June 16, 2010:  The new building of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) hosts a press conference devoted to the start of the third season of the Mirs on Baikal International Scientific Research Expedition.
Organized by the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, the Moscow press conference is attended by:
• A. N. Chilingarov – President of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, the President of the Russian Federation’s Special Representative on International Cooperation in the Arctic and the Antarctic, State Duma of the Russian Federation Deputy, Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of Russia;
• M. V. Slipenchuk – Chairman of the Guardianship Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, Head of the METROPOL Group of Companies;
• Y. S. Chernyayev – Member of the Technical Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, pilot of the Mir-2 manned submersible, Research Scientist at the Manned Submersibles Laboratory of the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Hero of Russia;
• A. K. Tulokhonov – Guardianship Board Member of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, Director of the Baikal Institute of Nature Management of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
• M. Y. Borzin – Vice President of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, Deputy Director General of IFC METROPOL.
The speakers remind their guests about the outcomes of the 2008 and 2009 expeditions and share their approach to the third season, summarizing the objectives that stand before the team.  They also share details about further activities planned by the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal.

In particular, A. N. Chilingarov reveals that despite the financial difficulties encountering the project, the third season will start on July 1, 2010.  “Our most important achievement is that we are continuing this work,” he notes.  “This was very hard to do.  But the scientists, experts and the public as a whole all feel that this work must go on.  Considering that we have no financing, and that all the work is being paid for by sponsors, it was very difficult to keep the Mir manned submersibles going for another season of expeditions.  But the lake’s study must go on.  The lake is a unique natural body that belongs to all of Russia.”
A. K. Tulokhonov underscores that the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal’ active involvement in the expedition has helped it draw the world community’s close attention to the problem of protecting the lake’s unique ecosystem.  He particular highlights the enormous significance of what two first seasons of the Mir on Baikal expeditions have been able to achieve so far: they have discovered gas hydrate fields – “our fuel of the future,” according to Tulokhonov; the have identified sedimentary oil flows; the have helped establish Lake Baikal’s age, which is identified through ancient accumulative terraces; they have unearthed previously-unknown types of local fauna; and led to other discoveries.  A. K. Tulokhonov also highlights the great personal contribution that M. V. Slipenchuk made in organizing the expedition, expressing the hope that soon, the preservation of Lake Baikal will also start receiving backing from the state budget.
M. V. Slipenchuk reveals that just like in previous years, this season’s expedition will be comprised of scientists from the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Buryatia Institute of Nature Management of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Geography Faculty of the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, and other leading Russian research institutions.  The staff of Switzerland’s University of Geneva has expressed a strong interest in developing cooperation.  And planning to joined the expedition are people like: Mongolian President T. Elbegdorj, the US producer James Cameron, and the renowned hydronauts Don Walsh (who conquered Mariana Trench) and Sylvia Earle.  The expedition has further developed a special program for students of the Geography Faculty of the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University.  Touching on the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal’s own plans, M. V. Slipenchuk notes that organizers are currently drafting a program for involving the Mir manned submersibles in the research that is being conducted on Lake Geneva.  This program is being headed by the renowned hydronaut Frederik Paulsen.
M. V. Slipenchuk also reveals that the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal has received the unofficial invitation of James Cameron to involve the Mir manned submersibles in the Gulf of Mexico’s recovery efforts.  But in light of its tremendous complexity, this project will only be reviewed upon the receipt of an official invitation from the US government and British Petroleum.
The press conference concludes with an extended question-and-answer period for the Russian and foreign press.
June 17, 2010:  The Mir-1 and Mir-2 manned submersibles are removed from their Irkutsk storage facility and delivered the village of Nikola, where the Metropoliya special-purpose ship is already undergoing preparations for the new expedition season.  The unique craft are thoroughly inspected by Moscow experts from the Manned Submersibles Laboratory of the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

