The Blue Pearl of Siberia : The World's Deepest Lake

With an area of about 31,000 square kilometers, Baikal is almost as big as country of Belgium. But that still does not happen in a lake of superlatives. With a depth of 1625 meters and a maximum water volume of about 23,000 cubic kilometers, is also the deepest lake of water and richer in the world. Because of this huge depth of the water temperature rarely exceeds ten degrees Celsius. An ideal lake for a swim in Lake Baikal is not, the sun is the large amount of water even in summer heat is not enough. In addition, the area from November to May is completely frozen.

Both the lake and its surroundings, there is a unique flora and fauna. Around two thirds of all species are endemic, meaning that only in this area before. These include some species that are specialized to live in-depth, or the Baikal seal, one of the two species of freshwater seal. Initially, for the protection of flora and fauna, numerous nature reserves and national parks in the vicinity of the lake together. In 1996, even the whole of the UNESCO-Baikal on the list of natural heritage on the world. However, the strict laws of nature of the situation in Russia is often omitted. The landscape in the Baikal region changes from clear cutting of the timber industry significantly. The industry and the cities located on the banks stem mainly from untreated sewage into the lake. Upstart Russians build their mandate as Chas directly to the bank, despite all the sea from a coastal protection zone around it. A stricter interpretation of conservation laws in the future will be inevitable the landscape is unique in the Baikal region in the world later.