What is so special about clathrate hydrate crystals found on the bottom of Lake Baikal in Russia?
Clathrate hydrate crystals are packed with natural gas, one of Russia’s most important exports. Scientists estimate Baikal hydrates contain over 1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, an amount comparable with the world’s largest discovered gas fields. Mineral extraction is banned in Lake Baikal which is a nature reserve. Recently Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin descended 4,600 feet to the bottom of Lake Baikal in a submersible to see the deposits first hand.
