How did seals get to Lake Baikal?
How did seals get to Lake Baikal? The ringed seals is considered the ancestor of the Baikal seal, and are thought to have reached the lake by traveling up the river system and drainage that runs from the lake to the Arctic Ocean some 400,000 years ago during the Pleistocene.
How did seals get to Lake Baikal?
The ringed seals is considered the ancestor of the Baikal seal, and are thought to have reached the lake by traveling up the river system and drainage that runs from the lake to the Arctic Ocean some 400,000 years ago during the Pleistocene.
Why are Baikal seal eyes so big?
Their large eyes are thought to be an adaptation to help them to forage for these fish deep in the water and they can dive up to 100m to hunt. The seals can still use eyesight to hunt even at depth, since sunlight can penetrate much deeper through the clear waters of Lake Baikal.
Why is Lake Baikal so deep?
Lake Baikal is so deep because it is located in an active continental rift zone. The rift zone is widening at a rate of about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) per year. As the rift grows wider, it also grows deeper through subsidence. So, Lake Baikal could grow wider and deeper in the future.
Can you swim in Lake Baikal?
Not only is Lake Baikal safe to swim in, but it also boasts some of the purest water in the world. The only drawback is the temperature - even during the warmer months, a dip in the lake is pretty invigorating.
What is the shallowest lake in the United States?
Lake Erie. The fourth largest out of the five Great lakes, Erie is also the shallowest and the smallest in volume. In terms of surface area, Erie takes thirteenth place in the world. Niagara River is its biggest natural outflow, providing a huge amount of hydroelectric power to both the United States and Canada.