Old blog about Lake Baikal that hasn't been updated for many years.
October 30, 2010
October 24, 2010
October 23, 2010
Irkutsk Museum of Regional Studies
The Irkutsk's museum of regional studies is one of the oldest museums in Russia. It was founded in 1782. Mr. Erick Lacksman, an honoured member of the Russian Academy of Sciences was assigned to organize the museum. At first the museum was housed in a single room in the town's public library. Later on since 1805 the Irkutsk's provincial Grammar school became in charge of the museum.
In 1854 the museum was handed to the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society. This event was a major landmark in the life of the museum. After 1854 the museum's collections were enriched with the artifacts gathered by Mr. R. Maak's expedition in 1853 (the region of the river Vilyui), by Mr. A. P. Shyapov's expedition in 1856 (the region of Turuhan), by Mr. I. A. Lopatin's expedition and by Mr. P. A. Kropotkin's expedition. They were as well enriched with the artifacts gathered by Ms. I. D. Chersky, A. P. Chekonovsky, V. I. Dybovsky, B. Godlevsky (polish rebels exiled in Siberia).
In 1879 during the Great Fire of Irkutsk all the collections, all the books in the library and the building of the museum perished. By raising money to erect a new stone building of the museum the citizens of Irkutsk best proved their love to the motherland, demonstrated their desire to learn more about it and to give this knowledge to the future generations. In October 6, 1883 the new building of the museum was opened with solemnity. This building erected in the Moorish style was designed by the architect Baron Rosen. The building itself became a monument to the famous explorers of Asia because their surnames were engraved on its frieze. In the new museum actively worked such outstanding scientists as Ms. N. M. Yadrintsev, G. N. Potanin, D. A. Klements, V. A. Agapitov, M. P. Ovchinnikov and others. In 1898 the museum successfully took part in the World Exhibition in Paris. By the end of the XIX-th century the museum housed more than 20 000 artifacts.
After the Great October Revolution (1917) the museum received extra accommodations, the needed finances and initiated the systematic researches of this vast province. In the museum in the early years of the Soviet Power were engaged in research such famous scientists as Ms. A. P. Okladnickov, M. M. Gerasimov, G. F. Debets, F. A. Kudryavtsev, Mrs. V. I. Mihailovsky, Ms. P.P. Horoshih, M. K. Odintsov, V. I. Podgordunsky and B. I. Lebedinsky.
In 1920 in the museum there appeared the Department of Natural History.
In 1936 the museum was divided into two parts: the Museum of Regional Studies and the Art Gallery.
By December, 1970 the Prince Trubetskoy's premises in Irkutsk were completely restored. And a new Decemberists Museum was opened there. Then fifteen years passed and in December, 1985 after eleven years of restoration the Prince Volkonsky's premises in Irkutsk were opened for visitors.
From 1982 to 1994 the Irkutsk's Museum of Regional Studies was part and parcel of the Irkutsk's State United Museum. The Irkutsk's State United Museum was a methodical centre for the whole province.
In 1982 in the building of the former Church of Our Saviour (this monument of the XVIII-th century had been restored for a long time) the Exhibition Department was opened.
With the purpose of the museumification of cities and regions of the Irkutsk province the Irkutsk's Museum of Regional Studies in January, 1992 organized a special Methodist Department.
The Artifact Depository of our museum is the largest one in the East of Russia. The museum pieces stored there have to do with the material and spiritual culture of the peoples of Central Asia. The majority of the museum pieces were gathered in the exploring expeditions held by the outstanding scientists, members of the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society.
The ethnographic collections on the peoples of Siberia, Far East, Kamchatka, Korea, China and Mongolia include about 30 000 museum pieces. The unique archeological collections include 100 000 museum pieces and among them there are nephrite artifacts belonging to the Neolithic Age. The Photograph Department of the museum's Depository houses 40 000 photos. Besides all this the museum's Depository houses the collection of the Orthodox cult objects as well as the largest collection of the Orthodox silverware manufactured by the Irkutsk silversmiths. The collections in the Department of Natural History (including 10 000 museum pieces) characterize the Fauna, the Flora and the Natural Resources of the Irkutsk province.
