Where in the World is the Pearl of Siberia?

Ozero Baykal, the deepest freshwater lake on Earth

Lake BaikalPhoto byKristina Makeeva

This week, we take our Where in the World series to the largest country in the world. Here, we will explore the depths of our planet’s largest freshwater lake, which is larger than all of the five Great Lakes of the United States combined.

Lake Baikal is also known as The Pearl of Siberia, the Galapagos of Russia, and Ozero Baykal in Russian. Located in the southern portion of Eastern Siberia, in the Republic of Buryatia, it is not only the deepest freshwater lake in the world but also the oldest.It is believed to have been formed during the Mesozoic Era, 20–25 million years ago!

An Unparalleled Natural Wonder

The lake has a maximum depth of 5,315 feet and covers an area of 12,200 square miles. It runs 395 miles in length and averages 30 miles wide. This Russian treasure also contains approximately 22% of the freshwater located on the surface of the Earth and 85% of Russia’s water supply, making it the largest freshwater lake by volume as well.

Depth ComparisonPhoto byReddit User buak

More than 330 rivers and streams, including the Selenga, Barguzin, Upper (Verkhnyaya) Angara, Chikoy, and Uda, empty into the lake.

The lake lies in a perforation where the Asian continent is actually splitting apart, possibly making way for a future ocean. It sits in a depression, formed by prehistoric glacial movement, and is surrounded by mountain ranges. The high peaks are coated with dense forests, surrounding the picturesque lake.

The lake also features 27 islands, one of which, Olkhon is 45 miles long. Historical settlements and natural monuments can be found on many of the islands.

Wilder than Wild

It has been estimated that more than 1,500 animal species inhabit Lake Baikal and the areas surrounding it. Around 80% of these species are found nowhere else in the world! The most famous animal that calls the lake home is the nerpa, the only solely freshwater seal.

There are approximately 100,000 nerpas in the area, a population that has baffled evolutionary biologists. They can’t seem to figure out how these animals not only found themselves so far from the ocean but flourished. They can often be seen on guided tours, but after hundreds of years of being hunted, they have become understandably skittish around humans.

A nerpa, indigenous to Lake BaikalPhoto byBaikal Lake via Facebook

One reason for the diversity is the presence of hydrothermal vents on the lake floor. These vents are commonly found in oceans, but Lake Baikal is the only freshwater lake known to have them. The minerals and heat that emanate from the vents result in very unusual species, including the Baikal omu fish, the Baikal oil fish, and the formerly mentioned nerpa.

Bears, elk, reindeer, lynx, wild boar, and snow leopards also thrive in the often below zero degrees climate.

The Past and Present

For those who have studied theology, this lake may sound familiar as it is said that Jesus visited it during his desert wanderings. As far as the first documented discovery of Lake Baikal, that honor goes to Russian explorer, Kurbat Ivanov. He sent 36 men to sail the Western shore, who then built a winter settlement. He created a document from their findings entitled “The Cart of Baikal and into Baikal Flowing Rivers and Lands.”

Over the last century, urban development has disrupted the pristine wilderness surrounding Lake Baikal. Resort communities have taken advantage of the stunning landscape, which brought along other businesses and industries.

Lake BaikalPhoto byWonzy via Wikipedia Commons

A paper mill was built on the lake’s shores but was closed in 2008 due to discarding its waste into the water and causing ecological pollution. It did reopen in 2010, with promises of following cleaner and safer protocols.

There have been other industries that have tried to build in the area, such as a uranium plant, but so far, those petitions have been blocked by locals.

Mystery and Legend

Lake Baikal has its own version of the Loch Ness Monster. Known as Lusud-Khan, or “water dragon master”, it is described as a “giant sturgeon with a prominent snout and armored plating along the back.” This creature has been rumored to roam the waters of the lake for centuries and is even depicted in ancient carvings.

Following the crash of a plane on Lake Baikal’s southern coast in 1959, a ship captain and nearby fisherman stated that they saw a “flying saucer” chasing the plane prior to the crash.

Green triangles and fireballs have been reported hovering over the lake. There are rumors among the locals that aliens have a secret camp located at the bottom of Lake Baikal. Some speculate that it isn’t a “camp” at all, but a portal to a parallel universe.

The rumors spiraled in 1982 after naval divers claim to have seen humanoid figures in the water. They were described as three meters tall, wearing silver overalls and spherical helmets, but no diving equipment. The divers reported then being “pushed up by a huge force.”

They reached the surface so quickly that the compressed air in their lungs expanded, causing their lungs to over-expand. Three of the divers died on the shore of air embolisms and four were disabled. It is highly believed that the aliens caused the injuries and deaths of the divers.

While none of these theories have been proven, there is no doubt that Lake Baikal has its secrets and they are waiting under the surface to be revealed.

In 1996, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

***Story previously published on Medium.com by the author***