Tour to Baikal region. Irkutsk tour.

In southeastern Siberia, in the Republic of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region, Russia. See map of Baikal area.

636 km long + 80 km wide (average: 48 km), and has 2100 km of coastline
It covers 31,500 km². The surface area of all the tributaries that feed lake Baikal is about 560,000 km²

It is the world’s greatest fresh water lake and makes approximately 20 percent of the world's surface fresh water and over 80 per cent of fresh water in the former Soviet Union. It's basin is made up of three underwater depressions, which together hold a volume of 23,600 cubic km of water

It is the oldest lake in the world, about 25-30 million years old,

It is the world’s deepest lake. The deepest point in Lake Baikal is 1637m, the average depth being 630m, and it has an exceptional clarity which allows 40-50 m of visibility.

A long lasting winter and a very intensive summer mark the climate of this region. The Lake Baikal is at the beginning of January to the end of April frozen over. In the summer months of at the end of June to in the middle of Septembers prevails high-summer weather with temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius with very dry air

Baikal's water is cold. Overall, the average temperature of the water is +4°C, but varies like many micro climates depending on location and season. The surface temperature in August in the middle of the lake is about 8 to 10°C and along the coastal line, 14 to 16°C. Below the surface, the water temperature plunges. In August, at a depth of 50 meters, the temperature is about 5 to 6°C, even in summertime. In Kultuk Bay, Chivyrkuysky Bay, Proval Bay, Peschanay Bay and the area called the Small Sea, temperatures climb to between 16 and 18°C, and can reach a balmy 20-24°C. The entire surface of the lake freezes over in the winter.

At the end of June to in the middle of October is the best season, in addition, the winter has his own attraction. Who would like to celebrate Christmas time with cold weather and snow, a journey was most warmly recommended to the Lake Baikal in the winter. There are numerous offers for winter sportsmen of skiing, ice fishing and ice swimming to ice skating.

More then three hundred rivers and streams flowing into Baikal , of which the six main ones are: Selenga, Chikoy, Khiloh, Uda, Barguzin, and the Upper Angara. Only one, the Angara, flows out from it.

There are a number of islands in the lake, the largest of which is Olkhon, 72 km long and more than 130 km² in area.

Lake Baikal is home to 1200 different species of animals, and 1000 species of plants. 80% of the species at Baikal are endemic.

There are 50 edible species of fish including salmon, sturgeon, greyling and omul. While locals use it in many of their favorite dishes, they also enjoy burbot, groundling, oil fish, and bullhead. Pike and perch are easy to catch and very popular. In addition, grayling and omul are highly recommended
 

The most unique animal at Baikal is the freshwater seal Phoca siberica, known as the nerpa, which is also the only mammal which inhabits the lake. Scientists believe that the seals are from the tertiary fauna, migrated inland gradually in search for food, and have been breeding at Baikal for 22 million years. There have been years when scientists have counted nearly one hundred thousand nerpa in and around the lake. Valued for their soft, warm pelts and fat, the seals have been hunted for thousands of years. Archeologists have discovered seal hunting weapons in the cave homes of early seal hunters.

Baikal's water, long famous for its spiritual and medicinal qualities, is called "living water." Unlike all other deep lakes of the world where the lower depths are dead, asphyxiated by hydrogen sulfide and other gases, Lake Baikal's deep waters are blanketed in fresh oxygen. It has only been in the past five years that scientists have discovered thermal springs beating up from the bottom of Baikal. The release of hot, oxygenated water from underwater vents mixed by two horizontal currents and by rising and falling vertical currents may explain why the water is alive with aquatic life. The small epishura zooplankton consume waterweeds, bacteria and other material which would cloud the water. These and other small crustaceans are largely responsible for the clarity of Baikal's waters.