July 1, 2010:  The third season of the Mirs on Baikal expedition begins.  At noon, an expedition fleet of the Metropoliya carrier barge and the Akademik (Academician) Koptyug ship of the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russia Academy of Sciences stands frozen in anticipation of its maiden voyage, which will take it to its first submersion site.  But first, Listvyanka’s Baikal Museum pier plays host to a commencement meeting involving Guardianship Board Chairman of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal M. V. Slipenchuk, Fund Vice President M. Y. Borzin, Irkutsk Region Deputy Governor B. V. Danilov, and World War II veteran V. D. Kazantsev.  The guests and expedition members’ festive mood is supported by a military brass band, which plays a traditional maiden voyage song called “Proshchaniye Slavyanki” (The Slavic Woman’s Farewell).  Three whistles from Akademik Koptyug’s captain announce the start of the fleet’s first mission.  The Archbishop of Irkutsk and AngaraVadim and members of the clergy of Irkutsk’ Znamensk Monastery reads a ceremonial Orthodox prayer at precisely 12:30 pm.  An icon of St. Nikolai Mirlikiysky – the protector of sailors and voyagers – is placed on board the Mir-2 manned submersible.  The Lord Vadim besprinkles holy water that was especially prepared for the maid Mir voyage, pronouncing a commencement address for members of the expedition.
The weather makes certain corrections to the team’s plan, with the previously-scheduled dives near the Circum-Baikal Railway (KBZhD) moved north because of the heavy fog that weighed over the village of Listvyanka, which is home to Capes Listvyanichny.  The first descent is completed by Mir-2 manned submersible, whose crew is comprised of: Hero of Russia Yevgeny Chernyayev, Guardianship Board Chairman of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal and Head of METROPOL Group of Companies Mikhail Slipenchuk, and World War II veteran Valentin Kazantsev.  The Mir-2 crew’s hatches are sealed at 14:26 pm local time.  Within an hour, the craft reaches a depth of 1,450 meters.
The Mir-1 manned submersible (with a crew of Viktor Nishcheta, Irkutsk Region Deputy Governor Boris Danilov, and Fund Press Center Deputy Director Sergei Yevchik) begins its submersion at 14:55 pm.  At 4:10 pm, the craft reaches a depth of 1,402 meters.  The two Mir submersions stretch over four hours.
Despite the difficult weather conditions, the Mir-1 and Mir-2 manned submersibles completely fulfill their scientific assignment for first day of the third season of the Mir on Baikal expedition.  The crew obtain unique photo and video material showcasing the coastal slopes and terraces of Capes Listvyanichny and Sytiy.  The teams also bring back samples of water and the local sediment.

The 83-year-old frontier sailor, 1945 Japanese campaign participant and decorated holder of military orders and medals Valentin Dmitriyevich Kazantsev takes part in the submersion on special invitation from the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal.  Attending a press conference on board the Metropoliya immediate after the missions, the veteran – adorned in a hydronaut’s stripped vest, hat and body suit – excitedly shares his underwater impressions with reporters: “I never thought that the depths of Baikal could be so beautiful or interesting.  I am delighted that I decided to stay near Baikal so many years ago, and that today I became a hydronaut.  I was lucky to work in the wonderful team of pilot Yevgeny Chernyayev and expedition organizer Mikhail Slipenchuk.  There, spending time under water with them, I felt like I was 43, not 83.”
Upon the submersions’ conclusion, the Baikal Museum’s exposition hall hosts a press conference involving some 50 reporters from Irkutsk, Buryatia and national publications.  The press is addressed by Mikhail Slipenchuk, Yevgeny Chernyayev, Boris Danilov, the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal Director Bair Tsyrenov, and Baikal Museum Director Vladimir Fialkov.  For nearly two hours, the Mir on Baikal project organizers field the reporters’ question, describing what makes the third season unique.  In particular, the speakers highlight the submersions that the teams plan for Southern and Central Baikal.
July 3, 2010:  The Mir-1 and Mir-2 manned submersibles descend into Goloustny Bay.  Reaching a depth of around 500 meters, the two crews are comprised of scientists from the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  The Mir-1 manned submersible begins its descent at 12:15 pm with a crew of: pilot Viktor Nishcheta, Limnology Institute Geologist Oleg Khlystov, and Andrei Khabuyev, Leading Geologist at the Institute’s Laboratory of Baikal Geology.  The Mir-2 craft submerges an hour later with a crew of: pilot and Hero of Russia Yevgeny Chernyayev, Scientific Observer Konstantin Kucher (Geologist of the Hydrology and Hydrodynamics Laboratory at the Limnology Institute), Alexei Rozhkov (of the Institute of Oceanology).  The experts keep to a previously-developed program that includes: studying surface methane bubbles; studying the residue of methane deposits; conducting an experiment involving gas hydrates’ creation and decay; studying Goloustny Bay’s current geological condition; and taking bottom temperature readings.
July 4, 2010:  The expedition fleet moves from Lake Baikal’s Irkutsk shorelines toward Turka Port (Republic of Buryatia).
July 7, 2010:  The upper deck of the Metropoliya special-purpose ship holds a round table within the frameworks of The Baikal Region’s Priority in Russia’s Asian Geopolitics workshop conference.  The event is entitled: Using the Republic of Buryatia’s Example to Attract Investments through Special Economic Zones.

