Lake Baikal: A biological treasure trove | SLICE

I remember waking up at 6.30am on the Trans Siberian (from Moscow) and looked out the window and saw the most beautiful icy lake, Baikal. The train snakes along the south end of the lake, right up against the edge! And then on the other side of the train, was the most gorgeous snow capped Tunkinskiy mountains. I told myself I would never ever forget this moment! Once in a lifetime.

Being Canadian, though I was born and raised in Toronto, which is relatively mild all winter. because we had a cottage three hours north of the city, my father would often take us on long road trips in the winter in the summer. The far north in winter might not seem appealing to a lot of people, but there is a certain serene beauty that has no description. It’s just you, and nature, nothing else. The sound is the wind blowing across the frozen lakes, and that incredible sound the ice makes as you walk on it, is almost a mystical experience. I used to love going up there, just to re-center myself. Some of my most beautiful memories were at the cottage sitting by the campfire at night, in the dead of winter, not a soul in sight for a hundred miles or more. The only sound being the crackling of the fire, and that quiet hum of nothingness, then looking up and being completely Surrounded by a sky filled with millions of stars, and if it was a full moon, the moon light bouncing off the snow, making it glisten like diamonds, it was absolutely perfect moment in time. Living in the city can be pretty chaotic, especially Toronto, which is a pretty big city. Going up north, especially in the winter, has its own ability to heal your soul. Again it’s difficult to put into words, but it is beautiful in so many ways I can’t even describe.

Boy those old Soviet Scooby-Doo vans were built tough!!

I was born in Irkutsk and went to Baikal many times. Beautiful place of my childhood

It's waters are one of the purest on earth. Humans: challenge accepted.

I'm pretty surprised there is no mention of the Baikal seal. Its the only true freshwater seal on earth. What a snub.

It will only remain pure as long as mankind does not find a way to settle there

No doubt why Russian called it the sacred sea, it really is sacred and needs to be preserve.

I like these documentaries of Russia that remind the rest of the world that they have amazing vast areas of natural beauty and that they treasure those things too. I think people have a warped sense of russian attitudes, as if it's not a forward thinking civilized country full of diversity of cultures and traditions along with advancements in engineering and scientific achievements. If I was russian, I would be proud. But I'm Scottish, which shares St Andrew as a patron saint.

Documentary: “this is the purest lake ever” Diver: leaves van full of equipment and gasoline at the bottom of lake

WONDERFUL! It has been years since I was at/on this lake. A beautiful part of Siberia...thanks to our guide Baata from Mongolia. These people who are exploring the lake are heroes; fantastic; keep up the good work! Best wishes from the land of Oz.

I bet there is some really ancient stuff down there in the depths of Lake Baikal.

When I was in the school I read about lake Baikal....seeing lake in this documentary is very nice. Russia is a very beautiful country ....it's citizens very brave

I think that the Russian guy driving the van said in Russian: " I've got balls of steel" that's why I drive on this frozen lake...!😮

In the school I also read a fascinating piece of science relating to water....that's it's density is highest at 4 degree celsius thus preventing the lake from being frozen completely and killing all the aquatic animals. Incredible design of nature while designing water. There is no greater Engineering than what is available in nature.

Since my childhood I've been fascinated by Russia and its stories about forests, wilderness, cold and snow and people living there. I want to visit Russia at least once in my lifetime.... love from India.😊

Lake Baikal: so Natural, mostly untouched by human & truly spectacular. Love and Greetings from India 🇮🇳🤗💖

Winter is not “eternal”, just severe and long. Summer on Baikal is spectacularly beautiful. To see those Russian faces again, warms my heart, and the Wazik (the go-anywhere van). I doubt even the smartest of those green fingered creatures can “clean” a Wazik out of the water. Let’s not forget there are some serious pollution threats to Baikal.

I first heard this lake on the movie The Way Back2010", them prisoners way back the second world war who escaped Siberian gulag and passed by this lake, a great story of survival

Unbelievable & breath-taking!