About Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal or “the Pearl of Siberia” is the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake. It is an ancient, massive lake in the mountainous Russian region of Siberia, north of Mongolian border. Baikal area has a long history of human habitation.
The KURYKANS are an early known tribe in the area. Located in the former northern territory of the Xiongnu confederation, Lake Baikal is one site of the Han dynasty pursued and defeated the Xiongnu forces from the second century BC to the first century BC. They were the one to record that the lake was a “huge sea” and designate it the North Sea of the semi mythical four seas. Later on it was called “natural lake” by the Buryats and “rich lake” by the Yakuts.
Several government organizations are carrying out natural research projects on Lake Baikal. The Baikalian Research Centre is an independent research organization carrying out environmental, research and educational projects at Lake Baikal.
It contains 20% of the world’s total unfrozen freshwater reserve. Lake Baikal is known as the ‘ Galapagos of Russia’, which have produced one of the world’s richest and most unusual freshwater faunas, which is of exceptional value to evolutionary science.
Some Interesting Facts About Lake Baikal
- Baikal is the world’s most ancient freshwater lake and it is said to be originated 20 to 25 million years ago.
- Lake Baikal is one of the clearest and purest water bodies.
- There are about 27 islands in Lake Baikal, most of them being uninhabited.
- The depth of this lake is 1,632 m and it is the deepest lake in the world.
- This lake is the home to many species of animals and plants including the freshwater seal.
- Lake Baikal’s coastline measures around 1300 miles.
- About 1/5th of all the fresh water in the world is located here at Lake Baikal.
The climate of Lake Baikal is unique because the lake’s huge water mass gives it certain features of a seashore climate. The significant are the temperature differences between the Baikal hollow and the surrounding territories of Eastern Siberia. This temperature difference diminishes slightly after the lake freezes, but still remains quite noticeable.
This area is often called the museum of climates because of the variations that result from differences in distance from the lake, the shape of the coastline, the steepness of slopes and their orientations. On Baikal, there are breezes resulting from pressure differences over the land and the water surface. In autumn and before it freezes up , they are almost steady and blow from the land towards the sea.
Lake Baikal is an area of exceptional beauty. This area is a veritable treasure trove of mineral resources. There are several hot springs near this lake , the water of which is of exceptional quality. Despite its great depth, the lake’s waters are well mixed and well-oxygenated throughout the water column.
Baikal is exceptionally beautiful in winter due to the fact that the ice is very much transparent and diverse. Travellers from all over the world come to watch the Siberian sunset over the world’s largest mirror. This moment is really a treat to our eyes and to our soul.
This remarkable lake is one of the Asia’s holy places. People have prayed to the lake and believed in its power through centuries.
Lake Baikal is also one of the comfortable tourist places in the world. The experiences you will get there will be incomparable to anything else!