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BAIKAL LAKE RUSIA |
Known as 'The Pearl OF Rusia',
The deepest lake with deep mysteries of the world.
This lake is truly one of the world most amazing, remote lakes. It's packed of mysteries both natural majestic beauty and supernatural. Ancient,awe inspiring, are words fit to Russia's Lake Baikal perfectly, like no other place on earth. It's situated along the Trans-Siberian route, and IF YOU DON'T STOP at Baikal, travelling 5000 km with train and just bypassing this lake,you'll regret for the rest of your life !
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HOW TO GET THERE The three main points of access to Baikal are Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude cities and Slyudyanka settlement. You can get to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude by plane, train (Trans-Siberian), or bus. Slyudyanka is a stop along the Trans-Siberian also, and you get get there by bus from Irkutsk too. There's also Baikalsk on the eastern shore of Baikal lake, but fewer trains stop there, and it is of no interest. From Irkutsk you can either go to Lisvyanka (popular village, which is the closest place on Baikal (65 km - around 1.5 hours by bus or car), Olkhon island (which is complete wilderness, but with all the comforts - 250 km - about 7 hours by bus or car), Port Baikal (to start the Circum Baikal railway) - next to Listvyanka, or to Slyudyanka (which is slightly further, but is a good point to explore Circum Baikal). Some river transport can take you for a day trips to one of the bays further North from Listvyanka. From Ulan-Ude, the first place on Baikal you will most probably get to from is Gremyachinsk settlement (250 km - 3-4 hours by car or bus). It is a great place, and from there you can start your own exploration. We highly recommend to move on to Goryachinsk (1 hour from Gremyachinsk) after a few days (great beaches, perfect for camping, there's also a spa curort, so you can get a room for about $5/night if there's one). If you ever thought about going to the end of the world, then continue your way from Ust-Barguzin to Svyatoy Nos peninsula, which is a wild tourist's mecca. There are buses along all the way up to Ust-Barguzin. |
Traveling to Russia by Plane
This is the fastest way to get there. There are regular flights between the major Russian cities (such as Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok, etc.) and Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude, which are located within a close reach to Baikal lake (Irkutsk: 65 km, Ulan-Ude: 250 km).
Normally, a one-way flight Moscow - Irkutsk would cost you about 4000-8000 R ($100-$200 US), a return flight is twice more expensive. The trip Moscow - Irkutsk takes about 6 hours. Aeroflot Airlines and Sibir Airlines have a few flights every day.
It is slightly more expensive than taking a train, but the train is more interesting in the way, that you get the opportunity to really "feel" the distance (5000km!), enjoy the landscape, meet different people, and to be able to say that you traveled overland 1/4 of the world (well, that's including China).
We would recommend taking a plane if you are kind of in rush and prefer to have more time at Baikal, or if you plan to return to the West afterwards: in this case, you can take a plane in one direction, and then — a train in the other direction (we prefer getting there by train - to "assimilate", and getting back by plane).
Getting to/from Irkutsk: All planes arrive in the main Irkutsk airport, which is strangely enough located inside the city. So, after you arrive it will really be a short way to the center of the city: about 15-20 minutes by taxi (100 to 200R = $3-$8 US), and 30-50 minutes by bus (10-20 R $0.5).
We recommend you to spend about 1-2 days in the city, and then move on to Baikal.
Getting to/from Ulan-Ude:
There's a regular air service between Moscow and Ulan-Ude. All planes arrive in Ulan-Ude main airport, and you can get to the center of the city by taxi or bus.
You can spend a few days in Ulan-Ude to see the Buddhist Datsan,
Ethnographic and History Museums, and then make your way to Baikal. The eastern side of Baikal (accessed from Ulan-Ude) is not so "commercialized" as the Western part, even though it is completely accessible overland (unlike the Irkutsk part - because of the mountains), and offers great possibilities of homestays with locals and camping (but don't expect any hotels).
This is the fastest way to get there. There are regular flights between the major Russian cities (such as Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok, etc.) and Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude, which are located within a close reach to Baikal lake (Irkutsk: 65 km, Ulan-Ude: 250 km).
