Lake Baikal mainland. Origin of Baikal

Lake Baikal is located on the territory of Buryatia and Irkutsk region. This is the deepest lake in the world, and it is also the largest natural reservoir of fresh water.

general description

The area of Lake Baikal is 31,722 square kilometers, the maximum depth is 1642 meters, the average is 744. The transparency of the water can reach 40 meters. Volume - 23.6 thousand cubic kilometers. Lake Baikal is 636 kilometers long and its greatest width is 79.5 kilometers. The length of the coastline is two thousand kilometers.

The drainage basin area is 570 thousand square kilometers. The only river flowing out is the Angara, the largest of the inflowing rivers are the Selenga, Barguzin, and Upper Angara. The total number of tributaries is unknown; figures are given as high as 1,120 rivers and streams, but most of them are not permanent watercourses.

The water surface of Lake Baikal is located at an altitude of 456 above sea level, and the lowest point (at the place where the maximum depth) is 1187 meters below the level of the world ocean.

History of the origin and development of the lake

The age of Lake Baikal is not known exactly; scientists talk about a range from 25 to 35 million years. By the way, this makes Baikal unique in its own way, since the vast majority of lakes do not exist like this long term. In 2009, it was suggested that the age of the lake is 150 thousand years, and the age of the coastline in its modern form is about 8 thousand years. This version has found indirect confirmation.

However, precise information about the origin of the lake (such as the history Lake Ladoga) No. In addition, the process of transformation of Lake Baikal continues to this day - earthquakes occur here.

It is known that already two thousand years BC, tribes who were the ancestors of the Evenks lived on the lands near Lake Baikal. The first Russian to visit the lake was the Cossack Kurbat Ivanov, and Russian settlements on the banks began to appear at the end of the 17th century.

Lake water

The water of Lake Baikal contains very few minerals, a lot of oxygen and very few organic impurities. Exceptional purity of water is possible due to the crustacean epishura, which consumes organic matter. It makes up about 90% of the lake’s biomass and it is because of its activity that the water in Baikal is very clean, and its transparency in some places reaches 40 meters.

The water is cold, the maximum temperature during the entire observation period is +23 degrees Celsius. In some places, even in summer, the water temperature of the surface layers may not exceed +9 +10 degrees. In the deep layers the temperature is around +4 degrees.

Due to the purity and transparency of the water, the ice in Lake Baikal is very transparent. The lake freezes in early January and is cleared of ice in early May. By the end of winter, the thickness of the ice usually reaches one meter, in some places it can reach up to 2 meters.

The ice of Lake Baikal is very beautiful; in addition, it has certain properties and regularly presents scientists with mysteries. For example, only on this lake were ice tents discovered, which are cones of ice, the height of which can reach up to six meters. Their origin has not yet been fully explained.

It is also worth noting the “stagnant cracks” that form in approximately the same places every year. Their width can be up to three meters and their length up to 30 kilometers. The ice cracks with a very loud noise, and thanks to this, the fish do not suffer from a lack of oxygen.

Climate

Of course, a body of water with such a huge water mass and area cannot but have an impact on the climate that is quite serious. Thus, in the vicinity of Lake Baikal, winter arrives on average two weeks later than in other areas in the neighborhood. Winters here are generally milder, however, and summers are usually cooler.

The surroundings of the lake are rich in sunny days; here their total duration is even longer than on Black Sea resorts. There are rarely more than 40 days without sun in a year.

Baikal winds have their own names. Here are some of them, the most famous:

Barguzin - east and strong wind;
Kultuk is the name of the southwest wind;
Verkhovik - longitudinal wind, which usually blows in sunny weather, has a north-east direction;
Sarma - this wind is the most powerful and blows in the middle part of the lake.

The average annual temperature in the lake area is last years is steadily increasing. Thus, in 2014 there was an unusually warm summer, then average temperature exceeded the long-term average by 2 degrees, and a record temperature of +34 degrees Celsius was also recorded.

Earthquakes

The area of Lake Baikal is called the Baikal Rift Zone, which is an area with high seismic activity. The vast majority of earthquakes are very weak, their strength does not exceed two points (that is, they are practically not felt). But there are also strong ones. One of the strongest occurred in 1862 and its strength was 10 points (on a 12-point scale). Then an area of 200 square kilometers went under water. Also, strong earthquakes (magnitude more than 5 points) were recorded in 1903, 1950, 1957, 1959, 2008, 2010.

Every year, seismologists record from 3 to 7-8 thousand earthquakes in the area of Lake Baikal; their sources are usually located at a depth of 12 to 20 kilometers. The spots occur mostly in the central part of the lake and on the eastern shore.

According to the history of observations, quite strong earthquakes in the area of Lake Baikal occur every 2 years (with a force of 6-7 points), every 10 years there are tremors with a force of 8 points, every 75 years with a force of 9 points. Earthquakes with a magnitude of 10 or more occur on average once every 175 years. The last time this happened was in 1905, it was called the Bolnai earthquake. Then the magnitude of the force was estimated at 8.3 points, and the intensity of the tremors at the epicenter at 11 points.

