Peter Thomson is from Boston and in 2000 he and his brother decided to travel to Lake Baikal by way of steamer ship across the Pacific and the Trans-Siberian Railway. Trained as a journalist and with experience as an NPR reporter, Thomson brings a professional quality to his travel account that makes it enjoyable and easy to imagine being there. Nothing really "happens" exciting or out of the ordinary, but we do learn a lot about Lake Baikal and some of the environmental issues it is having. It's basically a long National Geographic article with some personal memoir mixed in, well done for what it is, a contemporary travelogue. Of special note is the paper mill on Lake Baikal which has been the major source of pollution and a great source of contention internationally. The book was published in 2007, and in 2009 the mill was closed for good, a hopeful sign that Russians are taking more seriously efforts to protect this unique and special place. ( )

Peter Thomson has written a love story for a lake, Baikal, perhaps the most special lake in the world. Unfortunately, it's owners and "protectors", the Russians don't always share his love. We are treated to a combination of perhaps "too much love for the lake", from the environmentalists who fear for the lake and treat any change as catastrophic and "too much confidence that the lake can handle any change or intrusion", from the rest of the Russians. We are offered substantial details from the environmentalists on why the lake is headed in the wrong direction and confidence from the ordinary Russian--mostly business people, that feel that development will not hurt the lake.

Baikal is already a World Heritage Site, but one that is threatened, according to many observers. You are left with the impression that the lake is not invincible, as many Russians state, and actually under siege from new industries and tourism.

Thomson wraps his tome to Baikal within a long trip around the world, which is another book all together. I wish he had written two books instead on one. ( )