The fault zone is also seismically active; hot springs occur in the area and notable earthquakes happen every few years. (2014). The vast majority of those species belong to the cichlid family. It also provides access to small islands like Ogoy Island and Zamogoy. [79][80] Russian scientist and federal politician Artur Chilingarov, the leader of the mission, took part in the Mir dives[81] as did Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, lies on the lake’s northern shore. Circle of thin ice, diameter of 4.4 km (2.7 mi) at the lake's southern tip, probably caused by convection, Delta of the Selenga River, Baikal's main tributary, Lake Baikal is rich in biodiversity. Morphometric Data. That is extremely deep, but it isn’t the deepest. Magnetic record of Lake Baikal sediments: chronological and paleoclimatic implication for the last 6.7 Myr. Small tourist vessels operate in the area, availing bird-watching, animal watching (especially Baikal seal), and fishing. Two of the most common species are Benedictia baicalensis and Megalovalvata baicalensis. [82], Since 1993, neutrino research has been conducted at the Baikal Deep Underwater Neutrino Telescope (BDUNT). Martens; Schön; Meisch; and Horne (2008). Lake Vostok, in Antarctica, is unique among the lakes on this list in that it is buried under nearly 2.5 miles (4 km) of ice. [53] Among the "giants" are several species of spiny Acanthogammarus and Brachyuropus (Acanthogammaridae) found at both shallow and deep depths. INTAS Project 99-1669. This lake is situated in Siberia Russian and has been given the title of the deepest lake in the world. According to 19th-century traveler T. W. Atkinson, locals in the Lake Baikal Region had the tradition that Christ visited the area: The people have a tradition in connection with this region which they implicitly believe. Also known as the “blue eye of Siberia”, Lake Baikal is located in Southern Siberia the Russo-Mongolian border. It is somewhat less than 2,000 feet deep. [98] These changes were based on the determination President Putin made through a visual verification of Lake Baikal's condition from a miniature submarine, "I could see with my own eyes – and scientists can confirm – Baikal is in good condition and there is practically no pollution". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 8(3): 415–22. (1997). It is the largest known subglacial lake. The world’s deepest lake. Crater Lake, in Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, is one example. Like Lake Nyasa, it is a relatively long and narrow lake with extraordinary biodiversity. It is a rift lake in the south of the Russian region of Siberia. The total length of the route is 55 km, but the most part of tourists usually take only a part of it – a section of 25 km to Bolshie Koty. The deepest lake in the world is Lake Baikal in Russia. The Caspian Sea, which lies between the Caucasus Mountains and the Central Asian Steppe, is the largest fully enclosed body of water on Earth and the world’s largest salt lake, stretching nearly 750 miles (1,200 km) from north to south and having an average width of 200 miles (320 km). Lake Baikal, Russia. [91], Lake Baikal faces a series of detrimental phenomena including the disappearance of the omul fish, the rapid growth of putrid algae and the death of endemic species of sponges across its area. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the deepest lake in the world, at 1,642 metres. The wind on the exposed lake was so cold, many people died, freezing in place until spring thaw. Water in the lake stays extremely cold in most places (does not exceed 10 C most of the year), but in few gulfs like Chivirkuy it can be comfortable for swimming. Ysyk-Köl has long been a site of human activity. For the quality of service and comfort from the visitor's point of view, Lake Baikal still has a long way to go. The lake was formed by an ancient rift valley and holds 20 per cent of all unfrozen freshwater on the planet; more than the water of the five North American Great Lakes. [25][43] The families Abyssocottidae (deep-water sculpins), Comephoridae (golomyankas or Baikal oilfish), and Cottocomephoridae (Baikal sculpins) are entirely restricted to the lake basin. Its maximum depth is 668 meters or 2,192 feet. Since the Stone Age, human communities on the shores of the lake have fed themselves by fishing there. The most popular trail starts in Listvyanka and goes along