Flora and fauna

Lake Baikal is home to 2,600 species and subspecies of aquatic animals. In addition, about half are found only here, that is, they are endemic. The abundance of living organisms can be explained by the high oxygen content in the water. Of the most valuable fish, it is worth noting grayling, whitefish, Baikal sturgeon and perch, taimen, and pike.

In the area of Lake Baikal there are 236 species of birds, of which 29 are waterfowl. The most common animals are bears, foxes, wolverines, wolves, sables, stoats, wild boars and others. At all, animal world The Baikal region is very diverse.

The flora is also very diverse. The forests are mainly coniferous - spruce, cedar, pine, larch and alder, but other species are also found. In general, it is simply impossible to briefly describe the flora and fauna of Lake Baikal; read other articles on our website.

Animals of Lake Baikal;
Fishes of Lake Baikal.

Ecology

Since Lake Baikal is a unique natural object, there is even a separate Federal Law “On the Protection of Lake Baikal,” which was adopted in 1999. However, anthropogenic impact has a significant negative impact on the ecology of the lake. In particular, it is worth noting the pulp and paper mill, which is one of the most famous sources of pollution, but not the most important.

The main factor that negatively affects the ecology of Lake Baikal is the Selenga River. It is the largest tributary, and the volume of its flow exceeds the volume of flows of all other rivers and streams combined. In its course, the Selenga River becomes polluted in the territory of Buryatia, Trans-Baikal Territory(via tributaries), Mongolia.

Unfortunately, poaching is also a very significant problem. The main objects of poaching are the Baikal seal and omul. In total, poachers catch about half of all the fish caught in Lake Baikal.

In general, Lake Baikal has certain environmental problems, however, this moment they can be considered not too significant (considering the volume of the lake). However, it is extremely important to prevent increased pollution of the lake; this unique natural site needs protection.

Tourism

Lake Baikal – popular tourist destination. Tourists come here not only from Russia, but also from other countries of the world. As a rule, they get there through Irkutsk, Severobaikalsk or Ulan-Ude. The most popular place on the lake itself is the village of Listvyanka, where a large number of excursions and cruises on the lake start.

Visited places on Lake Baikal include Barguzinsky Bay, Chivyrkuisky Bay, Posolsky Bor Bay and others. On the shores of the lake there is a developed tourism infrastructure– many tourist centers, a large number of different options for excursions and cruises.

In the vicinity of the lake there are also many interesting places and natural attractions, the most famous include:

Cape Ludar;
Circum-Baikal Railway;
Chersky Peak;
Peschanaya Bay;
Ushkany Islands;
Rock Shaman-stone.

Video about Lake Baikal

The etymology of the name of the lake has several versions. According to one of them, the word is Turkic and means “rich lake” - Bai-Kul. According to another, the name of the reservoir was given by the Mongols, and it means either “rich fire” (Baigal) or “big sea” (Baigal Dalai). And the Chinese called it the “northern sea” (Bei-Hai).

The Lake Baikal basin as an orographic unit is a complex formation of the earth's crust. It began to form 25-30 million years ago, and recent studies show that the process of lake formation continues. According to geologists, Baikal is the embryo of the future ocean. Its shores “scatter”, and after some time (several million years) there will be a new ocean in place of the lake. But this is a matter of the distant future. Why is Baikal interesting for us today?

First of all - with your own geographical characteristics. The maximum depth of Lake Baikal is 1637 meters. This is the highest figure among all lakes in the world. The African one, which is in second place, lags behind by as much as one hundred and sixty-seven meters.

The average depth of Baikal is also very great - seven hundred and thirty meters! The area of the lake (more than 31 thousand sq. km.) is approximately equal to the area of a small European country(Belgium or Denmark).

The depth of Lake Baikal is determined by a huge amount large and small and streams (336!) flowing into the lake. Only the Angara flows out of it.

Baikal is also the world's largest reservoir of purest water, slightly larger in volume than all five great American cities Huron, Erie, Michigan and Ontario)! In numbers, this will be more than 23,600 cubic kilometers. The great depth of Baikal and the impressive area of the water surface became the reason that local residents dubbed this lake, lying in the depths of Eurasia, the sea. Here, as on a real sea, there are storms and even tides, although they are of small magnitude.

Why is the water of Baikal so transparent that at a depth of up to forty (!) meters the bottom is visible? The beds of the rivers feeding the lake are located in poorly soluble crystalline rocks, as is the bed of the lake itself. Therefore, the mineralization of Baikal is minimal and amounts to 120 milligrams per liter.

Considering that the depth of Lake Baikal is 1637 meters, and coastline 456 meters above sea level, it turns out that the bottom of the lake is the deepest continental depression in the world.

In August 2009, the Mir-1 deep-sea submersible dived into the very deep point Lake Baikal, not far from The dive lasted more than an hour. For five and a half hours, video shooting was carried out at the bottom of the lake and samples of bottom rocks and water were taken. During the descent, several new organisms were discovered and a place where the lake was being polluted with oil was discovered.

