Baikal
Baikal is one of the 10 largest lakes in the world and turns out to be the deepest on planet Earth. The location of the lake is Siberia. The usual depth is 730 m, the maximum is 1637 m. Baikal has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. This lake is also considered the oldest on the planet, its age is approximately 25-35 million years old, which makes it special.
Baikal's water is crystal clear, its composition is close to distilled. It contains approximately 19% of the world's supply of fresh water, which would be enough for 40 years of life for all people on the planet.
Baikal is filled with rivers, of which there are 336, among them Barguzin, Turka, Selenga. The only river that flows into the Yenisei, the Angara, flows out of the lake. There is a story connected with this river, which says the following: When Baikal was very young, he had a daughter, Angara. She was simply beautiful, everyone admired her, and even the birds that flew high flew lower to see her. Her father protected her and treasured her very much. But the day came when Baikal fell asleep and Angara ran to her beloved Yenisei. The father got up and, seeing such a picture, got angry at his daughter, splashed up with a stream of water, whirlwinds swirled, birds flew high, the sun hid, the animals ran into the forest, and the fish lay down on the bottom. Baikal slammed his hand on the mountain and tore off a piece of stone, which he threw to his daughter in pursuit. The boulder rolled and passed her throat. The daughter asked her father to give her a sip of water, because her throat was dry. But Baikal replied that he would only give her his bitter tears. Since then, the Angara River has been flowing to the Yenisei through the tears of his father, and people called the stone that his father threw Shamanic. Now a dam has been built on the river, which covers the stone and only a small part of it can be seen. There are songs, poems, and legends about Lake Baikal. The inhabitants of Siberia believe in its power and call it the sea.
The oxygenated water of the lake is one of the reasons why there is a wide variety of animals and vegetation here. Moreover, 2/3 of all the animals represented are found only in these waters and they cannot be found anywhere else. The golomyanka fish lives here, which consists of 30% fat, its peculiarity is that it swims its way from the depths to the shoal every day. There are also epicura crustaceans, of which there are close to 300 species. They are very able-bodied, as indicated by their ability to filter the water in the lake for a whole year. A seal lives in the waters of Lake Baikal, which is usually found in the sea. In Lake Baikal, as in no other lake, freshwater sponges grow at depths.
The lake presents many mysteries to scientists, including the Baikal ice. Ice cone-like mounds with a height of 6 meters have been discovered here. Also, the satellite photos clearly show dark circles on the lake, of unknown origin, their dimensions are approximately 5-7 km.
This lake is very popular among travelers. The village of Listvyanka, which is located near the source of the Angara River, is the center of the tourist Baikal. In just an hour, a bus or a motor ship will take you from the regional center here. Guests are offered many excursions here, which include Chivyrkuy Bay, which is considered the most beautiful place on the lake, Barguzin Bay, which is also very popular, Shaman-Kamen Rock, Ushkany Islands, Sandy Bay and many other attractions. The Baikal trail has been developed, an excursion along which reveals the beauty of Lake Baikal. Here you can walk both on foot and on horseback. There is also a ski run where a lift can take you up to 900 meters in the summer. There are health resorts, hotels, and tourist bases on Lake Baikal.