Simultaneously with this event, the Mir-1 craft submerges with a crew that includes the correspondents and operators of All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK).  Russia 24 Television staff members Maria Kitayeva and Andrey Pchelovodov became the world’s first television reporters – hydronauts.  Their impression of their three-hour submersion into Central Baikal (some 10 kilometers off Turka) become the focal point of a special report that features footage of the mission’s preparation and from inside the craft itself.  Reaching a depth of 907 meters, pilot Viktor Nishcheta’s crew begins sampling water at various levels and collecting samples of local bed deposits.
July 8, 2010:  The Metropoliya special-purpose ship and the Akademik Koptyug steamship leave Turka Port toward Baikalsk, a town on the Buryat coastline of Lake Baikal.
July 10, 2010:  The two craft take four representatives of the Federal Service for the Supervision of Natural Resource Usage (Rosprirodnadzor) on a submersion near the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill.  The teams spend about two hours collecting water and sediment samples, and photographing and video recording the bedrock formations in the immediate surrounding of the mill.  The Mir manned submersibles work side by side at a depth of about 500 meters and a distance of about two kilometers off the shore.  The research results, including studies and samples, are forwarded to the environmental monitoring laboratory of Rosprirodnadzor.

July 13-15, 2010:  The Mir-1 and Mir-2 manned submersible spend this time inspecting the Saint Petersburg mud volcano, which rests near the Olkhon Gates Strait.  Scientists from P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology and the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences spend multiple hours visually inspecting the volcano and collecting sediment, water and underwater fauna samples.
The researchers set up a special instrument for automatically measuring the water’s methane concentration, and bring back samples of local gas hydrates and fauna.
The teams work at a depth of about 1,410 meter, spending between six and nine hours underwater in all.  All that effort rewards the hydro-geologists with their desired result – they find and describe new “provinces” of gas hydrate formations.  To help them better-study the gas hydrate formations, the oceanologists set up a special instrument called Lander, which the place directly opposite the Saint Petersburg mud volcano.  The device is essential to the job of automatically assessing any anomalies in the sediment’s methane concentration, measuring the chemical flux caused by potential gas hydrate emissions in the area, and discovering and estimating the new gas hydrate deposits’ resources.

