This is the world's largest and deepest lake, located in the southern part of eastern Siberia within the republic of Buryatia and Irkutsk Oblast (province). If you want some numbers... this is the oldest existing freshwater lake on Earth (20 million–25
million years old), as well as the deepest continental body of water,
having a maximum depth of 5,315 feet (1,620 metres).
Its area is some 12,200 square miles (31,500 square km), with a length
of 395 miles (636 km) and an average width of 30 miles (48 km). It is
also the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume, containing about
one-fifth of the fresh water on Earth’s surface, some 5,500 cubic miles
(23,000 cubic km).
Lake Baikal is one of the clearest lakes in the world. During the summer, when the lake is full of melted ice from the Siberian mountains, it is sometimes possible to see more than 130 feet (39 m) down. The stunning clarity is the result of the melted ice's purity, plankton that eat floating debris and a lack of mineral salts in the lake. It's the exclusive land of the freshwater seal, an animal you don't see elsewhere in the world.
The surrounded landscape is beautiful too with the view of the mountains. But its magic is found only in winter, when this stops being an ordinary lake and transforms itself in a unique landscape with some of the most beautiful ice formations in the world: Baikal's frozen surface, which is crisscrossed with cracks. That's what you see in the picture. Besides that, you can see beautiful ice caves and other natural surroundings.
How to visit:
In my opinion, the best time to visit is in winter to see it with the ice cracks, but every season offers its special magic.If you're an adventurer like me and wants do to it solo, you can go to the town of Irkutsk to experience some nomadic Mongol culture of the Buryat people, and then go to the lake.
Here I give you also a link for you to see some excursions if you're more into tours:
Happy journeys in Siberia!