The museum has a library which is one of the richest libraries on Siberian studies in Russia. In this library there are about 90 000 books, newspapers, magazines, journals, materials concerning the expeditions and researches carried out by the scientists of the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society.
In the library there is also a collection of the old Chinese books (XVIII - XIX-th centuries), numbering 440 volumes.
Source: official website of museum.
In 1854 the museum was handed to the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society. This event was a major landmark in the life of the museum. After 1854 the museum's collections were enriched with the artifacts gathered by Mr. R. Maak's expedition in 1853 (the region of the river Vilyui), by Mr. A. P. Shyapov's expedition in 1856 (the region of Turuhan), by Mr. I. A. Lopatin's expedition and by Mr. P. A. Kropotkin's expedition. They were as well enriched with the artifacts gathered by Ms. I. D. Chersky, A. P. Chekonovsky, V. I. Dybovsky, B. Godlevsky (polish rebels exiled in Siberia).
In 1879 during the Great Fire of Irkutsk all the collections, all the books in the library and the building of the museum perished. By raising money to erect a new stone building of the museum the citizens of Irkutsk best proved their love to the motherland, demonstrated their desire to learn more about it and to give this knowledge to the future generations. In October 6, 1883 the new building of the museum was opened with solemnity. This building erected in the Moorish style was designed by the architect Baron Rosen. The building itself became a monument to the famous explorers of Asia because their surnames were engraved on its frieze. In the new museum actively worked such outstanding scientists as Ms. N. M. Yadrintsev, G. N. Potanin, D. A. Klements, V. A. Agapitov, M. P. Ovchinnikov and others. In 1898 the museum successfully took part in the World Exhibition in Paris. By the end of the XIX-th century the museum housed more than 20 000 artifacts.
After the Great October Revolution (1917) the museum received extra accommodations, the needed finances and initiated the systematic researches of this vast province. In the museum in the early years of the Soviet Power were engaged in research such famous scientists as Ms. A. P. Okladnickov, M. M. Gerasimov, G. F. Debets, F. A. Kudryavtsev, Mrs. V. I. Mihailovsky, Ms. P.P. Horoshih, M. K. Odintsov, V. I. Podgordunsky and B. I. Lebedinsky.
In 1920 in the museum there appeared the Department of Natural History.
In 1936 the museum was divided into two parts: the Museum of Regional Studies and the Art Gallery.
By December, 1970 the Prince Trubetskoy's premises in Irkutsk were completely restored. And a new Decemberists Museum was opened there. Then fifteen years passed and in December, 1985 after eleven years of restoration the Prince Volkonsky's premises in Irkutsk were opened for visitors.
From 1982 to 1994 the Irkutsk's Museum of Regional Studies was part and parcel of the Irkutsk's State United Museum. The Irkutsk's State United Museum was a methodical centre for the whole province.
In 1982 in the building of the former Church of Our Saviour (this monument of the XVIII-th century had been restored for a long time) the Exhibition Department was opened.
With the purpose of the museumification of cities and regions of the Irkutsk province the Irkutsk's Museum of Regional Studies in January, 1992 organized a special Methodist Department.
The Artifact Depository of our museum is the largest one in the East of Russia. The museum pieces stored there have to do with the material and spiritual culture of the peoples of Central Asia. The majority of the museum pieces were gathered in the exploring expeditions held by the outstanding scientists, members of the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society.
The ethnographic collections on the peoples of Siberia, Far East, Kamchatka, Korea, China and Mongolia include about 30 000 museum pieces. The unique archeological collections include 100 000 museum pieces and among them there are nephrite artifacts belonging to the Neolithic Age. The Photograph Department of the museum's Depository houses 40 000 photos. Besides all this the museum's Depository houses the collection of the Orthodox cult objects as well as the largest collection of the Orthodox silverware manufactured by the Irkutsk silversmiths. The collections in the Department of Natural History (including 10 000 museum pieces) characterize the Fauna, the Flora and the Natural Resources of the Irkutsk province.
The museum has a library which is one of the richest libraries on Siberian studies in Russia. In this library there are about 90 000 books, newspapers, magazines, journals, materials concerning the expeditions and researches carried out by the scientists of the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society.
