Baikal Lake

Baikal Lake is just an ideal destination for a break from your day to day life. Away from all the hustle and bustle of the busy cites, nestles this mesmerizing lake towards the south of East Siberia, Russia. The place is popular for its unique and stunningly pretty natural monuments. The incredibly beautiful forests, meadows, mountains, wild flowers, cliffs, the aroma of the sea, sparkling clear water, the blue sky above, the shining Sun and the blinding clouds can soothe even the weariest hearts of the world. If you want to experience nature at its best, a visit to Lake Baikal will surely not be a disappointment.

Why travel to Baikal Lake?

The place gives you several reasons to pay a visit. Let's take a quick look at why people choose Baikal as their favorite destination for quiet vacations.

For people who love to be close to nature, the place is just perfect for them. The region is rich with mountains, green and leafy forests, crystal clear lake and many more aspect of the nature, which is awe-inspiring and gives peace of mind.

Tourist activities in Baikal include:

Biking
Fishing
Trekking
Kayaking
Camping, etc.

You will get to experience two different cultures at Baikal, one is the Siberian Russian and the other is the Asian Buryat. Back in the day, the ancient Butyat culture which included traditional shamanism, inimitable pious songs and holy attitude towards nature was strictly dominant in this region. This continued for hundreds of years until the 17th centaury when Russian colonization started. Russian Siberians are very different from the central Russian people. In other words, living in the nature for hundreds of years has made them nature respecting, traditional, strong and reliable

Some interesting facts:

Baikal happens to be a freshwater lake situated on the south of eastern Siberia.
It was founded about 30 mln years ago
It spreads over an area of about 31,500 Sq. km
It consists of 26 islands of which Olkhon Island is the biggest.
There is only one river outlet, Angara River.
The lake is considered to be the deepest in the world.
In the year 1996, Baikal Lake was included in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage.

Seasons in Baikal:

Summer Time: 15th of June to 15th of August.
Autumn Time: 15th of August to 15th of November
Winter Time: 15th of November to 15th of April
Spring Time: 15th of April to 15th of June

When is a good time to visit?

The best time to visit Baikal Lake is during the summers, as the place is warmer and has very less rainfall. Although there are tourists, who like to visit the Baikal during winters to experience the Siberian cold. However, as the Siberian winters are unbearably cold, most visitors prefer going there during the summers. This is much better as you can involve yourself in most tourist activities and explore the place comfortably.

In case you are planning to take the Trans-Siberian train to Moscow, then going to Baikal is not only convenient but is a must. Irkutsk is a stop on the route to Moscow. All you have to do is getting off the train in Irkutsk and got to Baikal Lake for a short trip. This will save you from six long days of tedious train journey till Moscow.

The word â€˜Baikalâ€™ has a Turkish origin. In Turk language â€˜bai-kulâ€™ means â€˜rich lakeâ€™ which is not far from the truth. The Baikal Lake is indeed rich with natural monuments, which make it a World heritage and a major tourist destination. So, explore this beautiful region and get some wonderful memories permanently etched in your mind.