Lake Baikal is located in the Russian region of Siberia, near the border of Mongolia. It’s the deepest lake in the world, reaching 1,642 m (5,387 ft) depth. Baikal is also the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume, containing roughly 20% of the planet’s unfrozen freshwater. What’s more, it’s the oldest lake in the world -at least 25 million years old!
Geographic location and other factors make Lake Baikal one of the most beautiful frozen lakes in the world. Different ice patterns in different parts of the lake, frozen methane bubbles, and icicles that look like crystals let you experience the real winter wonderland there.
As Lake Baikal is one of the world’s clearest lakes, it also has one of the most transparent ice. So walking on the crystal clear ice of Lake Baikal is an experience you will never forget. And don’t be scared; the ice that forms on the lake is about 1,5-2 m (5-6,5 ft) thick and can even tolerate cars driving on the surface. The surface of Lake Baikal usually freezes over for about 5 months – from January until May or June.
Below is a collection of pictures of frozen Lake Baikal made during the cold season and depicting fantastic ice engravings.
