Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal, which is often called the sea, enters the six largest lakes in the world. This is the most beautiful lake of the planet Earth, striking the eyes of its greatness. It is located in central Asia, more precisely in the south of Eastern Siberia. Baikal belongs to the deepest lakes of the planet and is considered a significant reservoir of fresh water, created by nature. The rich flora and fauna of the lake and the coastal zone attracts hundreds of tourists each year. Interest is also caused by the very form of Baikal, which resembles a crescent moon.
Geography of the lake.
The length of Lake Baikal from north to south-west is 636 km. The water surface of the lake covers 31,722 km. sq., which is comparable with the size of some European countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium. The length of the coastline is 2,100 km. The width of the Baikal is not the same and varies between 27-80 km. The greatest depth of the lake was recorded in 1983 and amounted to 1642 m. The same data were confirmed in 2002 in the course of updating the bathymetric map of Lake Baikal. The deepest point of Baikal is located near. Olkhon, Cape Izhmey. On the average, the depth of Lake Baikal is 744.4 m.
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Panorama of the western shore of Lake Baikal
Baikal is located in a hollow, which is surrounded by ridges of mountains and hills. The shore in the western part of the lake is rocky with a lot of precipices, while the eastern part is distinguished by gentle slopes. In some places the shore is free from the mountain massif. The height of the Baikal water surface above sea level is 455.5 m, while the lowest point of the lake bottom is 1,186.5 m below the world ocean line. Thus, the pit in which Baikal is located is the deepest depression in the continent.
Volume and properties of water.
Baikal, being the deepest lake in the world, contains the largest reserve of fresh water, which accounts for 20% of the world water volume. This amount of water will be enough for all the inhabitants of the planet for 40 years. And the water in Lake Baikal is so pure that it can be used as distilled water. In its composition, there are practically no mineral salts and impurities of organic compounds, it is rich in oxygen.
Water in Lake Baikal warms up to + 8 ° С ... + 9 ° С, in some places up to + 15 ° С. In shallow coastal areas, during the warmest season, water can warm up to +22 ° C. Closer to the bottom, the water temperature does not exceed +4 ° C. Baikal is attractive to everyone, even the water in it is the most transparent. After the collapse of the ice, its transparency is 40 meters.
The origin of the lake and its seismic activity.
For many years, scientists of the world have been trying to unravel the mystery of the origin of Lake Baikal. It is believed that it appeared 25-30 million years ago as a result of the tectonic processes that took place at the end of the Cretaceous beginning of the Paleogene period of our planet's life. The lake is still in the active tectonic zone.
On the site of its location, the crust of the earth is still moving, resulting in earthquakes. Their strength, as a rule, does not exceed 4-5 points. The most severe earthquake in recent years was recorded in 1959 and was called the Middle Baikal. Its epicenter was located at the bottom of the lake near the village of Dry. The force of the pushes was 9 points. In Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude, shocks in 5-6 points were recorded, which led to the appearance of faults and cracks in the buildings.
The tributaries of the lake and its runoff.
Lake Baikal has 336 permanent tributaries. These are rivers and streams, the most significant of which are Selenga, Barguzin, Snezhnaya, Turka, Upper Angara, Sarma. The only Angara river flows from Baikal.
The presence of islands and peninsulas.
The lake has 27 islands. The largest of these is the Olkhon skeleton, the area of which is 730 km ². The largest peninsula is called the Holy Nose.
The climate of the lake.
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The western shore of Lake Baikal. Pad Krestovskaya. Source - http://nature.baikal.ru/
Lake Baikal is a significant climate-forming element of Siberia. The depression in which the lake and the basins lie, located between the mountains in different ways affect the formation of climate in the area. Baikal is involved in the formation of coastal climate. Winters in this area are softer, and in summer there is coolness. In the intermountain mountains, on the contrary, winters are cold, and in the summer air warms up. The greatest temperature rupture between the coast and intermontane depressions is observed in the autumn. During this period Baikal monsoons are formed, which carry streams of air from the mountains to the coast of Lake Baikal. Each of the winds that form in the Baikal region has its name. Cold, bringing autumn frost, the wind was called Sivka. The wind that blows along the lake basin from the valley is called the Angara. In addition to them there is Barguzin, Selenga, Shelonnik, Kultuk, Kharahaikh, Sarma.
Lake Baikal also has a long sunshine. The greatest amount of sunshine is 2,524 in the village of Bolshoye Goloustnoye. During the year there are only 37 sunny days.