July 16, 2010:  The Mir-1 and Mir-2 manned submersibles take two international crews on submersions in Central Baikal.  The Mir-2 begins the submersions with a crew of pilot and Hero of Russia Y. S. Chernyayev, scientific observer T. Han-Erdene, who serves as Director of the Mongolian Foundation of Science and Technology, and A. K. Tulokhonov, Director of the Baikal Institute of Nature Management and Members of the Scientific Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal.  Mongolian President T. Elbegdorj and Guardianship Board Chairman of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal M. V. Slipenchuk spend two hours inspecting the depth of Baikal on a Mir-1 craft that is being piloted by Hero of Russia and President of the Fund’s Technical Board A. M. Sagalevich.  The submersions – which occur five kilometers off Turka Port in Buryatia’s Pribaikalsky (Baikal Area) District – are monitored by the Republic of Buryatia President Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn and his wife.  They two are accompanied by scientists, politicians and the Mongol president’s family.  Elbegdorj contacts his wife and child from the depths of Baikal on several occasions.  “I feel an enormous happiness and a very acute proximity to nature,” Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj reports on one occasion.  “I feel like I am a part of Baikal.”
The Mir-1 craft’s mission comes to a successful end  at 11:20 am Moscow time, with the crew immediately briefing Russian and Mongolian reporters on board the Metropoliya special-purpose ship.  “I have never been to space, but I feel like a cosmonaut,” the president of Mongolia declares.  Guardianship Board Chairman of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal M. V. Slipenchuk officially hands Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj a commemorative plaque reading “Hydronaut 2010,” as well as a Certificate of Submersion.
July 18, 2010:  The expedition fleet continues its research north of Turka by Cape Svyatoi Nos, which in Chivyrkuy Bay.  These submersions take place by the shores of what is our country’s oldest sanctuary – the Barguzin Nature Reserve – and are focused on the lake’s underwater fauna and flora.

July 19, 2010:  The new round of Northern Baikal research kicks off when the Metropoliya special-purpose ship (with its Mir-1 and Mir-2 manned submersibles) and the Akademik Koptyug tugboat leave Chivyrkuy Bay – where the teams had inspected the lake’s eastern slopes and studied oil flows at a depth of 600 meters – and move toward Frolikha Bay.  This stage of the scientific program aims to: set up a Lander probe on the bottom of Lake Baikal, compare the data to the results obtained in the 1990s, take a detailed thermal flow measurement, and study the poly-thermal discharges that occur at around 400 meters.
July 21, 2010:  The two crews, which include scientists from the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, collect biological and sediment samples and study the bay’s hydrothermal discharges and bacterial mats.  They also inspect local fields of underwater sponges and use a special probe to measure geothermal conditions.
July 23, 2010:  The two crews continue their Northern Baikal research, completing a new round of submersions in Frolikh Bay.  The scientists’ latest mission: to study the lake’s bottom contour and use the Lander probe to measure local hydrothermal discharges, analyze the bay’s biochemical and microbiological flow activity, and gauge the direction and speed of the lake’s bottom currents.
July 25, 2010:  The Mir-1 and Mir-2 manned submersibles conduct their final descents into Northern Baikal’s Frolikh Bay.  These studies stretch over five days.  Scientists have never-before studied this region in such detail.  But now, they have detected a thermal water discharge in the bay, which they find at 400 meters.  The Mir-1 manned submersible’s crew conducts biological research, and the second crew – geophysical and geochemical research.

These submersions allow the scientists to make a detailed thermal survey of the site, determining the hydrothermal field’s actual parameters (more than two square kilometers).  The teams discover a section with an extremely high geothermal content (around 20 ºС per meter).  They locate the thermal water discharges to an area where the sand and gravel pebbles are covered in bacterial mats. 
Bacterial mats are a special form of deepwater life that occurs only near the source of the various fluid discharges.  They usually occur in areas of hydrocarbon discharge.  But the previously-inspected sites of Baikal have primarily featured methane discharges.  This confronts the scientists with the question of what actually causes this event.  After all, the hydrothermal zones of mid-ocean ridges feature methane that forms in areas of elevated temperature – where the water comes in contact with hot igneous rock and other such material. 
The scientists take gas samples for tests that should help them more closely establish the period of this geothermal occurrence. 
The scientists employ the Lander probe in their work.  This device helps them measure the hydro-physical parameters and the chemical element flows, which seep into the probe through its bottom water opening.  In part, the scientists are able to establish that the hydrothermal flows occur in areas of high biochemical activity and sharply accelerated oxygen consumption.
They are also able to record methane discharges that lead to various forms of methane anomalies.  The scientists further inspect the methane plumes they discover, which end up being of fairly complex (two-layered) structure.
July 26, 2010:  Lake Baikal experiences an earthquake that measures 4.0 on the Richter scale.   The temblor’s epicenter rests 32 kilometers off the shore in the southeastern section of the basin, having no affect on the work of the Mirs on Baikal expedition, which experienced the event while moored at Buryatia’s Turka Port.