In the library there is also a collection of the old Chinese books (XVIII - XIX-th centuries), numbering 440 volumes.
Source: official website of museum.
Tihomirovy Fund
The Tihomirovy family - mama (Olga), papa (Mikhail) and three children (Mikhail, Darya and Anastasia) - could not think for a long time that their lives would be connected with horses.
As all romantic girls, young Olga was dreaming to ride sometimes. But there was almost no horses in Irkutsk at that time, and she was busy with journalism job.
But as soon as she learned about recently opened Riding school, she took three her children there. They were 7 to 13. Later Tihomirovy met Malakhovskie family of private horse owners - mother and daughter. Olga and Marianna Malakhovskie were truely passionate, and their horses were always clean, never hungry, very kind and tender. Despite they were doing usual ‘riding rent’, we could only learn the very best from how they treated their horses. This is how Tihomivory got their first skills in working with horses. This lead to the idea to create a small club, joining with Malakhovskie. This “niche” was free in Irkutsk. Darya Tihomirova started attending courses in local hippodrome. There was a lot to learn, so Olga herself decided to ride a horse too. She was amazed to find out how much better she started to feel immediately. It became clear that the direction of work should be helping people with disabilities.
A bit later Darya and Olga visited Moscow to attend the seminar of British trainers of hippotherapie. The trainers not only demonstrated greatest skills but taught them to treat a horse as a partner. “The horse working in hippotherapie should be happy” - these words Olga remembered forever.
In 2000 new social organization was created: Irkutsk Social Charitable Tihomirovy Fund of Treating Disabled Children with Horseback Riding.
Thanks to kindness of the director of historical museum “Decabrists in Siberia” Evgeniy Yachmenev, the horses found their home inside the museum, near Volkonskiy house. This blessed place with little stable has become the starting point for the growth.
With sponsorship help, two first horses were purchased from Malakhovskie, who could not participate by that time. Buyan and Pinki horses are still healthy and work with us.
Working with disabled children has made it clear very fast - it is much more complex than Tihomirovy could ever imagine. It was very difficult from professional point of view, and it brought great social responsibility.
It was also clear that this work could not make profit. Disabled children were and are still treated for free. But the results were so inspiring that there was no doubt - the idea was right.
It should be noted that Irkutsk community reacted very actively and positively. Thanks to many journalists, the project was highlighted in the press, and a famous local newspaper “Chestnoe slovo” was dedicating the whole list of each issue to the Fund for some time!
Over the time, people from hippodrome (where Darya attended the courses) started joining the Tihomirovy Fund, including Larisa Vlasenko - the only trainer in Irkutsk region with sports master dergee at that time. She gave a lot to Fund volunteers.
Since the first days of Fund work, there is a lot of help coming from Oksana Shumilova - experienced rehabilitation specialist, taking a great interest in Fund idea and later becoming excellent riding trainer.
We also need to thank Natalia Rakitina, young doctor who put a lot of effort to help the Fund, and many others!
Year by year, all participants have been improving their experience and skills. Our workers constanly attend various courses in Moscow, St. Petersbourg, and Fund founders also invite foreign specialists to Irkutsk.
The biggest problem has been, and still is, the lack of horse riding specialists in Irkutsk area. The only solution was to grow our own specialists. Olga and Mikhail had no choice but to build their own innovative business model, facing lack of money, resources and staff.
Together with Main Administration of Education of Irkutsk Region and specialists of regional natiralusts club, Fund worked on developing such business model. After serious expertises, this project received status of Federal experimental area.
After this job was completed, the organization had its own model of surviving and developing, which still successfully works and improves. The idea of this model is moving forward in all directions a the same time, and great motivating of all participants.
The process is built in such a way that young people coming to work with horses are watching complicated but exciting process of treating disabled children, and get motivation to participate in it. This results in deeper self-evaluation of their activities, makes them work harder to improve their skills. This naturally leads to sports achievements.
So, sports achievements of trainers motivate disabled children to succeed in their own sports programs. And it also helps them to fight their disabilities, because they clearly see it is possible to win.
