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Russian minisubs resume Lake Baikal dives after earthquake

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Russia's Mir-1 and Mir-2 minisubs resumed their research into the world's deepest lake Thursday after a powerful quake hit south Siberia causing scheduled dives to be postponed, a Russian scientist said.
NOVOSIBIRSK, August 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Mir-1 and Mir-2 minisubs resumed their research into the world's deepest lake Thursday after a powerful quake hit south Siberia causing scheduled dives to be postponed, a Russian scientist said.

The quake with the epicenter near Lake Baikal measured over 7 on the Richter scale. Tremors cut off power supplies and caused minor damage to buildings in the area, but did not affect mini-submarines involved in the expedition.

"The storm and the waves at the lake have calmed, and we are able to resume work," said Dr. Mikhail Grachyov, an expert on the molecular evolution of Baikal's animal and plant life.

During the current stage, set to run until the beginning of September, the submersibles are exploring Talanka Bay near the mouth of the Selenga River on the southeastern shore of the lake.

Through the course of the first research phase, from July 29 to August 18 in the deepest part of the lake, the mini-subs conducted 26 dives.

One of the researchers' main discoveries was a natural oil leak in the bedrock. Scientists also took samples of organisms and sediments from the lake's bed, and found evidence confirming the theory that the lake was previously around 500 meters (1,600 feet) shallower.

The deepest point reached in the first series of dives was 1,680 meters (5,500 feet).

Baikal is the world's oldest lake, with an age estimated at 25 million years. Scientists taking part in the current expedition, during which 160 deepwater dives are planned over the next two years, have stressed that research is not aimed at exploiting possible oil and gas reserves, but at protecting Baikal's unique ecosystem.

The lake has been the focus of major environmental scares in recent years, with a last-minute change to an oil pipeline route that was set to pass near Baikal's shores, and environmental regulators' claims against a pulp mill accused of pumping large volumes of toxic waste into the lake.

Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds around 20% of the planet's freshwater.

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