Great Baikal Trail

The Great Baikal Trail (Russian: _ru. Большая Байкальская Тропа (Bolshaya Baikalskaya Tropa)) is a non-profit project to create a hiking trail around Lake Baikal in Siberia (Russia) with a total length of about 1800 km (1120 miles). Although the idea for such a trail was born in the 1970s, construction only started in 2003 with the help of volunteers from around the world. The goal is to develop eco-tourism in the region, as an alternative to industrial development of the world's most ancient, deepest lake. The Great Baikal Trail is not yet completed, however, the first sections are already safe for use. Upon completion it will connect 3 national parks and 3 nature reserves. Every year the GBT organizes up to 25 volunteer camps, during which international participants work together with locals (Russian and English are the official languages spoken in each camp) to contribute to the trail's completion. The camps take place on the shores of Baikal, in pristine wilderness. In addition to trail-building camps, the GBT also runs educational and 'social work' camps, for example, camps where volunteers work with local kids with disabilities.

External links

* [http://www.greatbaikaltrail.ru/index_en.html Official Website of the Great Baikal Trail]
* [http://www.baikalplan.de Baikalplan.de, German partner organization of the Great Baikal Trail]
* [http://www.baikalinfo.com www.baikalinfo.com - Useful information for Travellers]