What animals live in Lake Baikal?

What animals live in Lake Baikal? Unique Wildlife Among these interesting creatures are the Baikal omul fish, Baikal oil fish and most notably, the Baikal seal or nerpa as they are called in Russian. This is one of the only seal species to live entirely in fresh water.

How deep is the bottom of Lake Baikal?

The bottom of the lake is 1,186.5 m (3,893 ft; 648.8 fathoms) below sea level, but below this lies some 7 km (4.3 mi) of sediment, placing the rift floor some 8–11 km (5.0–6.8 mi) below the surface, the deepest continental rift on Earth.

What is the oldest lake in the world?

Situated in south-east Siberia, the 3.15-million-ha Lake Baikal is the oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1,700 m) lake in the world. It contains 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve.

Why is Lake Baikal so clean?

Each Epischura is no bigger than a poppyseed, but there are zillions floating through Baikal, which together form an incredibly efficient filtration system. They suck tiny scraps of food out of the lake, and along with them any specks of pollution they encounter. It's the Epischura that keep Baikal's water so pure.

What is the top predator in a lake?

Micropterus salmoides. Largemouth bass are top predators in freshwater lakes and rivers. The effects of their presence (or absence) can cascade throughout the ecosystem.

Are there any predators in Lake Baikal?

The world's deepest ancient lake, Lake Baikal in Russia, has a diverse endemic fauna, including Baikal seals Pusa sibirica, the apex predator of the lake and the only pinniped species inhabiting exclusively freshwater systems.

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.

What unique animal exists only in Lake Baikal?

The Baikal seal is endemic to Lake Baikal. Lake Baikal is rich in biodiversity.

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.

Is Lake Baikal drinkable?

Baikal is one of the few lakes on the planet in which, according to the standards, it is allowed to take water for drinking from open reservoirs. Water is extracted from special layers of the lake, which were on the surface of the lake hundreds of years ago, from a depth of 400m.

Can you walk on Lake Baikal?

When walking on Lake Baikal in winter, you might feel like you are walking on air. The translucent ice covering all 31,722 square kilometers is a popular and beautiful mode of transportation, from walking trails to ice highways.

What is the largest animal in Lake Baikal?

The largest species is the Siberian sturgeon, which sometimes measures more than 6 ¹/₂ feet (2 meters) long. The only mammal is the Baikal seal. The first hydrothermal vents, or hot-water springs, ever discovered in a freshwater lake were found at the bottom of Lake Baikal in 1990.

How deep is the deepest lake?

Lake Baikal, Siberia Not only is Lake Baikal the deepest lake in the world, clocking in at 5,387 feet (1,642 meters) deep, it's also the world's oldest lake, and its largest lake by volume of water. Lake Baikal is around 25 million years old and roughly the size of Belgium.