IBaikal—Ichibi Elikhulu Kunawo Wonke Emhlabeni — Watchtower UMTAPO OKUYI-INTHANETHI

IBaikal—Ichibi Elikhulu Kunawo Wonke Emhlabeni

NGUMLOBELI WE-PHAPHAMA! ERUSSIA

SEKUYISIKHATHI eside izinhlanga zaseMongolia ezisendaweni esemajukujukwini namuhla eyaziwa ngokuthi iningizimu yeSiberia zilihlonipha leli chibi. Nakuba emaningana amachibi amakhulu kunalo, kodwa leli lijule kakhulu kunawo wonke angenasawoti emhlabeni futhi linamanzi amaningi kunawo wonke amanye. Elinye lamagama alo elisekhona namanje lithi Baikal, okukholelwa ukuthi lisho ukuthi “Ichibi Elicebile,” noma “Ulwandle.” Empeleni, ngenxa yokuthi leli chibi “likhulu futhi linesimo esishintshashintshayo,” ngezinye izikhathi, amatilosi asosebeni asakhuluma ngokuthi “aya olwandle.”

Ukukhuluma ngeChibi iBaikal kuzithinta ngokujulile izinhliziyo zabantu baseRussia. Usosayensi othile waseMoscow walibiza ngokuthi “ingoma emnandi wonke umuntu ayifunda esemncane.” “Inamanothi” amaningi—ugu oluhle, amanzi acwebe ngokumangalisayo, nezinhlobonhlobo zezilwane ezingavamile ezingatholakali kwenye indawo.

Uma usemkhathini, iChibi iBaikal—elingaba amakhilomitha angu-636 ubude nangaba ngu-80 lapho libanzi kakhulu khona—lifana neso eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka elingavulekanga ngokuphelele. Liqukethe ingxenye eyodwa kwezinhlanu zawo wonke amanzi angenasawoti emhlabeni, angaphezu kwamanzi asemaChibini Amakhulu amahlanu aseNyakatho Melika ehlangene! IChibi iBaikal lingaphezu kwamamitha angu-1 600 ukujula. Ukube belingavele lome kungalindelekile, bekungathatha unyaka wonke ukuba wonke amanzi ageleza kuyo yonke imifula emhlabeni aligcwalise futhi!

Ukungqubuzana Kwamazwekazi

Izazi zokuma komhlaba zicabanga ukuthi esikhathini eside esidlule, izwekazi elalikhuphukela ngasenyakatho langqubuzana ne-Asia. Ukungqubuzana kwabangela ukuba izingxenye ezinkulu zamadwala angaphansi zifingqeke njenge-foil futhi zaphakamisa inhlabathi eyakha izintaba zaseHimalaya. Abanye bakholelwa ukuthi ukungqubuzana kwala mazwekazi kwabangela imifantu eminingi ejulile eSiberia. Omunye wayo namuhla waziwa ngokuthi iBaikal Rift. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, amanzi ayegeleza esuka ezintabeni ezizungezile agcwalisa lo mfantu ngodaka olungaba ngamakhilomitha angu-7. Amanzi agcwala phama kwabe sekwakheka iChibi iBaikal. Manje kunemifula nemifudlana engaphezu kuka-300 egelezela kuleli chibi, kodwa munye kuphela osuka kuleli chibi, i-Angara.

Ngokungafani namanye amachibi amadala emhlabeni, iBaikal ayinazo izibhidi futhi ayinawo amaxhaphozi. Ososayensi bakholelwa ukuthi isizathu siwukuthi izingqimba zomhlaba ezingaphansi kwaleli chibi zisahlukana futhi zenza umfantu ube banzi. Ngakho-ke, kunokuba ligcwale ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, leli chibi liya ngokuya lijula unyaka nonyaka! Lezi zingqimba zomhlaba ziphinde zenze ukuba kuqhume iziphethu zamanzi ashisayo ekujuleni kwechibi.

Ukuphonsa Iso EChibini IBaikal

Abanye bakuthola kwesabisa ukunqamula iChibi iBaikal ngesikebhe ngoba umuntu ukwazi ukubona ibanga elingamamitha angu-50 ekujuleni kwamanzi acwebe ngokumangalisayo njengokungathi ubheke emoyeni! Kunezilwanyana eziningi ezincane ezinamagobolondo okuthiwa ama-epischura ezihlanza leli chibi futhi zidle ulwelwe nama-bacterium angcolisa amachibi amaningi. Zisizwa ama-crayfish amaningi agcwele kuleli chibi, adla izinto ezifile ebezingase zibolele emanzini. Ngakho, amanzi ahlanzeke kangangokuthi eminyakeni engaphansi kwamashumi amabili adlule, isampula elathathwa layohlolwa langcoliswa ingilazi!

