Russian submersibles arrive on Lake Geneva

The arrival of the MIR submersibles on the shores of Lake Geneva kicks off the Elemo scientific campaign. On board, international teams of researchers will explore the lake, to better understand and protect it. The two MIR submersibles, weighing 18 tons each, were shipped across Europe, from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad to the shores of Lake Geneva, a special convey traveling more than 1500 kilometers. Their arrival at the port of Bouveret kicks off the Elemo campaign. This summer, several teams of international scientists will explore the depths of the lake in the submersibles, where they will be able to survey strategic areas such as the deepest parts of the lake, the port of Vidy as well as the mouth of the Rhone. They will collect enough information for several years of work. Supported by Ferring Pharmaceuticals and the Russian Federation's Honorary Consulate in Lausanne, this scientific program is coupled with a series of educational initiatives, including a public exhibition on the Quai d'Ouchy, which opens its doors on June 4th with support from the City of Lausanne. A total of ten Swiss, British, Russian, French and American research institutions are taking part in the project. Their primary aim is to better understand the impact of human activity on Lake Geneva. Some 1.5 million people live near the lake, putting a great deal of pressure on the environment. For this project, scientists from all fields, including environmental experts, physicists, biologists and geologists, will be working together to investigate the situation in Lake Geneva, based on the latest advances in environmental science. Micropollutants, an environmental challenge