Located in the eastern part of Siberia, Russia, Lake Baikal holds the title of the world's deepest lake, up to 5,315 feet deep.
According to the UNESCO World Heritage Foundation, it is one of the oldest freshwater lakes on the planet and boasts a history of 205 million years.
UNESCO describes it as the “Galapagos of Russia.” Due to its unique age and geographical isolation, it boasts one of the world's most unusual and diverse freshwater faunas.
During the harsh Siberian temperatures of winter, it freezes completely, and its enormous surface area spans roughly the same as Belgium at about 34,000 square kilometers or 13,000 square miles.
The lake is believed to be home to Baikalsir in Russia, or Nerpa in Russia, for about two million years. This is the only freshwater sticker in the world.
According to UNESCO, lake wildlife has many unique features, including around 2,500 species and subspecies, many of which cannot be found elsewhere.
These include Goromyanka, translucent oil-rich fish, Omoor fish, Baical sturgeon, and microscopic epishuraplankton that keeps the water clear.
The land surrounding the lake is known to be home to brown bears, lynxes and migratory birds.
Over the past decade, Russia's biggest tourist attractions have skyrocketed from hundreds of thousands to nearly two million visitors in 2019, according to CNN.
In the summer, tourists enjoy hiking, boating and wildlife monitoring, while in the winter they offer ice skating, dog sledge, driving, and driving on frozen lakes.
The village of Lisvinca, Orkhon Island, and Lisvinca, are top attractions, introducing the local culture and natural beauty.
However, locals are increasingly worried that the lake is becoming increasingly popular and fear that waste from visitors is polluting the water.
Scientists have also expressed concern over deforestation caused by state-approved projects in the region regarding the impact of climate change on the lake's sensitive ecosystems.
