First part of tourist path by Lake Baikal completed

Greenpeace completed work today on the first and main part of the Babkhin path located in the planned natural park of Utulik-Solzan in the Irkutsk Region. As a Rosbalt correspondent was informed by Greenpeace, the environmental activists have finished clearing and developing the first 10 kilometres of the 18-kilometre path. They have also finished reconstructing the bridge over the river Babkha and have set up two campsites for tourists and a resting place along the path itself.

The ecologists said 'tourists will be able to spend several pleasant days in the park and enjoy and study the beauty of the local wildlife.' Head of Greenpeace Andrei Petrov said that 'environmental tourism at Baikal is a real alternative to the harmful factories at the side of the lake such as the pulp-and-paper-mill.' The environmental activists said they hoped the 'Russian leadership would finally deal with the environmental and social problems at Lake Baikal within the very near future.'