July 28, 2010:  The Mirs on Baikal expedition continues its inspection of Olkhon Island.  These submersions involve experts from the Baikal Institute of Nature Management of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  The Mir-1 manned submersible’s crew is comprised of pilot A. M. Sagalevich, A. K. Tulokhonov, and V. E. Fortov; Mir-2 includes a crew of pilot Y. S. Chernyayev, V. V. Vlasov, and E. T. Bazarsadayeva.  The researchers use their five-hour submersions to conduct a series of studies and experiments focused on gas hydrates formation’ at depths around 600 meters.
They conduct an experiment designed to establish how methane manages to create gas hydrates.  Two-liter containers filled with pure methane are placed in water, with the scientists recording the depths at which these begin forming into gas hydrates.  The experiment shows that this process occurs at around 600 meters.  But the hydrate begins to undergo sudden decay as it is lowered further in the water.  The scientists intend to continue and perfect these experiments to better understand the nature of this phenomenon.
July 30, 2010:  The teams survey gas hydrate fields near the Saint Petersburg mud volcano.  The Mir-1 manned submersible descends near the volcano under the command of pilot Viktor Nishcheta, with the crew also including experts from the P. P Shirshov Institute of Oceanology and the Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos).  The team spends six hours studying the gas hydrates’ properties at a depth of 1,400 meters.
July 31, 2010:  The Mirs on Baikal expedition continues its mission at Olkhon Gates Bay.  The three-hour submersion includes the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal President, State Duma of the Russian Federation Deputy, Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Russia Artur Chilingarov, and State Duma of the Russian Federation Deputy Vladimir Gruzdev.  The Mir-1 manned submersible is piloted by the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal Technical Board Chairman and Hero of Russia Anatoly Sagalevich.  The mission lasts for more than three hours.

August 1, 2010:  The Mir-1 manned submersible descends near Olkhon Island with a crew of Russian Federation Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and Irkutsk Region Governor Dmitry Mezentsev.  The craft is piloted by the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal Technical Board Chairman and Hero of Russia Anatoly Sagalevich.  The three-hour submersion is used to sample the lake’s bottom and monitor its animal life.
August 3-4, 2010:　the Mir submersibles dived near Izhimey Cape, which is to the north of Olkhon Islands, with a crew of Swiss biologists:　Cristina Relasens, Helena Garson, Katrina Kremer, and　Tina Wunderlin.　 The submersibles were piloted by the Chairman of the Technical Board of the Fund and Hero of Russia Anatoly Sagalevich and Hero of Russia Eugeny Chernyaev. On August 3, Mir-1 submersible dived to 1,600 m and Mir-2 to 1,530 m within about 6 hours. On August 4, the submersibles operated at the depth of over 1400 meters. The objective of the Swiss scientists was to learn more about operation of Mir submersibles and to collect samples of water and sediments.
Later, the scientists of Geneva University described their impressions of the dives.
Tina Wunderlin: “I wanted to see how Mirs operate. Submerging and exploring the bottom of Lake Baikal were very interesting. We took samples of sediments and water. Next year we plan to have Mirs submerging in Switzerland. They present a great opportunity for collecting samples in various regions of Lake of Geneva”.
Helena Garson: “The experience I gained at Lake Baikal will be useful for my PhD thesis. I would be happy to submerge again and I hope to have this opportunity next year!»
Katrina Kremer:«I am very impressed by the submersions. The Mir submersibles are unique! They have so much potential! We are lucky have this opportunity to dive to the bottom of Lake Baikal and learn more about technical features of the submersibles in terms of scientific research. We hope to have an opportunity to use Mirs for submersions in our country next year”.
August 5, 2010: Mirs submerged at eastern Baikal near Turka Village (Buryatia). The Mir-1 held the crew of the pilot Viktor Nischeta, the President of International Kyokushinkan Karate Do Federation Hatsuo Royama (Japan) and the General Director of OEZ OJSC Igor Kosov. Mir-2 piloted by Eugeny Chernyaev had the crew of Mikhail Krasnoperov of the Russian Consulate in Switzerland and a lecturer Ulrich Lemmin from Switzerland. They conducted technological works at the underwater slope at about 500 m during the three-hour submersions. Hydranauts took samples of ground at 460 m and 350 m below the surface for geochemical analysis. They also made a number of biological tests.
August 7, 2010: the scientists continued to submerge off the eastern shore of Lake Baikal near Turka. Crews of observing scientists from the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and P.P.Shishov Oceanology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences carried out geological exploration, collected biological specimens and studied underwater hydrothermal phenomena.
August 8, 2010: Mirs at Baikal Expedition arrived in MRS village (Sahyurta) located at the bank of the strait of Olkhon Gates. This village is a transport link connecting the Olkhon Island with the mainland. The expedition has arrived here to have its equipment undergo planned preventive check.
August 9, 2010: the expedition successfully completed dives in the area of the mud volcano Saint-Petersburg near the strait of Olkhon Gates. The Mir-1 submersible had scientists of the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences participated in its crew who collected biological samples to study underwater fluids and gas hydrates deposits.
The Mir-2 submersible had the crew of scientists of P.P. Oceanology Institute who studied in detail the areas of gas hydrate deposits. In particular, they took a special transparent container to the bottom of the sea in order to deliver gas hydrates to the surface. They collected samples of gas bubbles, studied the process of hydration of the bubbles in the bottom conditions and installed special equipment: Lender devise for measuring parameters of methane flow and the, so called, “traps with thermosensors” for analysing the composition of methane gas fractions.

