Russian Researchers To Hunt For Tsarist Gold in Lake Baikal

[parasearchers]

MOSCOW, September 3 (RIA Novosti) - Russian researchers are planning to hunt for missing tsarist gold, lost in the winter of 1919-1920 during the Russian Civil War, as part of their final dive of East Siberia's Lake Baikal on Thursday.

Among the many treasures rumored to have disappeared into Baikal's depths are several sacks of gold, taken from the Imperial Russian reserves by Admiral Alexander Kolchak's forces as they fled the Bolsheviks following the Russian Revolution of 1917. Many of the officers perished on the lake's ice as temperatures plummeted to -60 degrees Celsius (-76 Fahrenheit) and the gold sank with the onset of the spring thaw.

The crew, comprising lawmakers Artur Chilingarov and Vladimir Gruzdev, along with scientist Anatoly Sagalevich, will make a dive to the site where several train carriages believed to date back to the Civil War were earlier discovered.

"We are going to explore the bottom thoroughly in search of evidence that these carriages are indeed from the Civil War period," Gruzdev said. "With some luck, we could even find Kolchak's gold. That would be a perfect finale to the long and intensive scientific exploration of Baikal."

He added that a decision on whether to continue exploring the world's largest freshwater body next year will be made after the dive has been completed.

The research team earlier said that searching for archaeological artifacts was not the main goal of the expedition, which is largely focused on the lake's unique ecosystem.

Baikal, called the Sacred Sea by locals for its size and beauty, is the world's oldest and deepest lake, with an age estimated at 25 million years. It holds around 20% of the planet's freshwater and is home to hundreds of unique species of fauna and flora.


http://parasearcher.blogspot.com/2009/09/moscow-september-3-ria-novosti-russian.html

UPDATE: IRKUTSK, September 4 (RIA Novosti) - Mini-subs due to hunt for missing tsarist gold in East Siberia's Lake Baikal remained on dry land on Friday due to strong winds, a local lake preservation fund chief said.

Several sacks of gold taken from the Imperial Russian reserves by Admiral Alexander Kolchak's forces as they fled the Bolsheviks following the Russian Revolution of 1917 are rumored to have disappeared into Baikal's depths in the winter of 1919-1920.

"The dives did not take place due to strong winds of up to 17 meters per second and two-meter-high waves," Roman Afonin said.

Weather permitting, the Mir-1 and Mir-2 mini-subs will now begin their search for the gold in the world's largest freshwater lake on Saturday.

[Euromutt]

1. If they're looking for railroad carriages, that limits the search area

I spent a few weeks around Baikal in the summer of 2005. The railroad only runs along the lake along part of the southern shore.

I'm more than a little bemused that this is cropping up on a site about "paranormal" stuff. What's paranormal about a bunch of gold sunk in the lake during the Russian Civil War?

[parasearchers]

2. Damn! I didnt realize I was

only supposed to post Paranormal stuff on the blog. Well darn!

[gtar100]

3. I've never heard of this lake before. How fascinating. More treasure than the gold.

Baikal, called the Sacred Sea by locals for its size and beauty, is the world's oldest and deepest lake, with an age estimated at 25 million years. It holds around 20% of the planet's freshwater and is home to hundreds of unique species of fauna and flora.

Must be quite a history around this lake. And 20% of the planet's freshwater is no drop in the bucket!

[parasearchers]

4. Thats incredible, that it holds that much water.

I had liked the article from it's "Indiana Jones" aspect. It hadnt occurred to look at the the nature of the lake. Must be one hell of an expedition.

[pfloydguy7750]

5. Fascinating