Located in southern eastern Siberia, Russia, Lake Baikal holds the title of world’s deepest lake, with a maximum depth of 5,315 feet.
It’s also one of the Earth’s oldest freshwater lakes, boasting a 25-million-year history, according to the Unesco World Heritage Foundation.
UNESCO describes it as the “Galapagos of Russia.” Due to its unique age and geographical isolation, it boasts one of the world’s most unusual and diverse freshwater faunas.
During winter’s harsh Siberian temperatures, it completely freezes over and its colossal surface area spans roughly the same as Belgium at some 34,000 square kilometres or over 13,000 square miles.
The lake is believed to have been home to the Baikal seal, or nerpa in Russia, for about two million years – the only exclusively freshwater seals in the world.
The lake’s wildlife has many more unique features, including about 2,500 species and sub-species, according to Unesco, many of which can’t be found anywhere else.
These include the Golomyanka, a translucent oil-rich fish, the Omul fish, Baikal sturgeon and the microscopic Epischura plankton that keep the water clear.
The land surrounding the lake is known to be home to brown bears, lynx and migratory birds.
Over the past ten years, Russia’s biggest tourist attraction has seen visitor numbers soar from hundreds of thousands to nearly two million in 2019, according to CNN.
In summer, tourists enjoy hiking, boating, and wildlife watching, while winter offers ice skating, dog sledging and driving on the frozen lake.
The Circum-Baikal Railway, Olkhon Island, and Listvyanka village are top attractions, showcasing the region’s culture and natural beauty.
Locals however, are becoming increasingly worried about the impact of the lakes increasingly popularity, fearing that waste from visitors is polluting the waters.
Scientists have also expressed concerns about the effects of climate change on the lake’s delicate ecosystem and deforestation caused by state-approved projects in the area.
