Тема 5 Spotlight on Russia ГДЗ Spotlight 10 класс

• Is there an area near you that is particularly beautiful? What makes it so special? What do people do there? Send Spotlight on Russia some drawings or photographs of your special place.
• In pairs, discuss what you find most impressive about Lake Baikal.
• What would you like to do there?
• ICT How can people help to protect this fragile environment? Collect information using the Internet.

Lake Baikal is one of the most famous lakes in the world and one of Russia’s greatest landmarks. It is in eastern Siberia and is a miracle of nature. It is the deepest lake on Earth and contains more water than all the Great Lakes of America put together. It is also the oldest lake on Earth, and after more than 25 million years, it is still growing by 2 cm a year.

The lake is famous for its breathtaking beauty. The water is crystal clear, and the stones on the bottom can be seen shimmering through it. But the calm water can quickly turn into a storm, with strong winds and huge waves. Lake Baikal is surrounded by magnificent mountain ranges, such as the Primorsky, Baikalsky and Barguzinsky ranges.

More than 300 rivers flow into Lake Baikal, and only one river, the Angara, flows out. Of the 22 islands in the lake, the most famous is Olkhon Island. It is a place of legend and wild spirits, and it is home to the famous Shamanka, where shamans used to live in times gone by.

Lake Baikal is also an environmental treasure with a wealth of biodiversity. Most of the 2,635 species of animals and plants found in and around the lake cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It is the only breeding ground for the Baikal seal and the omul fish.

In 1996, Baikal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, this precious Russian jewel is threatened by industry around its shores, so it is important to protect this fragile environment for future generations.