The deepest lake on Earth — 1,642 meters. 23,000 cubic kilometers of fresh water, one-fifth of world reserves. Baikal is 25 million years old.

When to Go

Winter (January-March) — transparent ice, ice caves. Summer (July-August) — swimming, trekking. Autumn — golden larches, fewer tourists.

What to Do

Olkhon Island — heart of Baikal. Cape Burkhan, Shaman Rock, Cape Khoboy.

Circum-Baikal Railway — 84 km along shore, 39 tunnels.

Baikal omul — endemic fish, only here. Smoked — a must.

Nerpa — only freshwater seal. Ushkany Islands.

How to Get There

Irkutsk — 6 hours from Moscow. To Listvyanka — 1 hour. To O...