Baikal

Lake Baikal, or Baikal, is the world’s deepest and oldest freshwater lake, located in southern Siberia, Russia, between Irkutsk Oblast and the Republic of Buryatia. It holds about 23,600 cubic kilometers of water, accounts for roughly 20 percent of the planet’s unfrozen freshwater, and reaches a maximum depth of 1,642 meters. Its age is estimated at 25 to 30 million years, making it one of the most ancient extant lakes.

The lake lies in the Baikal Rift Zone, a continental rift system. The Angara River drains Lake Baikal as its only outflow, connecting it to the Yenisei basin. The surface area is about 31,500 square kilometers, and the waters are among the clearest in the world, with long residence times and seasonal ice cover typically lasting from January to May.

Baikal hosts a highly distinctive ecosystem with many endemic species. Notable native organisms include the Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica), the omul (Coregonus spp.), and the Baikal oilfish (golomyanka), along with a broad array of endemic invertebrates and algae. The lake supports multiple habitats, ranging from rocky shores to deep pelagic zones, contributing to its reputation as a key site for studies of ancient lakes and freshwater biodiversity.

Lake Baikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (designated in 1996) and a focus of conservation efforts amid pressures from industrial development, mining, and tourism. The surrounding region contains protected areas and research institutions that monitor ecological health, climate signals, and paleoclimatic records, while also sustaining cultural traditions of local communities such as the Buryats.