One of the least noticed natural wonderlands in the tourist world today is Lake Baikal in Siberian Russia.

During the 52 days between June 20th and August 10th it usually breaks 85F degrees in Ulan-Ude (on the shores of Lake Baikal) less than a dozen times each year. The high temperature is more often under 80 degrees on those days. Temperatures at night fall below 60 degrees most of the time.

The region around Lake Baikal, the Buryat Autonomous Republic on the lake's east coast and Irkutstk on the west coast of the lake, is a splendid natural setting. Several nature reserves and mountain chains in the area provide opportunities for outdoor adventures - everything from afternoon hikes to two-week treks. Kayaking and whitewater rafting are popular. And mountains in the region provide a variety of difficulty levels for climbers.


© Oh mon héros ! [parachute doré]




The area is a natural treasure. Lake Baikal is home to about 1200 different species of animals and 1000 species of plants. Most are endemic, many are unique. The surrounding forests are home to 2500 animal species.

The culture of the region is also an attraction in itself. The Buryat people resemble Mongolians. There are about 400,000 of them in and around the city of Ulan-Ude, making them Siberia's largest minority. The Buryats adopted Tibetan Buddhism in the 1700's after centuries of Buddhist missionary work among them. There is a school for Tibetan Buddhist medical training near Ulan-Ude.

Lake Baikal itself is the deepest lake on earth and holds over 20% of the world's fresh water. To give you some idea of its volume, it holds more water than all five of North America's Great Lakes. It is estimated that if Lake Baikal were emptied, it would take every river on Earth flowing into it for a year to refill the lake.

Lake Baikal is self-purifying. While pollution from industry has become a problem in recent decades, the lake is still amazingly pure. The clarity of the water allows up to 150 feet of visibility. Depending on the weather in any given year, the lake has between 330 and 500 tributaries; most are small streams and creeks.

The lake holds about 50 varieties of edible fish, including salmon, pike, sturgeon, burbot, groundling, oilfish, and bullhead. The region is also home to the Siberian Brown Bear (the world's largest flesh-eating mammal), as well as deer and elk, moose, and the nerpa - the world's only freshwater seal.

Lake Baikal is home to a variety of interesting fish that, while they can't be eaten, are fun to study. The golomyanka is one example. Scientifically speaking, the gogomyanka is "viviparous" - that is to say, it gives birth to live young. A couple of dozen species of viviparous fish are unique to Lake Baikal.

The area around Lake Baikal provides a wealth of possible activities. Among them, trekking in the Zabaikalsky National Park probably rivals the experience of trekking in Nepal or Tibet. The mountains around Lake Baikal are home to 39 different species of mammals and 220 species of birds.

Two-week cruises on Lake Baikal are also possible. Many of Lake Baikal's 30 islands provide excellent bird watching sites. The biggest, Olkhon Island, is over 130 square kilometers and is reputed to be the birthplace of Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan.

Horseback riding is popular in the area around Baikal. And the region offers a number of hot springs to bathe in with water temperatures ranging up to just over 100F degree.

Accommodations around Lake Baikal are not hard to find. Most towns have at least one hotel. There is a strong network of bed & breakfasts which locals view as providing employment for mothers with small children. Hospitality is warm; price ranges from 15 and 25 dollars.

Lake Baikal is an experience worth looking into if you're a nature traveler.