1,642 m

the deepest lake in
the world

23,615 km3

water volume of Lake

Rich organic reserve

Some 15% of Baikal plants are endemic, meaning they cannot be found elsewhere. Some of those, like the Siberian cedar is a centenarian plant with a lifespan of almost 800 years. And yet this is not a record - recently researchers found in there a plant called Oxytropis Triphylla, they believe it first appeared on Earth 15 million years ago.

1,300+

species of plants

15%

unique

Unique habitat

The lake and the area along its shores provide a unique habitat for a large number animal species, many of which are endemic to the region. The count keeps increasing (over 200 species were added in the last 15 years). For example the Baikal seal, or nerpa, is the one and only freshwater seal in the world.

1,500+

animal species

60%

endemic

World heritage site

The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The organization's Committee inscribed Lake Baikal as the most outstanding example of a freshwater ecosystem on the basis of the following criteria:
  • contains superlative natural phenomena
  • is an outstanding example representing major stages of earth's history
  • represents significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of fresh water ecosystems
  • contains the most important and significant natural habitats 

20-25

million years old

1996

Lake Baikal inscripted by UNESCO

A whole world under water

The Baikal lake is the cleanest freshwater reservoir on the planet – it is the only hydrological body with an internal system of biological purification based on the Baikal sponge. Researchers are still to fully understand the complexity of the lake. For example, just recently they found out that Baikal's influence on adjacent onshore territories can reach up to 50 km

52

species of fish

3.2 °С

temperature at the bottom of Baikal

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Harnessing Baikal

En+ Group and Baikal

HPPs on the Angara

En+ Group harness the power of the lake by seamlessly transforming water in clean hydropower.

The Lake is fed by more than 300 rivers, only the Angara flows out it. This is what gives the Angara River its unique water power potential, and stable annual flow.

Lake Baikal has an annual inflow of 70 cubic kilometres, or 0.003% of its water volume, which is equal to its average annual outflow. En+ Group helps to preserve the natural water levels of the Lake throughout the year.

Prior to creating the Angara hydropower cascade, meticulous calculations were made to ensure the hydropower operations could supply cheap electricity to the region while having the minimal impact on the water levels of Lake Baikal, maintaining the possibility of river navigation and ensuring flood control (preventing periodic flooding to ensure the safety of nearby communities).

Angara

is the only river that flows out

0.2 TWh

of hydro electricity can be generated by the flow of just 1 cm of Baikal water

En+ Group takes environmental protection extremely seriously and is committed to ensuring its operations have the minimal impact on the Lake Baikal and its habitats
image Hydro power plant
image Aluminium smelter
image Development project
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Hydropower
Ust-Ilimsk HPP
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Hydropower
Irkutsk HPP

662.4 MW

4.1 TWh

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Hydropower
Boguchany HPP
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Hydropower
Krasnoyarsk HPP
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Aluminium Smelter
Bratsk Aluminium Smelter
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Aluminium Smelter
Boguchany Aluminium Smelter
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Aluminium Smelter
Irkutsk Aluminium Smelter
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Aluminium Smelter
Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter
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Aluminium Smelter
Sayanogorsk Aluminium Smelter
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Aluminium Smelter
Khakas Aluminium Smelter
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Development Project
Taishet Aluminium Smelter
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Hydropower
Bratsk HPP

4,500 MW

17,3 TMh

300

rivers flow into the lake

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