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Generation time was determined in pure cultures of heterotrophic microorganisms in the conditions similar to those of Baikal in June--July of 1972. Generation time was found to be 37+/-7, 16+/-2.5, 16+/-3.2, and 10+/-2.5 hours, respectively, when the cultures had been diluted with Baikal water in the following rations: 1 : 0,1 : 5,1 : 10, and 1 : 20. No differences in the growth rate were found among 11 cultures of heterotrophic microorganisms isolated from Baikal. Conditions limiting the microbial growth improve from the dilution of 1 : 0 to the dilution of 1 : 5. The mean time of generation is 27 hours for June--July. Generation time determined for pure cultures of heterotrophic microorganisms in the conditions similar to natural can be used to calculate production of the bacterial biomass for a definite period of the year.