Lake Baikal, translated from the Turkic language "Rich Lake", is located in the southern part of Eastern Siberia within the Republic of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region of Russia. In the lake, which is known as the "Galapagos of Russia", thanks to its ancient age and isolation, a freshwater ecosystem, unique even by world standards, was formed, the study of which is of enduring importance for understanding the evolution of life on Earth.

It is the oldest existing freshwater lake on Earth (20 to 25 million years old) and the deepest continental body of water with a maximum depth of 5,315 feet (1,620 meters). It covers an area of ​​about 12,200 square miles (31,500 square kilometers), a length of 395 miles (636 km), and an average width of 30 miles (48 km). It is also the largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, containing about one-fifth of the fresh water on the Earth's surface, about 5,500 cubic miles (23,000 cubic km).

More than 330 rivers and streams flow into Baikal, and only one flows out - the Angara. There are about 20 islands on the lake, the largest of which is Olkhon. On average, the sun shines on Lake Baikal 2,200 hours a year. That's over 180 days - half of all days in the year.

You can get to Lake Baikal from Moscow by plane or train. Direct flights are available with Irkutsk (Irkutsk airport - 60 km from Baikal) and Ulan-Ude (Baikal airport - 75 km from Baikal). The flight to these cities will take about 6 hours. By rail, the train takes about 4 days.

2016 marked the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of Lake Baikal in the World Natural Heritage List. It happened on December 5, 1996 by the decision of the 20th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.