For ten years now, an autonomous deep-sea station has been operating nine kilometers from the coast at a depth of 1370 meters, which houses equipment for monitoring the Earth’s electromagnetic field. Scientists expect that the depth of Lake Baikal will affect the accuracy of the research, since the equipment is installed almost a kilometer below ocean level. And on the shore, to process incoming data, a station for collecting, processing and transmitting information was installed.

Address: Russia, Republic of Buryatia, Irkutsk region
Square: 31,722 km²
Greatest depth: 1642 m
Transparency: 40 m
Coordinates: 53°43"36.9"N 108°27"32.4"E

The purest and, without a doubt, the most beautiful lake Baikal rightfully took its place in the list of 7 wonders of Russia, according to a vote held in 2008.

The lake, fascinating with its pristine nature and mystery, is located almost in the very center of Asia on the border of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region. The water surface, which shimmers with a mystical light, stretches for 620 (!) kilometers from northeast to southwest.

If you look at photographs of Lake Baikal taken from space, you will notice that it has the shape of a crescent. The width of the lake in its various places ranges from 24 to 79 kilometers. Such dimensions allow local residents and many tourists to call Baikal not a lake, but a sea.

No matter how much one would like to call this majestic reservoir of fresh water a sea, it is still a lake that is surrounded on almost all sides the most picturesque mountains and hills extinct volcanoes. By the way, the supply of fresh water in Lake Baikal is 90% of the entire supply of drinking water in Russia and almost 20% of the entire supply of clean water and, according to the results of many scientific experiments, healing water in the world. Speaking about Lake Baikal, one cannot help but say that it is considered the deepest in the world: the mirror of the lake is located 453 meters above the level of the World Ocean, and its bottom is almost 1170 meters lower. True, many researchers are skeptical that Baikal is the deepest lake on our planet. When calculating the depth of lakes, many scientists forget about those fresh water reservoirs that are located under eternal ice Antarctica, one of which is called Vostok. True, it is hidden by an almost 4-kilometer layer of ice, and the calculation of the depth of lakes and oceans under glacial conditions should be carried out using completely different parameters.

Unique ecosystem

Alas, modern science cannot yet accurately answer the question of how old Baikal is, however, as well as other questions that this constantly poses to scientists amazing lake. At the moment, it is generally accepted that Baikal, whose area is almost 32,000 square kilometers, originated no less than 25 million years ago. There are more daring assumptions; some scientists believe that the age of the lake exceeds 35 million years. This is a long period of time, even by the standards of the existence of our planet. True, it is precisely these figures that pose a new problem: how has the lake remained practically in its original form for so many years? The thing is that any lake does not “live” for more than 15, maximum 20,000 years. Its bottom is covered with silt and over time it turns into an ordinary swamp. This is not observed in Lake Baikal. Perhaps it is worth paying special attention to the point of view of the authoritative scientist Tatarinov, who in 2009 put forward the idea that Baikal has existed “for now” for “only” 8,000 years.

Which theory is considered reliable, everyone decides for himself: the conclusions of most experts say that the whole point is in the unique ecosystem of the lake in its inflows and the only outflow, as well as in constant earthquakes, as a result of which a vacuum arises at the depths, filled with “fresh » groundwater.

Due to its purity, Lake Baikal and its surroundings are a favorite habitat for a huge number of species of birds and mammals. Many of the animals, birds and fish are endemic, meaning that they live only in this ecosystem and are not found anywhere else in the world. The golomyanka fish, which belongs to the viviparous family, attracts particular attention from ichthyologists. And this fish is another mystery of Lake Baikal. Firstly, the entire body of this fish consists of more than 30% fat, and secondly, this fish lives on very great depths, and goes out into shallow water to feed. This is not at all typical for deep-sea fish, because sudden changes in pressure in almost all species lead to death. Another representative of the ichthyofauna is the smallest crustacean, called epishura. This is also endemic to the lake. Without it, life in Baikal would probably have perished, because it is the main food for many fish and it is he, who reproduces in incredible quantities, that filters the water of Baikal, clearing it of organic matter. Maybe it is in this crustacean that the secret of such a long “life” of the lake lies...

Lake Baikal water

Even schoolchildren know about the purity of Lake Baikal water junior classes. Teachers talking about the nature of our planet often emphasize that you can drink water from Lake Baikal without even boiling it. By the way, the opinion is quite controversial. Naturally, there are many places where the water in the lake not only does not pose a threat to human health, but is also considered healing. The tourism infrastructure, which is constantly developing and thousands of tourists wanting to see the great Baikal, like many other lakes around the world, is becoming larger and larger. Only an experienced guide who lives near the lake can indicate in what place it is completely safe to drink from Baikal. Surprisingly, despite the presence of rock deposits and tributaries at the bottom, which includes the Selenga River, which is constantly polluted in Mongolia, the water in Baikal contains practically no dissolved salts and minerals. Simply put, it is almost identical to distilled water, which undergoes multi-level purification in special laboratories.

The lake is so transparent that, according to some researchers, in some parts of the lake you can see the bottom in great detail from a boat at a depth of 40 meters.