the Baikal coast to Bolshoye Goloustnoye. The lake is 113 miles long and 37 miles wide. Issyk Kul is the second largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea. [9] During the winter, the water transparency in open sections can be as much as 30–40 m (100–130 ft), but during the summer it is typically 5–8 m (15–25 ft). Quesnel Lake: 13th Deepest Lake in the World. [74], Russian expansion into the Buryat area around Lake Baikal[75] in 1628–58 was part of the Russian conquest of Siberia. It’s also one of the oldest, dating back to 13 million years. Evans, J.A. [25] It is caught, smoked, and then sold widely in markets around the lake. Spring ice melt underway on Lake Baikal, on 4 May: Notice the ice-covered north, while much of the south is already ice-free. Also, a second endemic whitefish inhabits the lake, C. Lake Baikal endemic sponge Lubomirskia baikalensis: structure and organization of the gene family of silicatein and its role in morphogenesis. The second tourist season is summer, which lets tourists dive deeper into virgin Baikal nature. Lake Ontario, one of the world's five Great Lakes, weaves over state and country borders, delighting Americans, Canadians, and visiting tourists with its deep, clear, clean waters. Озеро Байкал. It is drained through a single outlet, the Angara. It holds about 23% of the total available freshwater in the world. [24] The Kultuk blows southwest and the Verkhovik blows north or northeast. Lake Baikal is the worlds oldest and deepest lake with a depth of 5,336 feet deep. [25][31] During this time, the pattern is inverted compared to the winter and spring, as the water temperature falls with increasing depth. Lake Baikal has been celebrated in several Russian folk songs. Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Zambia)- 4,823 ft. photo: Worldtraveller / Wikicommons. [66][68] These three are also the most common sponges in the lake. Russians first heard of the Buryats in 1609 at Tomsk. Lake Baikal is a popular destination among tourists from all over the world. In 1652, Vasily Kolesnikov reported from Barguzin that one could reach the Amur country by following the Selenga, Uda, and Khilok Rivers to the future sites of Chita and Nerchinsk. 179–188. [7] With a maximum depth of 1,642 m (5,387 ft),[1] Baikal is the world's deepest lake. Lake Baikal formed as an ancient rift valley and has a long, crescent shape, with a surface area of 31,722 km2 (12,248 sq mi). During the winter and spring, the surface freezes for about 4–5 months; from early January to early May–June (latest in the north), the lake surface is covered in ice. Lake Baikal, in Siberia, holds the distinction of being both the deepest lake in the world and the largest freshwater lake, holding more than 20% of the unfrozen fresh water on the surface of Earth. Gold and bronze artifacts belonging to the Scythian people—the earliest settlers of Kyrgyzstan—have been found nearby. Crater Lake, located in the Cascade Range in Oregon, is the deepest lake in the United States. It is over a mile deep (1642 meters). Although today we can study bodies of water with a variety of high-tech tools—including sonar, remote cameras, and miniature submarines—the ancient fascination and sense of mystery remain. Ozero Baykal, IPA: [ˈozʲɪrə bɐjˈkaɫ]; Buryat: Байгал нуур, Baigal nuur)[4] is a rift lake located in southern Siberia, Russia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast. The Barguzin (named after the Barguzin river) blows northeast in the spring. Muscat: Laila Al Habsi, a geologist working in the mining industry in Oman, is the first Arab woman to dive in the Lake Baikal, considered the deepest and oldest lake in the world. Somewhat crescent shaped, it is in the southern Siberia area of Russia. [66] While the Baikalospongia species typically have encrusting or carpet-like structures, L. baikalensis often has branching structures and in areas where common may form underwater "forests". The lake was formed by an ancient rift valley and holds 20 per cent of all unfrozen freshwater on the planet; more than the water of the five North American Great Lakes. According to folktales related a century after the fact, in 1623, Demid Pyanda, who may have been the first Russian to reach the Lena, crossed from the upper Lena to the Angara and arrived at Yeniseysk. Commercial fishing and tourism to the Caspian shore play a vital role in the economies of the surrounding countries. The lake drains into the Angara, a tributary of the Yenisey. 