Lake Baikal is an imposing rift lake, which is one of the biggest and also most ancient lakes in the world, located in southern Siberia, shared between the Irkutsk Oblast and the Buryat Republic, which are federal subjects part of the Russian Federation.
Containing approximately 20% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater, Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake by volume, having around 23,615 cubic km (5,700 cubic mi) of fresh water. Nonetheless, it also holds the record of the deepest lake in the world, with 1,642 meters (5,387 feet) at the deepest point, and is one of the oldest lakes on the planet, with some estimates of being 25 million years old.
The ecosystem of the lake is an outstanding example of a unique environment that includes many unique species of animals and plants, among which the most interesting is the freshwater Baikal seal, which can be found in the lake. Being one of the clearest and purest bodies of water, one is able to see even 40 meters (131 feet) into the lake, giving it the extraordinary feeling that the people in the surrounding communities should be very proud of.
The coastline of the lake is measured to be 2,100 km (1,305 mi); however, the longest distance between the lake’s shores is 636 km (395 mi), which, according to some people, can also be considered to be a sea, having in mind that there are 27 islands, most of which are uninhabited.
Lake Baikal is very rich in biodiversity, having more than 1,000 species of plants and 2,500 species of animals that have been seen so far; nonetheless, these numbers most likely could be higher. Every year, biologists and scientists visit this amazing place, and there is always something that is reported, whether that be a minor change in the microclimate, a small change in the flora, or even the patterns of the fauna.
With more than 300 streams and rivers flowing into the lake, there are plenty of invertebrates, amphipod crustaceans, snails and bivalves, annelid and nematode worms, and even 18 different species of sponges.
With only one outlet of the lake, the River Angara, the water has a mild microclimate around its shore, making it special yet again, since half the species found here are unique to the area.
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The local communities that live around the lake’s shores often name the lake “the Pearl of Siberia”, due to the fact that they are always fishing, and also, there are investors from the tourist industry that are investing more and more in the area, where the Russian Government declared the Baikal Region a special economic zone.
Something more interesting is that there are ice roads on the lake during the wintertime, where the lake is solidly frozen, so that not just people, but also snowmobiles can go on top of it. This is what makes Lake Baikal one of the most unique and amazing places on Earth, and visiting it during wintertime is a guarantee that you will be blown away by the mesmerizing landscape and always gorgeous sunsets.
The only legal ice road is the one that leads to Olkhon Island, where the route is prepared by specialists every year, and it opens when the ice conditions allow it, and the thickness is some 60 cm (24 inches), with the maximum capacity allowed to cross of 10 tons.
Still, Lake Baikal is not immune to the modern world, and there are some concerns regarding environmental protection, since there are some plans for a pipeline and a nuclear enrichment plant to be built next to the lake. Fortunately, due to the significant environmental protests that occurred in 2006, today there is no major oil pipeline directly on the shores of Lake Baikal because President Putin has decided to run at least 40 km (25 mi) north of the lake’s sensitive ecosystem, thus avoiding the immediate watershed and protecting this amazing Siberian gem.
Today, Lake Baikal has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996, while at the same time, the organization is raising some concerns and providing instructions on how to proceed with the plans, with the hope that nature won’t be spoiled and everyone who comes to the lake will enjoy the gorgeous beauty Lake Baikal has.