Such transparency of water can be observed after the ice melts: usually in early spring The water of Lake Baikal turns bright blue. In summer and autumn, when the water warms up, microplankton and algae begin to develop in small quantities: naturally, at this moment it is already quite difficult to distinguish underwater rocks at a depth of 40 meters, but the transparency is amazing even at these times of the year. True, its color changes: it does not turn into a cloudy green, on the contrary, it becomes soft turquoise.

Immersing yourself in the gentle and clean waters of Lake Baikal... is a dream! True, the dream is only for those who know very little about this lake. The thing is that the water here does not warm up above +9 degrees Celsius even in summer. Only in small and shallow bays can one expect that the water will warm up to +16 under the sun. Therefore, you can swim in Baikal and see the underwater world through the crystal clear water only in a wetsuit. In winter, the water surface is almost completely covered with thick ice, so thick that in the 19th century sleepers were installed on the ice and steam locomotives were transported across Baikal using horses. The ice on the lake is an amazing sight: during severe frosts, cracks run through it, sometimes 30 (!) kilometers long and 3 meters wide.

During the formation of such a crack, a powerful sound is heard throughout the entire vicinity of Lake Baikal, which can only be compared to a howitzer shot or a clap of thunder from lightning striking the ground several meters from a person. This phenomenon was provided for by nature itself; thanks to the formation of such cracks, the water is constantly saturated with oxygen and the flora and fauna of Baikal does not die in severe frosts.

Origin of the name of the lake

As with the age of Lake Baikal, there has been confusion in scientific circles with its name. In any case, some historians agree that the name “Baikal” comes from one of the Asian languages: Mongolian, Yakut, or Turkic. However, there are also versions that the lake was first seen and named... by the Chinese. The Chinese word that sounds like “Bei-Hai” literally translates to “North Sea”. This opinion also deserves attention: after all, isn’t the majestic lake similar to the North Sea? Most experts trying to solve the mystery of the origin of the name of the deepest lake in the world believe that it came from the Buryat language.

The Buryats called the endless expanse of water “Baigal,” but members of the Russian expedition who took part in a trip to the lake back in the 17th century had difficulty coping with the letter “g” and, without thinking twice, replaced it with “k.” This is how the name of Lake Baikal came about. Although, as mentioned above, none of the listed versions is recognized by the scientific world as reliable and proven.

On Baikal

No matter how many legends and myths are associated with this lake, no matter how many scientific disputes there are about its name and origin, all this instantly loses its meaning when you find yourself in front of the amazing mirror of Baikal. It is sometimes calm, and sometimes it rises up in waves. The surrounding nature is beyond description; here on a calm day, despite the singing of birds and the barely audible blow of the wind, one comes to realize what real silence, peace and tranquility are. It seems that Baikal communicates on a subconscious level with everyone who comes to see this majestic lake. It is not without reason that many travelers who have explored Lake Baikal are looking forward to the moment when they can return to this amazing world, which is more than 25 million years old.

Baikal is one of the wonders of Russia. The depth of Lake Baikal is a record. The next African lake, Tanganyika, has a depth of 200 meters less. The reservoir is popular among tourists and researchers. Until now, the secrets of Lake Baikal have not been fully revealed and excite scientists.

Where is

Located almost in the center of Eurasia, in Western Siberia, on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Buryat Republic, Baikal has the shape of a huge crescent. In area it is equal to the Netherlands, Belgium or Denmark. Surrounded by mountains and hills, the reservoir occupies a huge pit. A very interesting question is how deep Lake Baikal is. We'll talk about this later, but now we'll describe the coastline. In the eastern part it is relatively flat, the mountains are tens of kilometers away. The western shore of the lake is mountainous.

The area where Lake Baikal is located is seismically active. Earthquakes of small magnitude occur regularly; there are also strong ones, the echoes of which are felt even in Irkutsk. So, in the second half of the 19th century, an earthquake with a magnitude of 10 occurred. As a result, an area of land of 200 square meters was flooded. km, where 1300 people lived. Strong tremors were noted in 1959 (9 points), in 2008 (9 points) and 2010 (6 points).

History of the lake and its name

For a long time it was believed that Baikal is 25-30 million years old. But recent studies of the topography of the lake bottom with its mud volcanoes have shown that it is up to 150 thousand years old. In this regard, Baikal is also unique, because the average age of lakes of similar origin is 10-15 thousand years.

The rift depression in which Baikal is located is similar in structure to the depression Dead Sea. Its depth is the depth of Lake Baikal. Scientists have different opinions on the formation of the basin.

There are 3 versions:

The depression is the result of a transform fault.
The depression arose as a result of the action of a hot mantle flow located under the lake.
The depression was formed as a result of minor collisions between the Hindustan and the Eurasian plate.

It is obvious that as a result of seismic activity, the topography of the bottom of Lake Baikal is changing and is still subsiding.

