Lake Baikal - World's Largest And Deepest Lake- Russia's Infamous Tourist Attraction
Lake Baikal in southern Siberia is not only the deepest freshwater lake in the world, but it is also the oldest, dating back 25 million years. For intrepid history buffs, this is undoubtedly enough of a reason to explore Lake Baikal. One-fifth of the world's fresh water is found in this region, which is approximately the size of Belgium and has its administrative center in the city of Irkutsk. A large delta is formed on the lake's eastern shoreline by the River Selenga, a significant bird habitat, despite the lake being fed by more than 300 rivers. The Angara is the only river that drains the lake.
Best time to visit: Oct-To-Apr
Things to do: Photoshoot At The Best Location, Experience Hiking, Take Day trips to nearby Islands, Play Water Sports
HOW TO REACH LAKE BAIKAL
- Flight - The quickest method to get there is by air. Regular flights connect major Russian towns with Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude, which are close to Baikal Lake and include Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Vladivostok. (Irkutsk: 65 km, Ulan-Ude: 250 km).
- Rail - No matter which way you are traveling in, you can choose to stop in one of the three cities along the Trans-Siberian route: Irkutsk, Slyudyanka, or Ulan-Ude. Generally speaking, Irkutsk on the western shore of Lake Baikal is ideal for a more civilized exploration, Slyudyanka on the southern point of the lake is ideal for exploring the Circum-Baikal Railway, and Ulan-Ude on the eastern shore is ideal for beginning "wild camping" or staying with locals in nearby villages.
HOW TO GET AROUND
- Local Bus - Much of Irkutsk is reasonably walkable once you're in the town center. There are many parks where you can relax, and the majority of roadways have good sidewalks. You should take a bus or marshrutka to get to distant locations like the southern sea harbor. A marshrutka is a privately operated minivan that performs nearly identically to a bus, albeit slightly less officially.
- Boat - You can take a van or a boat to get to Lake Baikal. Even though the boats don't run very often, it's worthwhile to learn the schedule and attempt to catch one. The vessel makes a number of stops, but Listvyanka, a tiny fishing village at the southern end, is where the majority of tourists disembark.
Traditional Food
