Where is Baikal Lake?
Why is Lake Baikal so famous?
Lake Bak Kal is located in southern Siberia, not far from the border with Mongolia, 5 hours time zone from Moscow and 7 from Italy. In terms of regions and territories of Russia, Lake Bak Kal is divided between that of Irkutsk Oblast, whose capital is Irkutsk, for the western shore and that of the Republic of Buryatia, which instead sees as its capital the city of Ulan-Ude, for the eastern shore. To give an idea of ” how far north is Lake Bak The altitude of Lake BakKal is 455 meters above sea level and extends for 636 kilometers in length and 79 in width, while, with a maximum depth of 1642 meters, Lake Ba .Kal is the deepest lake in the world and the most capacious freshwater basin on the planet: Lake Baikal.
WHAT TO SEE ON LAKE BAIKAL
Lake Bak Kal was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1996 and is part of the Seven Wonders of Russia. This great attention is due to the fact that Lake Bak Let’s see what are the main attractions that make Lake Ba Ba:
The ice of Lake Bak The water of Lake Bak As we will see below in this reportage, this characteristic is due to a number of factors, however a fundamental role is covered by biochemical processes by various microorganisms that metabolize impurities by precipitating them on the bottom. It is estimated that the bedrock beneath Lake Bak During the second half of winter, the entire Lake BakKal is covered with a layer of ice between 50 and 140 centimeters thick, making it possible to make expeditions for the crossing of the entire lake by various means (airboat, ordinary 444 cars, bike, motorcycle, ski or skate) to discover the supernatural landscapes created by the extreme climate. Due to the scarcity of precipitation and the winds that quickly sweep away the snow, many areas of Lake Bak The ice will appear virtually black, precisely because the incredible transparency allows you to look into the abyss, where the light does not reach, while infinite cracks and veins give the feeling of observing the vascular system of a living creature. Closer to the coast, the ice may appear blue, green or totally transparent, leaving the stones on the bottom visible as if you were walking on a side of armored glass.
The taiga or boreal forest. The taiga, also known as boreal forest, dominates mountains and territories around Lake Bak This ecosystem is home to a large number of animals, some of which are active especially in summer, such as brown bears, moose, reindeer, roe deer, wolves, foxes, sables, marmots and various species of birds. The forest can be visited by various means depending on the season.
The biodiversity of Lake Ba Ba It is estimated that Lake Bak One of the most characteristic endemic species of Lake Ba.Kal is certainly the nerpa or Ba f Kal seal (Pusa sibirica), the only freshwater seal on the planet, numbering about 75,000 individuals. The waters of the lake are also populated by giant sponges, many species of crustaceans and various fish including the omul.
Olchon Island and Shaman’s Rock. Olchon Island is one of the largest lake islands in the world and rises not far from the southwestern coast of Lake Baikal. The island is home to an indigenous population, the Buryats (ethnic minority of Siberia) who practice Shamanism and Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism). The Shaman’s Rock, in addition to being an important sacred place, also offers fantastic views of Lake Ba.
The traditional villages of Siberia. Along the shores of Lake Bak In these villages you can learn a little more about the life of the locals, you can watch the fishermen at work or you can go hiking in the taiga by various means, depending on the season.
Spa. The territory around Lake Bak Kal has remarkable geothermal activity: near Khakus e and not far from Severobaal Kalsk there are small spas immersed in an immaculate landscape, where you can enjoy the warmth of these healing waters for the skin and for arthrosis.
The Trans-Siberian railway and the BAM railway line. A trip to Lake Bak Kal is an excellent opportunity to travel on the Trans-Siberian Railway, which passes along the southern part of the lake connecting Irkutsk to Ulan-Ude, or on the BAM railway line (Baikal-Amur Mainline) which passes instead from Severobaikalks, along the northwestern shore of the lake. By optimizing the route, you can travel on both of these railway lines.
Irkutsk. Many trips to Lake Baikal will start right in Irkutsk: so let’s take advantage of the time available before leaving for the lake, to visit this large city of southern Siberia, where there are still traditional wooden buildings and beautiful cathedrals with frescoes that you would not expect in these regions.