The origin of the name of the lake is unclear, but all four points of view reflect the greatness of the reservoir and indirectly indicate the depth of Baikal: Japanese - “great water”, Turkic - “rich lake”, Mongolian - “rich fire” and Chinese - “northern sea” . In our country, the modern name began to be used in the 17th century, it was borrowed from the Buryats (Beighel): in the Russian language the word was assimilated and the usual pronunciation was established - Baikal.

Landscape and climate features

The record depth of Lake Baikal and the vast area of the watershed determine the local climate. Mild winters, but enough cool summer, long autumn and long spring - these are the climatic characteristics of the areas adjacent to the lake. Also, the weather of Baikal is influenced by local specific winds, such as Barguzin or Kultuk. Because of current winds Baikal is considered one of the most restless lakes in the world.

Another remarkable property of the climate is mirages, which appear up to 7 times a year and last for 5-6 hours. They arise due to the difference in air temperature on the surface of the water and the space above it. Mirages occur due to the refraction of rays. Landscape objects can be visually raised above the surface of the water so that the horizon is visible. Another type of mirages is when thousands of kilometers away natural objects optically approaching.

Waters of Baikal: features and currents

The water of the lake has been fascinating since ancient times local residents: she was idolized, she was treated. It is saturated with oxygen, close in composition to distilled water, and due to the action of microorganisms it is practically devoid of minerals. The volume of Baikal water makes up 90% of Russia's fresh water reserves and 20% of the world's. To put it into perspective, there is more water in our great lake than in the 5 largest American lakes combined.

The transparency of Baikal water is surprising: visibility reaches 40 meters. True, this figure can drop to 10 meters during the flowering period of plants. Depending on the time of year and the activity of plants and microorganisms, Baikal water changes its color from bright blue in cold weather to green in summer and autumn.

Baikal is saturated with 336 rivers and streams that constantly flow into it. Turka, Snezhnaya, Upper Angara, Sarma are the largest of them. The Angara is the only river flowing from Lake Baikal.

Depth indicators

What is the depth of Lake Baikal? It is determined by the origin and parameters of the depression in which the lake is located. Latest Research depths were carried out in 1983, they were confirmed in 2002. The lake is mesmerizing: with an average of 730 meters, the maximum depth of Baikal is 1630 meters. There are two more lakes on Earth that have a depth of more than 1000 meters: Tanganyika and the Caspian Sea. Moreover, in the latter the water is salty, not fresh. Even the average depth of Baikal is amazing - few lakes on Earth can boast a value of 730 meters.

Currents act on the surface of Lake Baikal, encircling its shores and largest islands. In certain places ( West Coast Small Sea) the current is quite strong, so even in calm weather the ships drift. The decrease in the intensity of water movement is influenced by the depth of Lake Baikal in a given place and the distance from the coastline.

Flora and fauna

Baikal is unique for its flora and fauna: two thirds of animal representatives live exclusively here. Oxygenated water provides a favorable environment for species to reproduce. Scientists have discovered only 70% of the fauna of Lake Baikal. The basis of the lake's food chain is made up of epishura crustaceans; in addition, they perform an important function of purifying water - passing it through themselves. The Baikal fauna includes 56 species of fish. Among them is a unique species - golomyanka. The fish is interesting because it does not lay eggs, but gives birth to live fry. The golomyanka consists of 43% fat; in search of food, it migrates from great depths to shallow ones.

The seal is the only mammal that lives on Lake Baikal.

From flora One can note sponges, which grow at great depths and are the oldest inhabitants of Lake Baikal.

The uniqueness of the lake is recognized throughout the world. Not only the depth of Lake Baikal is taken into account, but also its unique ecosystem. Climate, geographical features the lakes attract tourists and scientists from all over the world.

Lake Baikal - what is it like?

Map of Lake Baikal

In outline, Baikal resembles a narrow crescent, so easy to remember that even those who are not particularly good at geography can easily find it on a map of Russia. Stretching from southwest to northeast for as much as 636 kilometers, Baikal seems to squeeze between mountain ranges, and its water surface is located at an altitude of more than 450 meters above sea level, which gives every reason to consider it mountain lake. The Baikal and Primorsky ranges adjoin it from the west, and the Ulan-Burgasy, Khamar-Daban and Barguzin massifs from the east and southeast. And this whole natural landscape is so harmonious that it’s hard to imagine one without the other.

Also Oleg Kirillovich Gusev (1930-2012), Candidate of Biological Sciences, professional game specialist, editor-in-chief of the oldest magazine in Russia “Hunting and Hunting Management” and author of several books on conservation issues unique nature of this lake, wrote: “Baikal gives us great joy and great pleasure.” And he added: “It amazes with its monumental style and the beautiful, eternal and powerful that lies in its very nature,” emphasizing that the more you get closer to it, the more tempting it becomes, and the clearer you understand that Baikal is unique and enchantingly inimitable. Anyone who visits here at least once can be convinced of the veracity of these words.