The great job has also been done on planning and building new Equestrian Center, because the historical museum “Decabrists in Siberia” could not fit the volume of job any more.
Today, the team of Tihomirovy Fund is happy to work in new Equestrian Center in Granovschina village of Irkutsk region. And in winter time, they work in two places at the same time, Granovschina and historical museum!
The organization is growing and helping more and more children, thanks to its sponsors and partners.
Visit Tihomirovy Fund Website for more info.
October 22, 2010
Getting Optimized Saltwater Performance with Minn Kota Riptide
Minn Kota Riptide, reengineered to endure the use and improper handling, steps up to the sterness of saltwater environment. This trolling motor is designed for the harsh conditions of saltwater immersion. The Minn Kota Riptide trolling motors come in six different models with unique attributes designed to conveniently make your time more productive on the water. This is the trolling motor that can simply give the saltwater the ultimate stare-down.
Minn Kota Riptide's improved performance to the rigors of salt water is the result of its fully-optimized Riptide SP?s reinvented electric steer control, enhanced deploy-assist lever, and a manager of options and features that set the standard for ultimate power and control. It also comes standard with redesigned foot pedal and CoPilot hand control for better trolling, thus making it easier for you to reach your favorite fishing spot. It also has the i-Pilot, a GPS-based navigation control system for positioning that doesn't require hands-on operation. This revolutionizes the way fishers and anglers use a trolling motor.
The new Minn Kota Riptide hand control gives you the best of both worlds with its new Tilt/Extend Tiller handle. To become more accessible to anglers, Minn Kota Riptide trolling motors are now available in bow mount and transom mount with thrust speeds ranging from 40 to 100+ lbs; which means you can choose the best that fits you and your budget. Its tiller steering system is fully customizable in terms of tilt angle and length and imbodies a new quick-lock cam depth adjuster to easily and securely set the depth adjustment on your motor. Easy to adjust to any situation and any style of fishing, it can both tilt up to 45 degress and extend up to six inches.
Minn Kota Riptide trolling motors has the Digital Maximizer that perfectly works in drawing power at variable speeds; it reduces energy wastes and extends battery life, giving you more time in the water.
These units utilize 12 volts to put 55lb of thrust at the end of a 36" shaft and they offer the self-contained Lift-Assist gas-charged machine which is specifically built-in with the bow mount. This makes lifting the motor in and out of the water easier when not in use. They also feature composite bushings for isolation and makes the motor fish-spooking-free on any metal-on-metal interfaces.
For information on specific features of Minn Kota Riptide model lines, please visit http://www.trollingmotors.net/
by: Arthur Markham
Baikal Nature
One of the best art videos found online about nature and local people in Baikal Region. Very interesting and well done.
October 21, 2010
Sacred Sea: A Journey to Lake Baikal
Click "Watch Full Program" if you want to see full 1 hour presentation of the book, where Peter Thomson tells a lot of interesting stuff about traveling to the lake.
October 19, 2010
News
Don't forget to read the news :) That's what I found recently in them, pretty interesting stuff about science on lake Baikal.
"It is in a unique lake - there are no similar conditions to Baikal's
anywhere else on Earth," said Bair Shaibonov, an astrophysicist
who was on a shift at the NT-200 base.
"It is in a unique lake - there are no similar conditions to Baikal's
anywhere else on Earth," said Bair Shaibonov, an astrophysicist
who was on a shift at the NT-200 base.
October 18, 2010
Even in tempest, Siberian lake is a jewel
SOUTHBOUND ON LAKE BAIKAL, Siberia | Though mainly celebrated for its beauty, this jewel of Siberia also commands respect for the frequent mighty gales that can whip along its 400-mile length in any season.
The winds have names, often taken from the topographic features down which they rage — river valleys, and the canyons of mountains rimming the chasm that contains the lake.
At their worst, they can howl at 40 to 50 meters per second — 90 to 110 miles an hour — and create waves as much as 20 feet high.
The one we met today may have been the one called the Kultuk, a lesser storm, but exciting enough.
The day began with banks of low clouds gathering in the southwest, and for much of the morning we progressed uneventfully, the boat nosing through a mild chop.
