Images of the Baikal from various sources

Lake Baikal lies in eastern Siberia (lng. 104 to 110 deg. E.; lat. 51 deg. 20 s. to 55 deg. 20 s. N.). It is the third largest lake in Russia and the eighth largest in the world, with an area of 12,162 sq. mi. The outline of the lake is long and narrow, its length being 395 mi. and its width varying from 15 to 49 mi. Its surface is 1,486 ft. above sea level. The lake is walled in by mountains, extensions of the Sayan mountains. There are 18 islands in the lake, the biggest being Olkhon Island.

The origins of the lake are tectonic, the deep depression in which it lies being formed by faulting. The fringing mountains rise steeply to a maximum height of 8,445 ft., while the lake has a maximum depth of 5,315 ft., making it the deepest in the world. Movement is still continuing and earthquakes occur around the lake.
  Lake Baikal has 336 tributary rivers, several of which are of considerable size - the Selenga, Barguzin and Upper Angara. The outlet for the lake is the Angara, a tributary of the Yenissei.

Lake Baikal is characterized by low annual average temperatures of the surface water, 40 degrees F in the south, 37 degrees F in central Baikal. Maximum temperatures occur in September and only in rare years pass 50 degrees F. Below 700 ft. the water temperature remains constant at about 39degrees F.

Winter is clearly the dominant season, as much by its unchangeableness during many weeks as by its severity. Winter is notably dry and cold. Days without snow are few. Precipitation varies from 10 to 14 inches. The mean January temperature is -5 degrees F. Spring arrives in April. The ice on the lake breaks up rapidly. As the snow melts, the ground soon dries and a brief period of delightful spring weather is experienced, though often interrupted by the return of severe cold for a short time. Summer follows quickly. The days are warm or hot (July mean is 65 degrees F) and the hours of daylight long. The summer, though it has often long periods of drought, is interrupted by brief, but heavy rainstorms. Precipitation is about 12 in.

Lake Baikal is remarkable for the richness of its fauna and flora. Of the 1700 species identified there, 1080 are not found anywhere else in the world. The lake is rich in plankton. The one mammal is the Baikal seal. Salmon, omul of the salmon family, bullheads and peculiar fish, called the "golominka , which is almost one mass of fat, are typical Baikal fishes.

The slopes of the mountains around Lake Baikal are well wooded with alder, aspen, birch, and larch. Siberian fir and pine are mixed with spruce and scotch pine.

Of fur-bearing animals, the sable is the most important for the Baikal hunter. Other animals hunted here are the fox, brown bear, lynx, hare, wolf, wolverine, and red squirrel. In the mountain taiga, the elk, roe deer, maral and wild reindeer are found. Bird life is abundant and varied and includes ptarmigan, hazel-grouse, capercaillie, black cock, nuthatches, woodpeckers, tits, ravens, hawks, hawk owl, red-breasted merganser and mallards.

Home Books Ecology Latest info from space Encyclopedia Animals Plants Climat Research The world beneath Baikal Geology Circumbaikal railroad Photogallery # 1 Photogallery # 2 Photogallery # 3 Listvyanka Natives In German Word of poet Olkhon island Earthwatch Shopping Travel agences Guestbook

realvideo

Transsiberian railway.Inside the train at Transsiberian railway,download .mov 468kbCircumbaikal railwayLake Baikal beautyYachts at BaikalBrown bears at lake Baikal shores in springAqualangist under Baikal iceAt lake Baikal beneathBaikal nerpasHistory of Trans-Siberian railway

---

© 2003 webmaster Fedor Babanine (webmaster@icc.ru)
12.20.2004