UP Ibalon Bicol

Propping up his macho image, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, on board a deep water craft Mir-2 descended in the pristine recesses of Lake Baikal, the world’s largest and deepest fresh body of water. The lake carries a fifth of the world’s fresh water reserve.

On August 1, 2009, the former KGB operative had a view of the lake at about 4,600 feet below the surface bringing attention to his physical fitness and the need for environmental conservation.

In the largely undisturbed area of the lake floor are deposits of clathrate hydrate---which is a good source of natural gas. Russia is finding a way to economically extract methane fuel from these crystals. (Photo Credit: Mima11vladimir)

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