By the time we gathered for lunch in early afternoon, the wind had freshened greatly. Rain was falling in blinding, horizontal sheets, and the boat’s pitching was much increased.
Borne up on waves that Victor estimated at between 2 and 3 meters, or more than 6 to nearly 10 feet, it would slam down in the following trough with a thunderous jolt. Water cascaded over the bow and the forward window of the galley.
Standing or walking was a challenge. To venture out onto the deck was unthinkable.
Fortunately, the Yaroslavits is a stout, steel-hulled craft. But in the name of comfort, if not caution, the crewman at the wheel reversed course to run with the southwest wind and the waves, not against them.
We all sat tight in the galley area, waiting for the storm to ease, as presently it did.
It was discovered later that a porthole in Victor’s compartment, not securely latched, had swung open and admitted spray that doused his sleeping bag. But apart from that there was no damage.
The sky began gradually to clear, the tumultuous clouds breaking away and sliding down to make a frame above the mountain peaks.
And as we rounded the tip of a peninsula that blocked the wind entirely, we glided on a surface smooth as glass to our anchorage once again in the Bay of Snakes, the very place we’d left that morning.
The evening was spectacular, with clouds lighted from below by the setting sun, and ranks of mountain ridges, one after another, receding in shades of forest green, purple and blue.
Our retreat from the tempest meant that we would return to Victor’s rescue base near the mouth of the Angara River and to the city of Irkutsk a day later than originally planned.
But I don’t for a moment consider that a day lost.
Irrespective of the schedule, an extra day spent on the world’s most beautiful lake is by any reckoning a bit of luck, a day gained.
From here: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/11/2216328/even-in-tempest-siberian-lake.html
The winds have names, often taken from the topographic features down which they rage — river valleys, and the canyons of mountains rimming the chasm that contains the lake.
At their worst, they can howl at 40 to 50 meters per second — 90 to 110 miles an hour — and create waves as much as 20 feet high.
The one we met today may have been the one called the Kultuk, a lesser storm, but exciting enough.
The day began with banks of low clouds gathering in the southwest, and for much of the morning we progressed uneventfully, the boat nosing through a mild chop.
By the time we gathered for lunch in early afternoon, the wind had freshened greatly. Rain was falling in blinding, horizontal sheets, and the boat’s pitching was much increased.
Borne up on waves that Victor estimated at between 2 and 3 meters, or more than 6 to nearly 10 feet, it would slam down in the following trough with a thunderous jolt. Water cascaded over the bow and the forward window of the galley.
Standing or walking was a challenge. To venture out onto the deck was unthinkable.
Fortunately, the Yaroslavits is a stout, steel-hulled craft. But in the name of comfort, if not caution, the crewman at the wheel reversed course to run with the southwest wind and the waves, not against them.
We all sat tight in the galley area, waiting for the storm to ease, as presently it did.
It was discovered later that a porthole in Victor’s compartment, not securely latched, had swung open and admitted spray that doused his sleeping bag. But apart from that there was no damage.
The sky began gradually to clear, the tumultuous clouds breaking away and sliding down to make a frame above the mountain peaks.
And as we rounded the tip of a peninsula that blocked the wind entirely, we glided on a surface smooth as glass to our anchorage once again in the Bay of Snakes, the very place we’d left that morning.
The evening was spectacular, with clouds lighted from below by the setting sun, and ranks of mountain ridges, one after another, receding in shades of forest green, purple and blue.
Our retreat from the tempest meant that we would return to Victor’s rescue base near the mouth of the Angara River and to the city of Irkutsk a day later than originally planned.
But I don’t for a moment consider that a day lost.
Irrespective of the schedule, an extra day spent on the world’s most beautiful lake is by any reckoning a bit of luck, a day gained.
From here: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/11/2216328/even-in-tempest-siberian-lake.html
Irkutsk Virtual Tour
This is great video, very nicely made! 34 minutes across Irkutsk, catching the most important stuff. After watching you will have a good image of what to expect when you travel to Irkutsk city in winter, near lake Baikal.
Bruno, you did a really good job! Thank you very much for this video!
Bruno, you did a really good job! Thank you very much for this video!
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