The nature has its own favorites, which it creates with a special love and care and to whom it gives a special power. A lake that bears the majestic name of Baikal is definitely one of those. It is not a place for hustle and bustle. Here you feel like thinking about eternity and the world's harmony.
Situated in the center of Asia, the Baikal is one of the biggest and most ancient lakes on our planet, and a miracle of Siberian nature.
Besides its natural uniqueness, Baikal possesses many historical treasures, which stand as cultural monuments to the past of the people of the Central Asia. Today, as in the past, Baikal remains a crossroads of cultures, where native Sayats still herd reindeers and Buryat people keep many of their old traditions. The gateway to Mongolia makes it possible to get to know the ancient and amazing Mongolian culture.
It is difficult to define the origin of the name "Baikal". One of the theories shows a connection with the Yakut word "baigal", which means a "sea" or a "lake", and which, probably, was later used by Buryats. Upon the arrival of Russians in the region, the word "baigal" was taken from the Buryat language and transformed into "Baikal".
Baikal contains more than 1/5 of the world's reserves of fresh water. It is the world's deepest lake (with an average depth of 730m, and the maximum of 1620m). Just imagine: if you were to drain lake Baikal, it would take all the Great Lakes of the United States (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) to refill the empty basin!!!
The uniqueness of Baikal lies in its unusual process of self-purification, due to three factors: the depth of the lake, its huge volume of water, and its geographical position. This process produces unbelievably clear water. In fact, travel guides report that this has caused some problems with visitors who feel uncomfortable when they peer over the side of the boat and are able to see 50 meters downward. Only Crater Lake in Oregon, USA, possibly exceeds the clarity of the waters of Baikal.
Baikal's water, famous for its spiritual and medicinal qualities, is called "live water". One glimpse at Baikal water is enough to convince anyone that nature not only exists in Siberia, but flourishes. Unlike all the other deep lakes, where the depths are dead, Lake Baikal's deep waters are filled with fresh oxygen. Only five years ago scientists discovered the thermal springs spurting out from the bottom of Baikal. A release of hot, oxygenated water mixed with perpendicular currents may explain why Baikal waters are so rich in aquatic life.
The water in Baikal is relatively cold. The surface temperature in August in the middle of the lake is about 8 to 10 C, and along the shore line is 14 to 16 degrees C, while at a depth of 50 meters, the temperature is about 5 to 6 degrees C. In the winter, Baikal freezes gradually. The ice on the surface is very thin, only 1 m in most places.
Baikal is beautiful especially during the summer: clear limpid waters, plenty of marvelous bays, picturesque landscape, boundless expanse of forest and mountains. Everybody who enjoys taking pictures will be pleased by the fact that the combination of weather, season, water, different shades of rising and setting sun, makes the Baikal unique and every picture taken a masterpiece. The sunrise in Baikal is never the same!! The colors change so quickly that two very different pictures may be taken at the same place, within just twenty minutes!!!
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