Lesser known facts about this inhumane punishment
Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake by volume in the world. With a maximum depth of 1,642 m (5,387 ft), it's also the deepest. It was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996.
Pictured: omul drying in the sun. A primary food source, this endemic whitefish is considered a delicacy and is usually eaten smoked.
See also: The world's most appealing lakeside hotels and resorts.
Look out for the uprooted trees lining areas of Baikal's sandy lakeside zones. Eroded by wind and rain, the stilted trunks appears as if they are striding out of the forest.
This blade of ice resembles the dorsal fin of a shark.
During winter, the lake's frozen surface is textured in places by fantastic ice shards and hummocks that look they've been sculptured by an ogre's hand.
This is the largest island in Lake Baikal.
This expression of spirituality manifests itself in the form of prayer flags or ribbons wrapped around trees or poles. Head for the highest points of the island to admire these colorful displays.
Olkhon is a favorite tourist destination and is served by a scattering of villages, several homestay options, a couple of good museums and shops, and plenty of outstanding scenery. Pictured is Shaman Rock, the ninth most sacred place in Asia.
The island's population consists mostly of Buryats, the indigenous people of Siberia. Adherents of shamanism, they believe the island to be a spiritual place.
The largest island in the Maloe More strait of Lake Baikal, Ogoy is reached by ferry during the summer months. In winter, a snowmobile, dog sled, or even a bicycle will do the trick.
Pictured is the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment, dedicated to Dakini Tröma Nagmo, built on the highest point of the island.
The lake boasts 2,000 km (1,242 mi) of protected coastline.
Lake Baikal's crystalline waters make it among the world's clearest. During the winter, in open sections, the water transparency can be as much as 30–40 m (100–130 ft), though considerably less so during the summer months.
Baikal was formed as an ancient rift valley, typified by its long, crescent shape. It ranks as the seventh-largest lake in the world by surface area.
Its dramatic formation dating back some 25-30 million years makes Baikal the oldest lake in the world.
Making the effort to reach the lake is rewarded any time of year. But brave the bitter Siberian winter months and be mesmerized by a glacial steel-hard surface that's etched with crevasses, bubbles, and fissures.
On clear moonlit winter nights, the frozen lake takes on an ethereal, almost unworldly appearance.
The lake is a wildlife haven. Rich in biodiversity, it hosts more than 1,000 species of plants and 2,500 species of animals, more than 80% of which are endemic.
Browse this gallery and find out more about the lake they call the "Pearl of Siberia."
The oldest, largest, and deepest lake in the world
Discover Lake Baikal, the "Pearl of Siberia"
TRAVEL Lakes
The planet's largest and deepest freshwater lake is also its oldest. In fact, Lake Baikal is unique. Its sapphire-blue waters are considered among the clearest found anywhere, and the destination's scenic beauty, rich biodiversity, and indigenous Buryat culture make this magnificent natural wonder truly deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage status.
Browse this gallery and find out more about the lake they call the "Pearl of Siberia."