The word “Baikal” is of Turkic origin - “bai” meams rich and “khul” - lake. So Baikal can be translated as rich lake. What is it rich for?

The name of Baikal is always used with the word “the most”. It’s the deepest lake (1637 m), the cleanest, the most ancient (30 ml years) and the most attended place by tourists. Thousands of Russian and foreign tourists come here every year to see a genuine Siberian pearl – Baikal.

More than 300 rivers and streams replenish the lake. There is a single river flowing out of the lake called Angara. The area of the surface is 31500 km², that approximately is an area of Belgium.

One of the treasures of Baikal is extremely fresh water. The transparence of water is 40 m. Due to unique bio-tectonic complex Baikal is the only open water body in the world from which fresh water is taken for bottling. If you throw a coin into the lake, you can see it sparkling at the bottom.

Baikal will amaze you with its peculiarity and biodiversity, you can find here everything – wide mirror-like surface and furious storms, boiling sun and cold wind, mountains and steppes, taiga forest and alpine meadows, rocky capes and sandy beaches, waterfalls and hot springs, caves and mountain peaks.

As for the treasures of Baikal, you can refer to them animals and plants as well.  An inconceivable number of fish (Arctic cisco, Baikal sturgeon, Baikal grayling) live in the waters of Baikal and numerous kinds of animals and birds inhabit the lake shore. Among the water residents of Baikal are some unique and endemic representatives as golomyanka (viviparous transparent fish) and nerpa (freshwater seal) which can be met only in Baikal. In order to protect all its amenities the lake is surrounded by 6 reserves and national parks.

The territory of the lake is located in two regions – Irkutsk Region and Buryat Republic. Economic sphere here is presented by wood processing industry and fishing collective farms. An important object in the history of Baikal Region is Baykal-Amur Railroad. But without any doubt the main industry in the region is a tourist one.

Baikal is a genuine “Mecca’ for tourists. In winter you have a possibility to take part in tours with dog teams, trips along the Baikal shore, mountain ski trips or just spend a holiday in one of the campsites and enjoy the comfortable staying. As for summer, you have really boundless opportunities – cruises round the lake, jeep-tours in Olkhon, walkin tours to Chersky Peak, cycle tours, horse riding tours, cure near radon springs and simply the rest on the beach. All the year round you can ride Baikal Railroad around the lake and enjoy fascinating landscapes.

Only having seen Baikal with your own eyes, you can appreciate its amenities and greatness at its true value. Indeed, Baikal is that unforgettable pearl of Siberia, which should be visited without any doubt.