Ngaphezu nje kokucweba kwawo okubabazekayo, amanzi eChibi iBaikal anomoya-mpilo omningi ngendlela engavamile. Amanye amachibi ajulile aphelelwa umoya-mpilo ebangeni elithile njengoba eya ejula, okuphoqa izilwane eziningi ezikula machibi ukuba zingahlali endaweni ejule kakhulu. Kodwa eChibini iBaikal, imisinga yamanzi eyehlayo nevundlayo ithuthela umoya-mpilo ekujuleni kwechibi bese ihlangana kahle. Ngenxa yalokho, lonke ichibi ligcwele izinto eziphilayo.

Kunehlathi elichumayo elingaphansi kwala manzi abandayo, ahlanzekile. Kunezipanji eziluhlaza ezimagatshagatsha njengamakhorali eziyisivikelo senqwaba yezilwanyana zasemanzini. Izinto eziningi eziphilayo ezithanda ukufudumala zigcwala eduze neziphethu ezishisayo zaleli chibi. Phakathi kwezilwane zasemanzini ezingaphezu kuka-2 000 ezihlala kuleli chibi, ezingu-1 500 zitholakala kule ndawo kuphela.

IChibi iBaikal lidume nge-omul, inhlanzi enambithekayo futhi eyigugu kubadobi. Ezinye izilwane azivamile, futhi ziyinqaba. Esinye sazo isibungu esibizwa ngokuthi i-flatworm esikhula size sibe ngamasentimitha angaphezu kwangu-30 ubude futhi esidla izinhlanzi. Kukhona nezilwanyana ezinengqamuzana elilodwa ezihlala phakathi kwezinhlayiya zesihlabathi! Leli chibi laziwa nange-golomyanka—etholakala eBaikal kuphela. Mhlawumbe ingenye yezinhlanzi eziyinqaba ezitholakala lapha.

I-golomyanka encane ikhanya ngalé, futhi inemibalabala ekhazimulayo. Cishe ihlala ekujuleni kwechibi futhi ayibekeli amaqanda, kodwa izala izinhlanzi eziphilayo. Ingxenye eyodwa kwezintathu zomzimba wayo ingamafutha, igcwele uvithamini A. Imelana nesisindo esikhulu samanzi lapho isekujuleni okungamamitha angu-200 kuya kwangu-450; kodwa, lapho ikhishelwa elangeni, umzimba wayo uyancibilika, kusale nje amathambo namafutha. I-golomyanka iyisibiliboco esilwaneni esidume kunazo zonke eChibini iBaikal—imvu yamanzi yaseBaikal, noma i-nerpa. Le mvu yamanzi iyona kuphela ehlala emanzini angenawo usawoti.

Izinkathi Zonyaka Ezishintshayo

Izinyanga ezingaba zinhlanu onyakeni, iChibi iBaikal lisuke limbozwe yiqhwa. Ngasekupheleni kuka-January iqhwa lisuke liwugqinsi oluyimitha elilodwa noma ngaphezulu. Liba nemigqa esamhlobiso njengamatshe okufekethisa futhi licwebezele njengamafasitela lapho lishaywa ukukhanya kwelanga. Ungakhohliseka ucabange ukuthi leli qhwa lisewucezwana—likhanya kangangokuba abantu abahamba phezu kwalo babona amadwala asekujuleni kwechibi. Empeleni, leli qhwa liqine ngendlela emangalisayo. Eminyakeni eyikhulu edlule, phakathi nobusika ngesikhathi seMpi YeRussia NeJapane, amabutho aseRussia akha ujantshi onqamula eqhweni futhi adonsa kuwo amakhanda ezitimela angu-65!

Kusukela ngasekupheleni kuka-April kuya ku-June, leli qhwa liyaqhekeka libange umsindo ohlokomayo. Lo msindo ophikelelayo waleli chibi uba “umculo weqhwa” abawujwayele abantu bendawo. Isazi semvelo uGerald Durrell sabhala ukuthi leli qhwa “linkeneneza njengamasimbali amancane [futhi] lindonda njengenqwaba yamakati.” Ngokushesha, njengoba isimo sezulu siya sifudumala, umoya namagagasi kushanela leli qhwa kulinqwabelanise osebeni.

Njengoba amanzi echibi eseqala ukubonakala, izinyoni ziyabuya. Ezinye zezinyoni zaseChibini iBaikal, ezinjenge-dipper, zihlala bonke ubusika esizalweni soMfula i-Angara, okuwukuphela kwendawo kuleli chibi engabi neqhwa. Manje zizihlanganisa nezinye izinyoni zasemanzini—njengamadada nezindwandwe.

