Baikal lake is one of the earth’s most impressive natural wonders, located in the South-Eastern part of Siberia. It is the planet’s deepest (1637 m) freshwater lake on the earth , the biggest reservoir of fresh surface water (containing over one fifth of the world’s supply) and oldest lake (25 million years). Baikal of its waters and diversity of flora and fauna which is mostly endemic.

The lake’s geological formation started around 20-25 million years ago in the Mesozoic era and even nowadays is rapidly growing with the average speed of 2 cm (0.8 in) per year. Baikal is. Baikal is considered to be a future ocean; in several million years there will be a new great ocean all over Asia and Baikal is a starting point for this ocean. It covers 31,500 sq. km and is 636 km. long, an average of 48 km wide, and 79.4 km at its widest point.

 

 

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The interest fact is, it would take four hundred years for all the rivers, streams and brooks now flowing into the Siberian lake-sea to perform the task, for this Baikal was added to the World Heritage list by UNESCO in 1996. Its age and isolation have produced one of the world’s richest and most unusual freshwater faunas, which is of exceptional value to evolutionary science, especially the large unseen underwater features are the core of its value to both science and conservation. Lake Baikal is a surprising and unique natural laboratory,and one of the most biodiversity lakes on Earth, New varieties and species are continuously developing in the lake. More than 1,000 species of aquatic flora! Besides the algae, about 20 species of flowering plants have been found ,with 1,340 species of animal (745 endemic) and 570 species of plant (150 endemic). In the forests surrounding the lake there are an additional 10 threatened species along with the full complement of typical boreal species. The lake is revered by the Russian people as a source of beauty and power. Considered one of Asia’s holy places. Peoples through over the centuries prayed to the lake and believed in its power. The lake is so huge and enormous that locals call it sea. Since 1992 Lake Baikal and the entire surrounding area have been designated as a national park, and Baikal is today a naturalist’s paradise and an idyllic holiday destination.The usual tourist activities like trekking, biking, camping, kayaking, fishing occur to be unusual if it’s done at this magic lake.

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