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.

Tokyo: The Biggest City in The World

Already in the 18th century accounted for more than a million residents of Tokyo, the largest city in the world, now living in the metropolitan area a quarter of the Japanese population. Overcrowded subway trains, continuous noise and flashing neon ge are here every day. It is also the fear of the next major earthquake disaster.

Flashing neon signs from the Japanese game swells strong pop music, the sky is barely discernible among the skyscrapers - which is now in central Tokyo, it is difficult to imagine that here in 550 years only a few houses and a castle current. Edo, the city was then known, first appeared in history books for the first time in the 12th Century. At the time, where a man near the mouth of two rivers and Hirakawa Sumida a fortified house. He named the place and his family Edo ( "estuary"). As a basic foundation of the modern metropolis, however 1457th This year the Prince of Ota Dokan built a castle on the site where today stands the Imperial Palace.

Almost 300 years later, from the small village of the largest city in the world: even in the middle of the 18th Century there were more than a million residents in Edo. The reasons for the rapid growth of the city is its location: the bay of Edo, which offers more protection than a harbor into the open sea. The place is too far from the Asian continent, and can not be removed as quickly as possible invaders, the Mongols achieved. It also cut the roads to the east and north through the mountains of the current region of Tama in Edo. These advantages of the recognized leaders of the Samurai, Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the end of the 16th century and moved the seat of government from Kyoto to Edo. Then came the heyday of modern Tokyo, but in the course of history has been repeatedly destroyed by fire.

In the 19th century fought the troops of the emperor and the shogun of dominant position in Japan. The Shogun was a leader of the warrior caste of the samurai, which officially belong to the emperor. Over time, more and more power and was the head of state. When the troops of Emperor 1868 won, leaving the last shogun in Edo and the castle of the Emperor Meiji moved in. As of now, it's called Tokyo Edo, or "Eastern Capital" (Kyoto means "capital" ) officially dissolved and Kyoto as the capital of Japan. However, Kyoto has also previously lost to political power and was only formally capital.

In the Meiji era, Tokyo opened the achievements of the West: the buses and trams have been subsequently used horses, houses were built of stone and Western fashion was considered chic.Mega City

In 2008, pushing the 35 million people in the Greater Tokyo, about twelve million of them in the real city. This means that one fourth of Japan's population to just under four per cent of the land alive. For the tourist experience is if during peak hours from the metro station. Because 800,000 companies in Tokyo, many people have to be incredible to work in the morning and return at night. In the scrum, not all men have their hands under control, always complains about women in the subway begrapscht. Therefore, the management by pink flowers marked car, in the heyday of the women can only be used.


Another danger lurking under the earth: As Japan under different plates meet, earthquakes shake again, the Tokyo area - but these are generally smaller, with no major damage. Since the Kanto earthquake in 1923 no major earthquake in Tokyo, where, and these are usually at a rate of 60 years are produced, many of Tokyo, but in the near future with another disaster. Instructions for correct behavior when an earthquake in any lack of housing and non-Japan guide.