Lake Baikal is the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume, located in Russia near the Mongolian border. It is the deepest and oldest lake and contains enough water to hydrate the global population for 50 years. The lake is on a continental rift zone and recedes 2 cm each year.
The crescent-shaped Lake Baikal, located in south-central Russia near the Mongolian border, is the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume of water. It is also the deepest and oldest lake in the world and arguably the clearest lake on Earth. Nicknamed “the Pearl of Siberia”, Lake Baikal is surrounded by mountains and sits on a continental rift zone between two plates of the Earth’s crust, which separate about 2.54 cm each year. Geology.com estimates the lake contains 5,521 cubic miles (23,013 cubic km) of water — enough potential drinking water to keep the global population hydrated for 50 years.
Facts about the Sacred Sea:
Some geophysicists say that Lake Baikal is an ocean in the process of being born. The shores of the lake — 49 miles (79 km) at its widest point — recede 0.78 inches (2 cm) each year.
Sometimes referred to as the Sacred Sea, the remote lake’s water volume is equivalent to that of all five of North America’s Great Lakes combined.
Scientists estimate that Lake Baikal has been around for at least 25 million years. During the summer, when the lake is filled with mountain snowmelt, you can see more than 130 feet (39 m) into its depths.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