9 of the World’s Deepest Lakes Crater Lake (1,943 feet [592 meters]). The ice road to Olkhon Island is the only legal ice road on Lake Baikal. These are mostly in deep water but locally have also been found in relatively shallow water. Lake Baikal, located in southern Siberia, is the largest source of freshwater on Earth, containing 23% of the world’s freshwater. The lake is so large and so deep that it is estimated to hold 20% of the world’s unfrozen fresh water. Deep lakes hold a special place in the human imagination. [60][61] The endemic bivalves are mainly found in shallows, with few species from deep water. In 2015, the ice road to Olkhon was open from 17 February to 23 March. [35] It is one of only three entirely freshwater seal populations in the world, the other two being subspecies of ringed seals. [52][54], Similar to another ancient lake, Tanganyika, Baikal is a center for ostracod diversity. [77], As the railway was built, a large hydrogeographical expedition headed by F.K. The incredible average depth is around 2,442 feet deep. A popular resort in Listvyanka is home to the seven-story Hotel Mayak. For nearly half the year, the ice on the lake is thick enough to hold trucks and cars; every day in the winter, several hundred vehicles take a shortcut from Yellowknife to the community of Dettah via an ice road. ", Tide of discontent sweeps through Russia's struggling 'rust belt' – NBC News, "The Right to Know: Irkutsk Citizens Want to be Consulted", "Тема: (ENWL) Власти Иркутской обл. More than a dozen streams and rivers flow into the lake. Drizhenko produced the first detailed contour map of the lake bed. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues. [31] The invasive species Elodea canadensis was introduced to the lake in the 1950s. For other uses, see, Cancelled East Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline. It sits on the border between Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [citation needed], In 1644, Ivan Pokhabov went up the Angara to Baikal, becoming perhaps the first Russian to use this route, which is difficult because of the rapids. Peck, J.W. It has a depth of 1637 meters of 5369 ft. Although originally reported as being successful, they did not set a world record for the deepest freshwater dive, reaching a depth of only 1,580 m (5,180 ft). Lake O’Higgins –San Martin is the deepest lake in North and South America with a maximum depth of 2,743 feet (836 m). This is a freshwater lake that is also considered the most voluminous in the world. 6- Lake Malawi / Nyasa (706 meters) At 706 meters, Lake Malawi or Lake Nyasa is the 6th deepest lake in the world. The route is prepared by specialists every year and it opens when the ice conditions allow it. [94] However, the objections of the Soviet scientists faced opposition from the industrial lobby and only after decades of protest, the plant was closed in November 2008 due to unprofitability. [18][19] Longer and deeper sediment cores are expected in the near future. Пресноводные водоемы, растительность, животный мир", "Зоопланктон в экосистеме озера Байкал / О Байкале.ру – Байкал. Local entrepreneurs offer overnight in Yurt on ice. The world’s deepest lake. [46] Beyond members of Cottoidea, there are few endemic fish species in the lake basin. [25][30] In the deepest parts of the lake, from about 300 m (980 ft), the temperature is stable at 3.1–3.4 °C (37.6–38.1 °F) with only minor annual variations. After blessing the country to the northward, he turned towards the south, and looking across the Baikal, he waved his hand, exclaiming 'Beyond this there is nothing.'" As the oldest freshwater lake in the world, it has been around for more than 20 million years. [92] Environmental advocacy for the lake began in the late 1950s. Until its completion, a train ferry transported railcars across the lake from Port Baikal to Mysovaya for a number of years. This allows access to the figures of ice that are formed at rocky banks of Olkhon Island, including Cape Hoboy, the Three Brothers rock, and caves to the North of Khuzhir. Lake Baikal is also the world's largest freshwater lake in terms of volume. Of the many utterly breathtaking lakes throughout the world, perhaps the most impressive is located in the isolated Russian region of Siberia. Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world (by volume) and the world's deepest lake. [10], Russian map circa 1700, Baikal (not to scale) is at top, Steam locomotive on the Circum-Baikal Railroad, Angara [ru] was launched in 1900 and is one of the oldest surviving icebreakers, Several organizations are carrying out natural research projects on Lake Baikal. [38] Although named after the lake, both the Baikal teal and Baikal bush warbler are widespread in eastern Asia. [5][6] With 23,615.39 km3 (5,670 cu mi) of fresh water,[1] it contains more water than all of the North American Great Lakes combined. The North and Central basins are separated by Academician Ridge, while the area around the Selenga Delta and the Buguldeika Saddle separates the Central and South basins. How the seals’ ancestors arrived in Lake Baikal remains a mystery, since the lake lies hundreds of miles inland. [93], The Baykalsk Pulp and Paper Mill was constructed in 1966, directly on the shoreline of Lake Baikal. Scientists studying the samples have reported finding many new forms of bacterial life. The bottom of the lake is 1,186.5 m (3,893 ft) below sea level, but below this lies some 7 km (4.3 mi) of sediment, placing the rift floor some 8–11 km (5.0–6.8 mi) below the surface, the deepest co… There are many deep lakes in the world. It was done first by following the Angara River upstream from Yeniseysk (founded 1619) and later by moving south from the Lena River. They were joined by another band of rioters from Krasnoyarsk, but left the Buryat country when they ran short of food. [76], Vikhor Savin (1624) and Maksim Perfilyev (1626 and 1627–28) explored Tungus country on the lower Angara. Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world (by volume) and the world's deepest lake. It is the deepest lake in North America and the second largest lake in Canada. [56] This makes it the second-most diverse group of crustacean in the lake, after the amphipods. As many as 1,000 species of fish have been recorded in the lake, which means that it is home to about 15% of all freshwater fish species on Earth. [34] Of particular note are the two species of golomyanka (Comephorus baicalensis and C. dybowskii). It was formed 25 million years ago through the planet’s diverging crust. The U.S. is home to many deep lakes, including Crater Lake in Oregon, which is deep enough to fit One World Trade Center with 200 feet to spare. [11][12] It is unique among large, high-latitude lakes, as its sediments have not been scoured by overriding continental ice sheets. Environmental activists in Russia,[103] Greenpeace, Baikal pipeline opposition[104] and local citizens[105] were strongly opposed to these plans, due to the possibility of an accidental oil spill that might cause significant damage to the environment. An early known tribe in the area was the Kurykans. [54] These conspicuous and common amphipods are essentially carnivores (will also take detritus), and can reach a body length up to 7 cm (2.8 in). Until recently, biological activity in the lake had been a mystery, since there had been no way to collect samples or place sensors beneath the ice. Although we love our country’s lakes, today, we appreciate the five deepest lakes across the globe. [71], Located in the former northern territory of the Xiongnu confederation, Lake Baikal is one site of the Han–Xiongnu War, where the armies of the Han dynasty pursued and defeated the Xiongnu forces from the second century BC to the first century AD. Lake Baikal is nicknamed "Older sister of Sister Lakes (Lake Khövsgöl and Lake Baikal)".[120]. Thus they account for the sterility of Daouria, where it is said "no corn will grow."[121]. King, M.I. Two of these songs are well known in Russia and its neighboring countries, such as Japan. The popularity of Lake Baikal is growing from year to year, but there is no developed infrastructure in the area. Lake Baikal (/baɪˈkɑːl, -ˈkæl/;[3] Russian: озеро Байкал, tr. 14 Significant Paintings at Nationalmuseum in Sweden. Baikal is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, many of them endemic to the region. It is also the deepest lake on At 636 km (395 mi) long and 79 km (49 mi) wide, Lake Baikal has the largest surface area of any freshwater lake in Asia, at 31,722 km (12,248 sq mi), and is the deepest lake in the world at 1,642 m (5,387 ft). Has been celebrated in Several Russian folk songs Republic of the Northwest Territories, Canada as from... 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