submersions near the Saint-Petersburg Mud Volcano continued with participations of scientists of the P.P. Shishov Oceanology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (OIRAS) and A.P.Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. They studied the geological structure of the area, gas hydrate fields and biochemical characteristics of the sediments.
The participants of Mirs at Baikal Expeditions made yet another scientific discovery. The scientists from Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences found previously unknown organic spherical forms at the bottom of the lake. The leading researcher of OIRAS Alexander Egorov said that they have come across “unstable jelly-like substances sized 1-3cm and easily destroyable. This makes it difficult to take their samples using the manipulator arm”. The Director of the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Grachyov believes that this may be a new form of life, a colony of microbes feeding on methane.
The Secretary of the Board of the Limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Tamara Zemskaya commented on this finding: “Scientists have found previously unknown spherical forms in the area of gas hydrates emission. We have taken samples of these jelly-like structures. The analysis showed that they contain large number of microorganisms, mostly filamentous. Notably, we have never encountered this form of life in Lake Baikal before. The scientists of the Limnology Instute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have already extracted their DNA. We study these substances in cooperation with the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The results of the research will be presented at the international scientific conference to be held at Baikal in September 2010”.
August 12, 2010: strong winds and high sea prevented the Mir submersibles from diving near Posolskaya shoal in southern Baikal.
August 15, 2010: the famous director, filmmaker of Titanic and Avatar James Cameron arrived in Irkutsk on a private visit. He has arrived to Russia upon private invitation from his friend - the Chairman of the Technical Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal Anatoly Sagalevich. James Cameron is accompanied in his journey by the famous Australian explorer, participant of the Arctic 2007 Deep Sea Expedition Michael McDowell and a writer, author of Avatar: The field guide to Pandora, Maria Wilhelm.
When they arrived, Dmitry Mezentsev invited the foreign guests to a friendship breakfast at the bank of Angara river. The weather was beautiful: the gale and the rain, which raged the day before, ceased.
James Cameron, who was visiting Lake Baikal and the Siberia for the first time, spoke highly of the beauty of the nature. In his turn, Dmitry Mezentsev expressed hope that the film-maker would find a new living creature in the Lake Baikal which would provide the basis for his new film. This idea sparkled interest and lively discussion among everybody who was present.
In the nearest future James Cameron plans to participate in the dives of Mir submersibles to the bottom of Lake Baikal. This will not be his first experience of underwater exploration. The film-maker made many submersions in Mir submersibles to over 4　000m in the Atlantic Ocean when shooting Titanic.

