Liqeni Baikal. Më i thelli në botë me 1,642 metër, si pikën më fundore. Me sipërfaqe më të madhe se disa shtete të Evropës (31,722 km2), gjatë dimrit në këtë liqen sheh pamje spektakolare. Sipërfaqja e liqenit ngrin për milje të tëra. Shtresat e akullit në disa vende janë aq të trasha saqë mund të ecësh me makinë në liqen.
Oled Boldyrev ka shkrepur disa foto me të vërtetë mahnitëse, të përcjella në BBC.
The giant lake creates its own climate – and winter around Baikal normally starts later than elsewhere in eastern Siberia. In late December, the lake finally freezes over – but there is very little snow until mid-January. Olkhon, the largest island in the lake, is a popular tourist destination, when Covid restrictions allow. Soon, the ice is thick enough to walk on – and even for some lighter cars to drive. In February, the ice road from the mainland to Olkhon Island opens for a short period, depending on the thickness. Images of the ice have drawn lots of interest on social networks. A bike with studded tyres is one of the ways to explore this frozen expanse. The lake offers many miles of perfectly smooth ice. First-time visitors may be taken aback by the massive booms and cracks as it expands and contracts, in the daytime. This is normal, locals say, but watch out for larger openings. The ice is never still. Massive pressure causes ruptures and elaborate combinations of paper-thin and rock-heavy layers protrude from the surface. On the rocky shore, winter creates elaborate ice sculptures of its own.
