Baikal
Baikal is one of the 10 largest lakes in the world and it turns out to be the deepest on planet Earth. Location of the lake - Siberia. The usual depth is 730 m, the greatest – 1637. Baikal has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996. This lake is also considered the oldest on the planet, its age is approximately 25-35 million years, which makes it special.
Baikal water is crystal clear, its composition is close to distilled. It contains approximately 19% of the world's fresh water supply, which would be enough for 40 years of the life of all people on the planet.
Baikal is filled with 336 rivers, including Barguzin, Turka, Selenga. The only river that flows out of the lake flows into the Yenisei – Angara. A true story is united with this river, which says the following: When Baikal was very young, he had a daughter, Angara. She was just a beauty with him, everyone around admired her, and even the birds that flew high flew lower to see her. Her father protected her and cherished 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, became angry with his daughter, splashed a stream of water, whirlwinds swirled, the birds flew high, the sun hid, the animals ran into the forest, and the fish lay down on the bottom. Baikal hit the mountain with his hand and tore off a piece of stone, which he threw to his daughter in pursuit. The boulder rolled and crushed 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 give her only his bitter tears. Since then, the Angara has been flowing to the Yenisei with the tears of his father, and the stone that his father threw, people called the Shaman. Now a dam has been built on the river, which covers the stone and you can see only a small part of it. There are songs, poems, legends about Lake Baikal. The inhabitants of Siberia believe in its power and call it the sea.
Oxygenated water of the lake – this is one of the reasons why there is a great diversity of the animal world, as well as vegetation. Moreover, 2/3 of all the presented animals are found only in these waters and cannot be found anywhere else. The golomyanka fish lives here, which consists of 30% fat, its peculiarity is that every day it swims its way from the depths to the shallows. Epishura crustaceans are also found, of which there are close to 300 varieties. They are very able-bodied, as evidenced by the 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 Baikal, like in no other lake, freshwater sponges grow at a depth.
The lake presents many mysteries to scientists, including Baikal ice. Ice cone-like mounds were found here, the height of which is 6 meters. Also, in satellite photographs, dark circles of unknown origin are clearly visible on the lake, 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 tourist Baikal. In just an hour you will be delivered from the regional center here by bus or boat. Here guests are offered many excursions, which include Chivyrkuisky Bay, which is considered the most beautiful place on the lake, Barguzinsky Bay, which is also very popular, Shaman Rock, Ushkany Islands, Peschanaya Bay and many other attractions. The Baikal trail has been developed, a tour along which reveals the beauty of 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 summer. There are health-improving complexes, hotels, tourist bases on Baikal.