Lake depth

The depth of the lake is truly impressive - 1637 meters. In this indicator, Baikal surpasses such largest reservoirs as Tanganyika (1470 m), Caspian Sea (1025 m), San Martin (836 m), Nyasa (706 m), Issyk-Kul (702 m) and Great Slave Lake (614 m). m). Rest deepest lakes the world, there are twenty-two of them, have a depth of less than 600 meters. A climatic conditions on Baikal, as they say, matches its unique features: here the sun mercilessly scorches and cold winds blow, then storms rage and the quietest weather sets in, conducive to a beach holiday.

Features and mysteries of Baikal

The length of the coastline of the Siberian “crescent” is 2100 km, there are 27 islands on it, the largest of which is Olkhon. The lake is located in a kind of basin, which, as mentioned above, is surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges and hills. This gives reason to assume that the shoreline of the reservoir is the same throughout. In fact, only the western coast of Lake Baikal is rocky and steep. The relief of the east is more flat: in some places Mountain peaks are located 10 kilometers or more from the coast.

Lake Baikal water

Clear water of Lake Baikal

23,615.39 km³ - this fantastic figure measures the reserves of Baikal water. According to this indicator, the lake is second only to the Caspian Sea. Considering that in the latter it is salty, it is Baikal that occupies the first place in the world ranking in terms of fresh water reserves, that is, suitable for drinking. In addition, it is extremely transparent, and all thanks to a very small amount of suspended and dissolved minerals, not to mention organic impurities - there are generally negligible amounts of them. At a depth of 35-40 meters, you can even distinguish individual stones, especially in spring, when the water turns blue. It is also distinguished by its huge reserves of oxygen. It is not for nothing that Baikal, for its combination of such unique properties and qualities, is called the national treasure of Russia.

The water in Baikal is very clean. Previously, you could drink it straight from the lake and not even boil it. But now crowds of tourists have flocked to Baikal, who still pollute this area, so now, before drinking Baikal water, you should ask the local residents where you can do this.

Ice of Baikal

The freeze-up period on the lake lasts on average from early January to early May. During this period it freezes almost completely. The only exception is a small 15-20 km section located at the source of the Angara. At the end of winter, the thickness of the ice can reach 1 meter, and in the bays even more - one and a half to two meters. During severe frosts, huge cracks form on the ice, which are called “stagnant cracks.” They are so impressive that they can reach from 10 to 30 km in length. The width, however, is small: only 2-3 m. Such “cracks” literally tear the ice blanket into separate fields. If it were not for the cracks, the formation of which is accompanied by a loud sound, like a cannon shot, then the lake fish would die en masse from lack of oxygen.

The ice of Lake Baikal also has a number of other features that are unique to it, and truly mysterious, which scientists have never been able to explain. Back in the middle of the last century, specialists from the local limnological station discovered the so-called “hills” - hollow ice hills in the shape of a cone, reaching a height of 5-6 meters. Being “open” in the direction opposite to the shore, they even somewhat resemble tents. Sometimes there are “single hills”, that is, located separately from each other. In some cases, they are grouped, forming “mountain ranges” in miniature.

Ice of Lake Baikal

Dark rings on the lake

Another mystery - dark rings, whose diameter is 5-7 km (and the width of the lake itself is 80 km). They have nothing in common with the “Saturn belt”, although they were also discovered through space photography. Satellite photographs of amazing formations, taken back in 2009 in different parts of Lake Baikal, went around the entire Internet. Scientists have been scratching their heads for a long time: what could it be? And they came to the conclusion that the rings arise due to the rise of deep waters and an increase in the temperature of the upper layer in the center of the ring structure. And as a result, a clockwise flow occurs, reaching maximum speeds in certain zones. As a result, vertical water exchange increases, provoking the destruction of the ice cover at an accelerated rate.

Bottom of Baikal

It is impossible not to say about the bottom of the amazing reservoir. It also differs from others, and above all in that it has a very pronounced relief - there are even underwater mountain ranges. The three main basins of the lake - northern, southern and middle, separated by the Academic and Selenginsky ridges - are distinguished by a pronounced bed. The first ridge (its maximum height above the bottom is 1848 meters) is especially expressive: it stretches for as much as 100 km from Olkhon Island to the Ushkany Islands.

Bottom of Lake Baikal

Earthquakes

Another feature of these places is high seismic activity. Oscillations of the earth's crust occur regularly here, but the strength of most earthquakes does not exceed one or two points. But there have been powerful ones in the past. For example, in 1862, when a ten-point “shake” led to the sinking of an entire section of land in the northern part of the Selenga delta, one of the many tributaries of Lake Baikal. Its area was 200 km, about 1,500 people lived on this territory. Later, a bay was formed here, which is called Proval. Strong earthquakes also occurred in 1903, 1950, 1957 and 1959. The epicenter of the latter, magnitude 9, was at the bottom of the lake in the area of the rural settlement of Sukhaya. The tremors were then also felt in Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude - about 5-6 points. In our time, the region shook in 2008 and 2010: the strength of the tremors was 9 and 6.1 points, respectively.

