MOSCOW, August 6 (RIA Novosti) - International researchers using two Russian mini-submarines to explore Lake Baikal arrived at a new base in the north of the world's largest fresh-water lake, a member of the expedition told RIA Novosti.

The expedition covered about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Listvyanka, in the lake's southwest, to Nizhneangarsk over the past three days. Geothermal processes and the lake bottom will be examined during the dives.

"Technical dives will be conducted tomorrow, and then we will proceed to Severobaikalsk and further on to Frolikha," the researcher said, adding that practically no research had ever been conducted in the area, unlike in the lake's south and central parts.

The first part of the expedition was conducted in the summer of 2008. This summer, the Mir-1 and Mir-2 mini-submarines have searching for new flora and fauna species, as well as diving to the lake's deepest point near Olkhon Island.

The mini-subs will return to the Akademik Mstislav Keldysh research vessel in Kaliningrad, Russia's exclave on the Baltic Sea, in September.