Employees from Siberian Anthracite and Vostochny Open-Pit Mine organized an event to clean up Iskitimsky District’s Belovsky Waterfall. Volunteers from the village of Linevo’s ‘Green Squad’ joined in, along with members of Linevo’s Council of Deputies, and environmental activists from the village of Guselnikovo. Andrey Shamalev, the deputy head of the regional branch of the Green Party, and Daria Ukraintseva, head of Novosibirsk Region’s branch of the Russian Ecological Society, also came to lend a hand.

Representatives of the Sibanthracite Group’s coal mining enterprises and the local residents removed garbage, including plastic containers, disposable dishes, bottles, and food packaging. The eco-warriors also leveled out fertile topsoil brought in by the miners in a cleared area.

The participants put an information board up adjacent to the waterfall, where information is posted about the history of the natural wonder, which appeared on the site after residents built a dam in the Vydrikha River.

According to Daria Ukraintseva, bringing big business, local government, and volunteers together always results in a win-win situation: “There has recently been a huge interest among residents in environmental events, and this was evident from the number of people who showed up for the Belovsky Waterfall clean-up. It is important that events like these are held regularly, so that residents will take part without prompting from organizers.”

The coal mine’s employees also prepared a quiz for participants. The winner was Elena Tarnakina, an eco-activist from the village of Belovo. All volunteers received souvenirs from the Sibanthracite Group. 

For Reference:

The Belovsky Waterfall is a natural and, at the same time, man-made attraction in the region.It appeared in the second half of the last century in a nearly flat area on the site of an abandoned quarry. Over time, the waterfall has become a favorite tourist spot. It is surrounded by a picturesque birch forest and spacious clearings.