Normally, a one-way flight Moscow - Irkutsk would cost you about 4000-8000 R ($100-$200 US), a return flight is twice more expensive. The trip Moscow - Irkutsk takes about 6 hours. Aeroflot Airlines and Sibir Airlines have a few flights every day.
It is slightly more expensive than taking a train, but the train is more interesting in the way, that you get the opportunity to really "feel" the distance (5000km!), enjoy the landscape, meet different people, and to be able to say that you traveled overland 1/4 of the world (well, that's including China).
We would recommend taking a plane if you are kind of in rush and prefer to have more time at Baikal, or if you plan to return to the West afterwards: in this case, you can take a plane in one direction, and then — a train in the other direction (we prefer getting there by train - to "assimilate", and getting back by plane).
Getting to/from Irkutsk: All planes arrive in the main Irkutsk airport, which is strangely enough located inside the city. So, after you arrive it will really be a short way to the center of the city: about 15-20 minutes by taxi (100 to 200R = $3-$8 US), and 30-50 minutes by bus (10-20 R $0.5).
We recommend you to spend about 1-2 days in the city, and then move on to Baikal.
Getting to/from Ulan-Ude:
There's a regular air service between Moscow and Ulan-Ude. All planes arrive in Ulan-Ude main airport, and you can get to the center of the city by taxi or bus.
You can spend a few days in Ulan-Ude to see the Buddhist Datsan,
Ethnographic and History Museums, and then make your way to Baikal. The eastern side of Baikal (accessed from Ulan-Ude) is not so "commercialized" as the Western part, even though it is completely accessible overland (unlike the Irkutsk part - because of the mountains), and offers great possibilities of homestays with locals and camping (but don't expect any hotels).
DIVE IN LAKE BAIKAL, THE DEEPEST MYSTERY
LAKES IN THE WORLD
Imagine traversing across a massive, frozen lake in a specially rigged van, rather than taking a dive boat to your destination. This is only the beginning of what is truly the best ice diving in the world. Siberia’s Lake Baikal is located 1,500 meters above sea level near the city of Irkutsk, with Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast. More than 25 million years old and containing approximately 20% of the world’s surface fresh water, the lake averages 744.4 meters deep and is 1,642 meters deep at its deepest point. The layer of silt at the bottom of the lake is estimated to be 7 kilometers deep. Incredibly, this marvel of nature is seismically active. Formed from a rift between two tectonic plates and shaped like a crescent, it is also known as the Pearl of Siberia. All you need to dive in this lake, which widens by a few centimeters annually, is an Open Water certificate and a taste for adventure.
A World Heritage Site
You might have been led to believe that Siberia is a frozen wasteland. While it is cold, and while the lake is frozen between January and May, there is life in abundance. With a surface area of 31,722 square kilometers, Lake Baikal is home to over 2,500 species of plants and animals, 80% of which are endemic. In 1996, it achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
While the rocky landscape and steep mountains that surround the lake are beautiful in their own right, the underwater world is incredible. Green Lubomirskia Baikalensis sponges which live in symbiosis with the algae that give them their color cling to the lake’s steep, rocky sides, and the 10 cm Acantho Gammaridae, which are a type of amphipods with spikes running up and down their backs and sides, are just one of the more than 250 amphipod species found here. Eighty percent of the lake’s fish population is Golomyanka, while the remainder includes sculpins, Omul salmon, grayling and sturgeon.
Lake Baikal shelters two thirds of the world’s lake seal population. The Nerpa, which are a type of earless seal most closely related to the Arctic Ringed Seal, number approximately 60,000. Once hunted for their fur, they are now protected and hunting is strictly regulated. During the depth of winter, they hide inside ice dens, but when the weather begins to warm in spring, they haul themselves out onto the ice. They are rarely seen in the water as they tend to hunt at night when the fish come closer to the surface.
