Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal (CC: Wikipedia)

Tucked away in a far corner of the world that most people will never visit, lies one Earth's
largest secrets;  Lake Baikal. This dominating body of water is located in the Siberian Irkustk oblast, and it is the largest freshwater lake in the world. The lake also boasts a depth of 5,387 feet, making it the deepest lake in the world!

Location of Lake Baikal (cc: arnoldonline.nl)

One of Russia's numerous UNESCO World Heritage Site's, it is estimated to be around 25 to 30 million years old, making it the oldest lake on our planet. It is in the Baikal Rift Zone, making it a Rift lake, which form when the earth's crust pull apart from each other, creating a continental rift. You would have to travel around 6.8 miles to reach the rift floor, which would earn it the recognition of having the deepest Continental rift on Earth.

Geologists have described the rift as "young and active", mainly because it is widening about two centimeters per year. There are a number of hot springs and various seismic activity in the area. This beautiful lake can boast the distinction of being the world's clearest lake. This known using a tool called a Secchi disk, which measures the water's transparency at certain depths.

Pollution in the Irkustk oblast

Although this lake is among the most gorgeous lakes in the world, not much is being done to protect it. Being the largest freshwater lake in the world, it accounts for around 20% of our world's unfrozen surface fresh water. Nuclear plants, oil pipelines, and mills threaten this lake each and every day. I hope to enjoy it before it is gone!








Sources: http://hassam.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Famous-Lakes-Of-The-World

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/russia/siberia/lake-baikal

http://www.geographia.com/russia/baikal01.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Baikal