Origin of Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal still hides the secret of its origin. Researchers often argue about its age, coming to the conclusion that it is at least 25-35 million years old. The indicator is impressive, especially considering that the life cycle of most lakes, primarily those of glacial origin, does not exceed 10-15 thousand years. After this period, they either become swamped or filled with silty sediments. Nothing like this has happened and is not happening with Baikal. And, according to scientists, it is unlikely to happen in the future. The lack of signs of aging is explained by the fact that the lake is... an emerging ocean. The hypothesis did not arise out of the blue: as it turned out, its banks move away from each other by 2 cm every year.

Flora and fauna

An interesting fact: the purity of Baikal water - by the way, very cold (the temperature of the surface layers even in the warm season does not exceed on average + 8-9 ° C) - is maintained by the microscopic crustacean epishura, one of the most famous local endemics. During its life, this 1.5-mm crustacean consumes organic matter (algae), passing water through its small body. The role of epishura in the lake’s ecosystem can hardly be overestimated: it forms 90 percent or more of its biomass, serving in turn as food for the Baikal omul and predatory invertebrates. Oligochaetes or oligochaete worms, 84.5 percent of which are endemic, also play a significant role in the self-purification processes of Baikal.

Of the 2,600 species and subspecies of the local fauna, more than half of the aquatic animals are endemic, that is, living exclusively in this lake. Other fish include grayling, Baikal sturgeon, whitefish, taimen, pike, burbot and others. Of particular interest is the golomyanka, which from a human point of view “suffers” from obesity: its body contains about 30% fat. She loves to eat so much that in search of food every day she makes a “journey” from the depths to shallow water, which greatly surprises researchers. This underwater resident is also unique in that it is a viviparous fish. Distant “neighbors” of golomyankas include freshwater sponges that grow at great depths. Their presence here is an exclusive phenomenon: they are not found in any other lake.

If the biosphere of the lake is imagined in the form of a pyramid, then it will be crowned by the Baikal seal or the seal, which is the only mammal in this reservoir. Almost all the time he lives in water. The only exception is autumn, when seals lie en masse on rocky shores, forming a kind of “settlement”. The coast and islands are also inhabited by many other inhabitants of Lake Baikal, for example, seagulls, goldeneyes, razorbills, mergansers, white-tailed eagles and other birds. Characteristic of these places is the phenomenon of brown bears coming onto the shores in large numbers. And in the mountainous Baikal taiga you can find musk deer - the smallest deer on Earth.

Sights of Baikal

Lake Baikal is so majestic that it is often called the Siberian Sea. In 1996 it was included in the UNESCO list of sites World Heritage. But not only due to the unique ecosystem that requires careful treatment - there are also many historical and architectural attractions concentrated here, not to mention natural and cultural monuments.

One of them is a protected rock called the Shaman Stone, located near the lake, at the source of the Angara. It can be seen in the middle of the river, between capes Rogatka and Ustyansky. If you focus on the line ferry crossing“Port Baikal”, then the rock will be 800 meters lower. Since ancient times, the Shaman Stone was endowed by the inhabitants of the Angara region with unusual powers; they prayed near it and performed various shamanic rituals.

Between the mainland and the Svyatoy Nos peninsula there is perhaps the most famous bay on Lake Baikal - Chivyrkuisky. Its area is approximately 300 km², it is the second largest on the lake, and is also shallow (depth about 10 m). Thanks to the latter circumstance, the water in the bay warms up well, on average up to +24 degrees. On southwest coast such settlements as Kurbulik, Katun and Monakhovo are located. The main wealth of the bay is its fish resources. Here you can find pike, perch, and sorog, the weight of which can reach tens of kilograms. However, fishing on an industrial scale is prohibited - only amateur fishing. Chivyrkuisky Bay is famous for its thermal spring, one of the hottest: the temperature of the water used to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system ranges from 38.5-45.5 °C. The source is located in Zmeinaya Bay, on the western side.

On the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal there is a tract belonging to the natural-geographical region of Podlemorye. It is called Frolikha and includes the river of the same name, which flows into the Baikal Bay of Frolikha and flows out of the lake of the same name. In the river valley - its bed, by the way, is crossed by the famous a tourist route 95 km long - the Frolikhinsky reserve is located. Together with the Transbaikal National Park and the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, it is subordinate to the federal budgetary government agency"Reserved Podlemorye".

Other attractions:

Northern Baikal is the last area on the great lake, the nature of which, due to its remoteness and lack of highways retains its originality,
Barguzin Bay is the largest and deepest on Lake Baikal,
Ushkany Islands are a small archipelago with rocky shores in the Barguzin region of Buryatia,
Peschanaya Bay, known for its unique picturesqueness,
Cape Ryty - extreme northern point coast, where there are extensive pastures, and one of the most anomalous places,
Cape Ludar, located near the old village of Zabaikalskoye,
Chersky Peak - from its slopes the Slyudanka and Bezymyannaya rivers begin, flowing into Baikal,
The Circum-Baikal Railway, which has historical significance.