Diving Lake Baikal in Winter
During the winter, the entire lake freezes. Under the ice, water temperatures reach to just below freezing, and topside temperatures range from -25° to 5°. Entrance to the dive site is made via a maine, or hole in the ice, usually after a quick snack and a fortifying shot of vodka. Topside tenders monitor divers via ropes, ensuring safety.
While the lake’s surface is flat and often windy, the underwater ice sculptures, or hummocks, are simply magnificent. With horizontal cuts and swirling shapes, they are translucent. Looking up, you can see the people and the vans on the surface, and looking out into the distance, visibility seems endless at nearly 100 meters. Deeper down, plankton causes slightly reduced visibility but still, the light from above penetrates.
When you finally exit the water, expect your suit to freeze instantly, then enjoy the Banya, which involves hot steam in a hut that has been towed out onto the icy surface. Once you have warmed up, a trip back out into the frigid air or a second plunge into the icy water makes all your senses sing. The best time for ice diving Lake Baikal is between March and April.
Diving in Summer and Spring
Most warm-weather dives are undertaken from shore or from a liveaboard boat, although there are two submarines, the Mir-1 and the Mir-2 that occasionally take travelers with them into the deepest reaches of the lake. Russian President Vladimir Putin was a notable guest onboard the Mir-1; even this accomplished outdoorsman was surprised by all he saw on the journey. Wearing thermal coveralls, divers and crew enjoy a four hour trip aboard these subs, which set a world record in 2008 for the deepest dive in a lake right here at Lake Baikal.
With summer water temperature at 4 to 18 degrees Celsius, divers still enjoy exceptional visibility. There are no facilities on shore, so for shore dives, you’ve got to kit up in the van and then climb across the rocks to get to the entry point. One popular site is located near the end of the Trans-Siberia Express, where a historic locomotive sits silent, 3,400 miles from Moscow.
Across the white sandy bottom, enormous boulders and a carpet of brilliant green sponges create a backdrop for the fish and other creatures which have come out of hibernation to create a tapestry of life which is completely the opposite of what you’ll see here on an ice dive.
There are several different dive sites at Lake Baikal, and depending on when you go, you may be able to visit more than a few of them. Ice diving often involves hours of driving, and if the maine has frozen over, it can take a few hours to reopen it. During the summer, boat dives around the lake’s 27 islands and near the mouths of the estimated 330 rivers that feed it are possible.
To get to Lake Baikal, you must first obtain a travel visa, after which you’ll fly to Moscow and connect to Irkutsk. Dive operators in the area offer seal safaris and technical diving, along with daily dives. Accommodations are rustic but comfortable, and the local cuisine is delicious. Be sure to visit the Baikal museum while you are here – you can get a close look at specimens taken from the lake and learn more about its incredible geology. Whether you visit in winter or summer, you are certain to enjoy an amazing experience.
LAKES IN THE WORLD
Imagine traversing across a massive, frozen lake in a specially rigged van, rather than taking a dive boat to your destination. This is only the beginning of what is truly the best ice diving in the world. Siberia’s Lake Baikal is located 1,500 meters above sea level near the city of Irkutsk, with Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast. More than 25 million years old and containing approximately 20% of the world’s surface fresh water, the lake averages 744.4 meters deep and is 1,642 meters deep at its deepest point. The layer of silt at the bottom of the lake is estimated to be 7 kilometers deep. Incredibly, this marvel of nature is seismically active. Formed from a rift between two tectonic plates and shaped like a crescent, it is also known as the Pearl of Siberia. All you need to dive in this lake, which widens by a few centimeters annually, is an Open Water certificate and a taste for adventure.
A World Heritage Site
You might have been led to believe that Siberia is a frozen wasteland. While it is cold, and while the lake is frozen between January and May, there is life in abundance. With a surface area of 31,722 square kilometers, Lake Baikal is home to over 2,500 species of plants and animals, 80% of which are endemic. In 1996, it achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
While the rocky landscape and steep mountains that surround the lake are beautiful in their own right, the underwater world is incredible. Green Lubomirskia Baikalensis sponges which live in symbiosis with the algae that give them their color cling to the lake’s steep, rocky sides, and the 10 cm Acantho Gammaridae, which are a type of amphipods with spikes running up and down their backs and sides, are just one of the more than 250 amphipod species found here. Eighty percent of the lake’s fish population is Golomyanka, while the remainder includes sculpins, Omul salmon, grayling and sturgeon.
