description Lake Baikal Overview
In southern Siberia, Lake Baikal is the world's deepest freshwater lake and contains approximately one-fifth of Earth's unfrozen surface fresh water. Its great depth reflects a geological setting shaped by a continental rift. The lake is also notable for an ecosystem with many species found nowhere else, making it a place of particular importance for biological research and conservation. Baikal's appeal rests on more than its physical scale.
The connection between its waters and surrounding habitats provides opportunities to study how an isolated freshwater environment develops over long periods. It suits people interested in natural history and outdoor exploration, as well as researchers examining freshwater systems. Describing it as uniformly pristine would overlook environmental pressures, but its distinctive wildlife and geological history remain central to its significance as a natural landmark.
help Lake Baikal FAQ
How deep is Lake Baikal?
Lake Baikal reaches about 1,642 meters at its deepest point. That makes it the deepest freshwater lake on Earth.
Where exactly is Lake Baikal?
Lake Baikal is in southern Siberia, Russia, between Irkutsk Oblast and the Republic of Buryatia. The city of Irkutsk is the main gateway for many visitors.
Why is Lake Baikal's water so important?
Lake Baikal contains roughly 20 percent of the world's unfrozen surface freshwater. It is also extremely old, commonly estimated at around 25 million years.
What animals are unique to Lake Baikal?
The Baikal seal, or nerpa, is the only exclusively freshwater seal species. The lake also has many endemic fish and invertebrates found nowhere else.
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