Holidays on Baikal

It is along the Circum-Baikal railway In the 80s of the 20th century, the Bureau of International Youth Tourism “Sputnik” (Irkutsk) developed the first ecological tour. Since that time, ecotourism on Lake Baikal has been actively developing, despite the fact that the tourism infrastructure here is not well developed and there are some transport difficulties. There are also problems associated with environmental pollution from emissions from the Baikal pulp and paper mill. But all of them are to some extent compensated for by activities to create and equip excursion trails, regularly carried out by tourism organizations in the region.

The most favorable time for relaxing on the lake is from May to October. You can swim in July and August, since these months are the hottest - the air warms up to +30° C, the shallow waters - up to +25° C. A vacation on Lake Baikal will satisfy the needs of even the most demanding tourists. Beach holiday, bicycle and car excursions, hiking along the coast, rafting on catamarans and kayaks, quad biking and even helicopter excursions - this is not a complete list of what travel agencies offer their clients. Climbing coastal cliffs and descending into caves are popular.

Fishing

Fishing should be mentioned separately. Many amateurs fish from the rocks adjacent to the lake. The most passionate fishermen prefer to settle in specialized bases, of which there are many here, and which differ in different levels of comfort. They go fishing on rented vessels. The most popular places on Baikal for fishing The already mentioned Chivyrkuisky Bay, Mukhor Bay, shallow bays of the Small Sea and, of course, the rivers flowing into it are considered. The largest of them (besides Selenga) are Upper Angara, Snezhnaya, Barguzin, Kichera, Turka, Buguldeika and Goloustnaya. And only one river flows out of the lake - the Angara.

Fishing on Baikal

Fishing, only ice fishing, also finds its fans in the winter season, which here lasts from late December to mid-May. Fans of the “second Russian hunt” are helped by professional instructors: without them, it is difficult for inexperienced fishermen to make the right hole in the unusually transparent ice. They willingly share secrets on how to organize comfortable stay in conditions of 40-degree frosts, which are not uncommon for Lake Baikal. And those who don’t want to test their health with extreme cold, go underwater fishing in March and April. At this time, the ice is still strong, and the air temperature begins to reach positive levels.

Winter sports

Among the winter activities, tourists are also offered dog sledding (routes vary in complexity and length), snowmobiling (excursion programs are also different and depend on the level of preparedness of the riders), horseback riding alpine skiing, sleds and snowboards (you can rent ski equipment at numerous rental shops on the coast). In winter, as well as in summer, helicopter excursions are held in high esteem among vacationers, giving unforgettable experiences for a lifetime.

Children and youth tourism

Children's tourism is also quite developed on Lake Baikal, involving holidays in summer camps. We will immediately please parents: your children will not be bored here. Staying in a children's institution involves a rich excursion and creative program, including the holding of sanatorium and health-improving events at specialized bases. One of the most convenient places On Lake Baikal, Mandarkhan Bay is ideal for families with small children. It’s as if it was specially created by nature for this very purpose: it’s very shallow, and in the summer the water here is perhaps the warmest and children don’t risk catching a cold.

Young people are not left behind either. For her, interregional public organization The “Great Baikal Trail”, created in 2003, implements various international programs taking into account the specifics and needs of people under 30. For example, arrangement and reconstruction ecological trails, conducting educational lectures on the topic of nature conservation. Schoolchildren are also actively involved as listeners of the latter.

Video: The underwater world of Lake Baikal

Hotels and recreation centers on Lake Baikal

Many tourists come to relax on Lake Baikal, as they say, as savages, traveling in their own cars. They choose a place they like on the coast and stop there, spending the night in tents. There are very few campsites on the lake specially equipped for car travelers. Having planned to stay at such a site, you should take into account that in this place there may not be wood for a fire and basic amenities (for example, a toilet). Therefore, think in advance about how you will “survive”.

Those who prefer to travel in comfort, even minimal, will be spared such experiences. At their service are many hotels, recreation centers and guest houses scattered along the entire coast of Lake Baikal. Moreover, every tourist will be able to find the most suitable accommodation option for him - taking into account, of course, individual preferences and financial capabilities. We are forced to upset the bohemian public: five-star hotels with the highest level there is no service here. She, like “mere mortals,” will have to be content with ordinary rooms with all amenities. Another note: some recreation centers accept vacationers only in the summer.

Tourists traveling independently run the risk of running into unscrupulous intermediaries when booking a hotel room or recreation center. To prevent this from happening, reserve a hotel room only through proven and reliable services, which will not only save you from scammers, but will also allow you to rent a room at the lowest cost, without unnecessary markups. We recommend Booking.com, one of the first and most popular online hotel booking systems.

How to get there

You can get to Baikal in various ways. The starting point is usually nearby big cities: Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Severobaikalsk. Tourists first come to one of these settlements and already there they plan in detail their further route. The trip on the section of the Trans-Siberian Railway between Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk is especially memorable: the lake stretches right outside the train windows and you can admire its magical panorama for hours.

One of the most popular places The village of Listvyanka, located at the source of the Angara, is considered to be one of the most popular tourism destinations on the Siberian Sea, 65 km from Irkutsk. You can get here from the regional center by bus or boat, the journey time is just over an hour. All routes start in Irkutsk water transport, plying not only along Lake Baikal, but also on the Angara.

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