Lake Baikal shelters two thirds of the world’s lake seal population. The Nerpa, which are a type of earless seal most closely related to the Arctic Ringed Seal, number approximately 60,000. Once hunted for their fur, they are now protected and hunting is strictly regulated. During the depth of winter, they hide inside ice dens, but when the weather begins to warm in spring, they haul themselves out onto the ice. They are rarely seen in the water as they tend to hunt at night when the fish come closer to the surface.
Diving Lake Baikal in Winter
During the winter, the entire lake freezes. Under the ice, water temperatures reach to just below freezing, and topside temperatures range from -25° to 5°. Entrance to the dive site is made via a maine, or hole in the ice, usually after a quick snack and a fortifying shot of vodka. Topside tenders monitor divers via ropes, ensuring safety.
While the lake’s surface is flat and often windy, the underwater ice sculptures, or hummocks, are simply magnificent. With horizontal cuts and swirling shapes, they are translucent. Looking up, you can see the people and the vans on the surface, and looking out into the distance, visibility seems endless at nearly 100 meters. Deeper down, plankton causes slightly reduced visibility but still, the light from above penetrates.
When you finally exit the water, expect your suit to freeze instantly, then enjoy the Banya, which involves hot steam in a hut that has been towed out onto the icy surface. Once you have warmed up, a trip back out into the frigid air or a second plunge into the icy water makes all your senses sing. The best time for ice diving Lake Baikal is between March and April.
Diving in Summer and Spring
Most warm-weather dives are undertaken from shore or from a liveaboard boat, although there are two submarines, the Mir-1 and the Mir-2 that occasionally take travelers with them into the deepest reaches of the lake. Russian President Vladimir Putin was a notable guest onboard the Mir-1; even this accomplished outdoorsman was surprised by all he saw on the journey. Wearing thermal coveralls, divers and crew enjoy a four hour trip aboard these subs, which set a world record in 2008 for the deepest dive in a lake right here at Lake Baikal.
With summer water temperature at 4 to 18 degrees Celsius, divers still enjoy exceptional visibility. There are no facilities on shore, so for shore dives, you’ve got to kit up in the van and then climb across the rocks to get to the entry point. One popular site is located near the end of the Trans-Siberia Express, where a historic locomotive sits silent, 3,400 miles from Moscow.
Across the white sandy bottom, enormous boulders and a carpet of brilliant green sponges create a backdrop for the fish and other creatures which have come out of hibernation to create a tapestry of life which is completely the opposite of what you’ll see here on an ice dive.
There are several different dive sites at Lake Baikal, and depending on when you go, you may be able to visit more than a few of them. Ice diving often involves hours of driving, and if the maine has frozen over, it can take a few hours to reopen it. During the summer, boat dives around the lake’s 27 islands and near the mouths of the estimated 330 rivers that feed it are possible.
To get to Lake Baikal, you must first obtain a travel visa, after which you’ll fly to Moscow and connect to Irkutsk. Dive operators in the area offer seal safaris and technical diving, along with daily dives. Accommodations are rustic but comfortable, and the local cuisine is delicious. Be sure to visit the Baikal museum while you are here – you can get a close look at specimens taken from the lake and learn more about its incredible geology. Whether you visit in winter or summer, you are certain to enjoy an amazing experience.
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Arkaim: This Mysterious Prehistoric City in Russia |
Arkaim: This Mysterious Prehistoric City in Russia
May Be Older Than Stonehenge
Apart from a unique historical monument of the Middle Bronze Age, Arkaim is known as one of the strongest “anomaly zones” in Russia. But when, why and by whom was this prehistoric site of unusual circles constructed?