Mir submersibles dived in the southern Baikal, near Tolstiy Cape. The crew in the Mir-1 submersible, which was piloted by Hero of Russia and Chairman of the Technical Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal Anatoly Sagalevich, included James Cameron and the famous explorer of the world ocean and biologist Sylvia Earle. During the submersion, Anatoly Sagalevich gave James Cameron a unique present of hydronaut watch on behalf of the Chairman of the Guardianship Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal M.Slipenchuk.
Mir-2 submersible piloted by Hero of Russia Eugeny Chernyaev entered the water at 11:55. The submersible also had the participant of the Arctic 2007 Deep Sea Expedition Michael McDawell and writer Maria Wilhelm in the crew. At 12:47, Mir-2 reached 1270m.
At 12:50 local time, the crews of Mir-1 and Mir-2 communicated with Mikhail Slipenchuk who was on board of the Metropolia special purpose vessel.
Both submersibles safely surfaced 4.5 hours after the start of the dive.

August 19, 2010: expedition continued operation at southern Baikal near Listvyanka village. During the six-hour submersions, scientists collected biological samples and sediments. For this purpose, they used Slepgan device (a “water vacuum-cleaner” which takes water and fauna in special containers).
They also tried to experimentally form gas hydrates using a special gas which has physical characteristics different from methane. The purpose of the experiment was to study conditions and specifics of formation of gas hydrates at great depths.

August 20, 2010: During the submersions near Tolstiy Cape to 1380-1400 m, scientists installed a sensor, which detects anomalous quantity of methane in water, special gas traps and thermal sensor for measuring geothermal gradient (flow of heat)

August 22 and 24, 2010: submersibles dived in Listvenichniy Bay. Their main tasks were to conduct hydrochemical study and to seek for archaeological artefacts.

August 26, 2010: expedition operated in Posolskaya shoal. Mir submersions lasted for over 9 hours. The limnology Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences conducted geological study of ancient sediments at different depths and collected biological samples. The scientists also explored the bottom of the lake in search for outcrops of ancient strata.

August 28, 2010: During 6-hour submersions, Mir-1 submersibles searched for archaeological artefacts near Krugobaikalskaya railroad and explored the coast line and fauna at the bottom of the lake. Mir-2 crew conducted hydrochemical and biological study. In the course of submersion to 1200 m below the surface, they succeeded in forming a gas hydrate and tried to hydrate it. They also explored newly discovered microgorges along the coastline.

August 30, 2010: During submersions near Tolstiy Cape (Krugobaikalskaya railway, 81st km), Mir-2 submersible made a unique finding at the depth of about 400m. B.Tsyrenov commented on the finding: “After we came across fragments of metallic structures resembling the girders of a railway bridge at almost 1000 m, we directed the submersible up the slope which was covered with rock debris. There, we found 4 bars with characteristic gold glitter stuck in crevice of the talus. We approached the finding as close as we could, but the talus is a very movable structure and any actions by the manipulator arm would put the debris in motion. We could not reach the bars with the manipulator arm, but we have recorded their exact coordinates”. 　　　　

September 8, 2010: the third season of the scientific Mirs to Baikal Expedition officially closed at the VI Baikal International Economic Forum. The final media-briefing dedicated to the completion of this large-scale project was held at the central square of SibExpoCentre, right by the displays of Mir-1 and Mir-2 submersibles.

The participants of the briefing presented the main scientific discoveries and findings, spoke of the research program, unique Baikal inhabitants and historical artefacts found at the bottom of the lake, the scientific and state significance of the expedition.

The Administration of the Irkutsk Region highlighted the importance of the expedition for the local scientific institutes and popularization of scientific research among general public.

The representatives of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, as organisers of this world class expedition, told the visitors about the mission of the expedition, its importance for the future of the Russian fundamental science, achievements and long-term plans of the Fund. They also expressed gratitude to all the partners of the expedition and all the structures and organisations which supported this project (including the Federation Council of Russia, the Government of the Republic of Buryatia, the Administration of Irkutsk Region, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, the Russian Geographical Society and others). The speakers told the guests about famous scientists from 8 countries of Europe, Asia and America, politicians, federal and regional press, public figures, and celebrities, who participated in the expedition.