Abantu abavakashela kuleli chibi ngo-June bangase babone imihlambi yamabhere ilibangise ngasosebeni iyokudla amaqhimiza ezimpukane eziswebezela emadwaleni. La mabhere ayakujabulela ukudla lezi zinambuzane, engakunaki nokubhuza kwazo. Kunezilwane eziningi nezinyoni ezilibangisa osebeni ngale nkathi, zikhangwa inala yokudla okungasechibini.

Ekuqaleni kwentwasahlobo nasehlobo, ichibi liba nolwelwe okwesikhashana, oluba ukudla kwezilwanyana ezinamagobolondo futhi lwenze amanzi abe luhlaza cwe. Kodwa ngokuvamile, lapho uwabuka usosebeni, amanzi eChibi iBaikal aluhlaza njengesibhakabhaka, kodwa phakathi echibini, anombala owubhulomu—umbala wolwandle.

Ugu lolwandle luhlanganisa izindunduma zesihlabathi namawa amakhulu. Uma usemachwebeni amaningi amahle nasezinhlonhlweni kubonakala izindawo ezinhle ngokumangalisayo zalokho umlobi othile akubiza ngokuthi “izindawo ezihlukahlukene ezinesihlabathi esithambile esibenyezelayo”—ezishintshashintsha njalo ezinamanzi nesibhakabhaka.

Ngasekupheleni konyaka, ngokuvamile leli chibi liba neziphepho. Ekwindla kuba nomoya ngezinye izikhathi ofika kuleli chibi njengesiphepho esinamandla. Ungavunguza phezu kwamanzi athule ubangele amagagasi athukuthele, aphakama abe ngamamitha amane kuya kwayisithupha. Ngisho nangezinye izikhathi zonyaka, kuthiwa iziphepho zike zibangele ukuba imikhumbi emikhulu ethwala abantu nezikebhe zokudoba zizike.

Indawo Ebukeka Ngezindlela Ezihlukahlukene

Amakhaza aseSiberia angase enze iChibi iBaikal libonakale liyichibi elikhulu elibandayo, kodwa empeleni lizungezwe yinqwaba yezilwane zasendle nendawo ebukeka ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene. Ezintabeni ezine ezinkulu ezizungeze ichibi kuhlala izinyamazane okuthiwa ama-reindeer, kuhlanganise nezimbuzi zasendle zaseSiberia ezisengcupheni yokuqothulwa.

Phansi kwalezi zintaba kunezinkangala. Amanye ala mathafa anotshani angase abizwe ngezingadi zezimbali zaseSiberia ngenxa yobuningi bezimbali zasendle ezinhlobonhlobo ezitholakala lapha. Phakathi kwezinhlobo zezinyoni ezingavamile ezitholakala kulezi zinkangala kukhona onohhemu okuthiwa ama-demoiselle ne-bustard, inyoni enkulu kunazo zonke e-Asia.

I-taiga, eyihlathi eliminyene lezihlahla ezikhipha ama-cone elizungeze iChibi iBaikal, ibalulekile kulo. Leli hlathi linobukhulu obuphindwe kabili kunehlathi lemvula laseBrazil i-Amazon. Njengalo, leli hlathi linendima ebalulekile ekulondolozeni imvelo nesimo sezulu somhlaba. Kunezinhlobo eziningana zezinyoni ezihlala lapha, kuhlanganise ne-capercaillie, ewuhlobo lwethendele, ethanda ukubukisa lapho yenza imigilingwane yokweshela futhi icula. I-teal enhle yaseBaikal, esekhasini 17, nayo ivamile ukuza kuleli chibi.

Isilwane esincelisayo esiphawuleka kakhulu yinyamazane edumile i-Barguzin. Nakuba yake yazingelwa ngesihluku ngenxa yoboya bayo obukhephuzelayo, amanani ayo aseyanda, ngenxa yosizo lwabalondolozi bemvelo. Ngo-1916, imizamo yokulondoloza lesi silwane esihle yaphumela ekwakhiweni kweBarguzin Nature Reserve osebeni lweChibi iBaikal. Manje, kunezindawo ezintathu zokulondoloza imvelo ezingasosebeni lwechibi, kanye namapaki amathathu kahulumeni umphakathi ovunyelwe ukuba ungene kuwo.