Arkaim (Аркаим in Russian) is located north of the Russian borders with Kazakhstan, in the Southern Urals steppe. Several dates of construction have been proposed, however, the most dominant is the one suggesting the 17th century B.C.
It was in 1935 when a military aerial photography in Chelyabinsk, in the Southern Urals, revealed several unusual circles covering a region more than 640 km long.
Back then, no one could explain how they were constructed, and as a result it was considered a mystery. Based on this first official sighting of Arkaim, during 1960s scientists identified a complex of 17 fortresses.
At the same time a study on ancient peoples of the Eurasian steppe begun. In 1987, Arkaim was rediscovered under the guidance of archaeologist Gennadii Zdanovich, who was in charge of the excavation campaign.
Arkaim is the remnants of an ancient village that was fortified by two large stone circular walls. The circles of dwellings were separated by a street that had a central square in the center. The outside massive wall is 5,5 meters high and 5 meters wide with four gates. The city was burned to the ground, so the full extent of the remains is now becoming apparent.
However, archaeologists have unearthed pottery covered in swastikas, the symbol of life and eternity.Arkaim is also known as the “Swastika City” because, according to a theory, the shape of the dwellings around the square reminds that of a swastika, although with rounded arms. Moreover, it is referred as “Mandala City”, as the area is believed to be the region where the Aryan race resided.
Certain archaeoastronomers believe it was built with astronomical observation in mind, suggesting a connection with Stonehenge, however, this theory is not universally accepted. Local people have reported UFO sightings in the area while others believe in the positive energy of nearby Shamanka and Grachinaya Mountains.
Today, Arkaim is an archaeological site as well as a pilgrimage. Hundreds of people visit it every year and coat themselves with clay to treat skin diseases. According to local people, Arkaim is a sacred place. Up to now Arkaim, Stonehenge, and the Khazar city of Sarkel are only a few of the widely known historic settlements. However, even more interesting sites will hopefully be revealed in the near future.
May Be Older Than Stonehenge
Apart from a unique historical monument of the Middle Bronze Age, Arkaim is known as one of the strongest “anomaly zones” in Russia. But when, why and by whom was this prehistoric site of unusual circles constructed?
Arkaim (Аркаим in Russian) is located north of the Russian borders with Kazakhstan, in the Southern Urals steppe. Several dates of construction have been proposed, however, the most dominant is the one suggesting the 17th century B.C.
It was in 1935 when a military aerial photography in Chelyabinsk, in the Southern Urals, revealed several unusual circles covering a region more than 640 km long.
Back then, no one could explain how they were constructed, and as a result it was considered a mystery. Based on this first official sighting of Arkaim, during 1960s scientists identified a complex of 17 fortresses.
At the same time a study on ancient peoples of the Eurasian steppe begun. In 1987, Arkaim was rediscovered under the guidance of archaeologist Gennadii Zdanovich, who was in charge of the excavation campaign.
Arkaim is the remnants of an ancient village that was fortified by two large stone circular walls. The circles of dwellings were separated by a street that had a central square in the center. The outside massive wall is 5,5 meters high and 5 meters wide with four gates. The city was burned to the ground, so the full extent of the remains is now becoming apparent.
However, archaeologists have unearthed pottery covered in swastikas, the symbol of life and eternity.Arkaim is also known as the “Swastika City” because, according to a theory, the shape of the dwellings around the square reminds that of a swastika, although with rounded arms. Moreover, it is referred as “Mandala City”, as the area is believed to be the region where the Aryan race resided.
Certain archaeoastronomers believe it was built with astronomical observation in mind, suggesting a connection with Stonehenge, however, this theory is not universally accepted. Local people have reported UFO sightings in the area while others believe in the positive energy of nearby Shamanka and Grachinaya Mountains.
Today, Arkaim is an archaeological site as well as a pilgrimage. Hundreds of people visit it every year and coat themselves with clay to treat skin diseases. According to local people, Arkaim is a sacred place. Up to now Arkaim, Stonehenge, and the Khazar city of Sarkel are only a few of the widely known historic settlements. However, even more interesting sites will hopefully be revealed in the near future.
