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Last update:
Nov. 22, 2005

Ecological excursion
Siberian Winter
(acros south part of West Siberia and Altai Mountains)

This is new initiative of our team aimed to show you all sides of famous, cold, stern and beautiful Siberian winter and to feel the influence of winter conditions on environmental features.

Scientific background of the excursion includes

• importance and influence of winter conditions on different components of ecosystems in Siberia
• snow distribution and redistribution by wind depending on relief
• snow depth and inner structure of snow cover (snow profiles)
• under snow temperature
• life under 2 m snow (living earth warms and insects) in Black Taiga
• snow abrasion
• snow breaks on twigs and trunks
• huge frazil on rivers.

Entertainment program of the excursion is also very spacious. You will know/see/test

- how the Siberian people survive in wintertime
- different types of skiing (cross-country skiing and mountain skiing)
- skating
- sledging
- riding in horse open sleigh
- ice-fishing
- studying animal signs on snow (elk, hare, squirrel, etc.)
- taking banya - famous Russian sauna combining with swimming in ice-hole
- and other winter amusements like overnight sleeping in "berloga"/den – self-made cave in deep snow for the most courageous participants of the ecotour.

 At the end of the ecotour you will get some days of relaxation in popular resort "Belakuriha" with very good facilities for mountain skiing, which is situated in picturesque foothills of Altai Mountains (this is optional and takes some additional costs).

The best time for the ecotour is March and April. These months are not so cold like the rest part of wintertime. Added advantage of these months is sunny weather that is together with clear white snow cover will give you unforgettable expressions for a whole your life.

The optimal number of participants is 12-14.
This number of participants will allow decreasing some expenses (rent for bus, for food, and for accommodations).

There is no special demand to physical condition of a participant who should just be generally healthy. The people of any profession are welcome with one condition – to be interesting and curious to get different impressions from snowy Siberia.

… and after the excursion you can honestly say: "I have survived terrible Siberian winter"!

Please, contact

Dr. Pavel A. Barsukov Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, St. Sovetskaya 18, Novosibirsk, 630099, Russia Tel.: + 7 (3832) 225 088 Fax.: + 7 (3832) 227 652 E-Mail: pavel-b@inbox.ru

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