Ukuzindla Ngokujula Kwendalo

IChibi iBaikal liyindawo yeNgcebo Yomhlaba ye-UNESCO futhi lithandwa kakhulu yizivakashi. Kunezivakashi ezingaphezu kuka-300 000 ezivela emhlabeni wonke ezivakashela kule ndawo minyaka yonke. Umthombo othile wezokuvakasha uthi: “Namuhla iBaikal iyipharadesi labathandi bemvelo nendawo enhle yokuchitha iholidi. Njengoba inogu oluhle, izindawo zokuqombola izintaba, zokubuka izinyoni nezikebhe zokungcebeleka, iBaikal isesimweni esihle sokuba ngenye yezindawo zokuvakasha ezikhanga kakhulu e-Asia.”

Leli chibi liyindawo efanelekayo yokuzindla ngokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu okubabazekayo nobuhle bendalo yakhe. Ubani ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu owayengadala zonke izinqubo zemvelo eziyingqayizivele ezisekela izinto eziningi kangaka eziphila kuleli chibi elihle kangaka? Lapho umuntu emi osebeni lweChibi iBaikal, angase ananele amazwi omlobi weBhayibheli owababaza: “O ukujula kwengcebo nokuhlakanipha nolwazi lukaNkulunkulu!”—Roma 11:33.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

IMVU YAMANZI EHLALA EMANZINI ANGENASAWOTI KUPHELA

EChibini iBaikal kuhlala amashumi ezinkulungwane zama-nerpa, noma izimvu zamanzi zaseBaikal, eziphila ngokudla izinhlanzi ezisekujuleni kwaleli chibi unyaka wonke. Akekho oqinisekayo ukuthi kwénzeka kanjani ukuba ama-nerpa afike enkabeni yeSiberia, kodwa angatholakali kwenye indawo. Izihlobo zawo eziseduze zihlala ebangeni eliqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-3 220.

Ama-nerpa anamehlo amakhulu, asondelene ebusweni obuyisicaba, futhi ayizimvu zamanzi ezincane kunazo zonke emhlabeni, njengoba enobude obungaba amamitha angu-1,4. Avame ukutholakala ethamele ilanga phezu kwamadwala njengemihlambi ezwanayo, kungekho ukulumana nokududulana okuvamile phakathi kwezimvu eziningi zamanzi. Empeleni, kungenzeka i-nerpa emnene iyimvu yamanzi enokuthula kunazo zonke emhlabeni.

Isazi esithile sezimvu zamanzi saphawula ukuthi ama-nerpa “amnene ngisho nangaphezu kwama-ringed seal angaphazamiseki kalula, avumayo ukuba abantu bawathinte kodwa angabalumi lapho ebanjwa ngamanetha ngenjongo yocwaningo lwezesayensi.” Incwadi ethile ikhuluma ngababhukudi abangena ekujuleni kwechibi abasondela kuma-nerpa ayelele emanzini. Babika ukuthi lezi zimvu zamanzi azizange zivuke lapho bezithinta noma ngisho beziphendula.

[Umthombo] 15]

Dr. Konstantin Mikhailov/Naturfoto-Online

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 18]

INDAWO YOKUDINGISWA

Kusukela ngo-1951 kuya ku-1965, oFakazi BakaJehova abaningi badingiselwa esifundeni esingaseChibini iBaikal ngenxa yokwenqaba ukulahla izinkolelo zabo ezingokwenkolo. Ngo-1951, uPraskovya Volosyanko wayiswa e-Olkhon, isiqhingi esikhulu saseBaikal. Ekanye nabanye oFakazi ababedingisiwe, wayeziphilisa ngokudoba izinhlanzi ngamanetha. Kodwa wathola izindlela zokwenza omunye umsebenzi “wokudoba” ngokusebenzisa iBhayibheli lakhe ukuze atshele izakhamuzi eziningi zase-Olkhon izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Ngo-1953, uPraskovya nabanye oFakazi abayisithupha baboshelwa umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela, futhi wagwetshwa iminyaka engu-25 ejele. Ngemva kokukhululwa ejele, wakhonza ngokwethembeka nebandla lase-Usol’ye-Sibirskoye, esifundeni sase-Irkutsk, ngaphambi kokushona kwakhe ngo-2005. Manje sekunamabandla angaba ngu-30 oFakazi BakaJehova esifundeni saseBaikal nasedolobheni eliseduze lase-Irkutsk.

[Ibalazwe ekhasini 15]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

RUSSIA

IChibi iBaikal

[Amazwi ahambisana nesithombe ekhasini 17]

IChibi iBaikal neziNtaba zaseSayan

[Umthombo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

I-“teal” yaseBaikal

[Umthombo]

Dr. Erhard Nerger/ Naturfoto-Online

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 15]

Dr. Konstantin Mikhailov/Naturfoto-Online

[Imithombo Yezithombe ekhasini 18]