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[peacefrog]

I plan so stopover in Irkustk for a few days, if you have suggestions about things not to be missed...

[peacefrog]

Hi smiley
I know there are plenty beautiful places in Russia, but I have to make choices, and my choice is to see Lake Baikal. Would you go to Paris and not go to see the Eiffel Tower? Well, seen from here, lake Baikal is the must see in Siberia.

By the way, what is PR?

Thanks

[technotrekker]

Lake Baikal was very nice when I was there a few months ago and reckon it would be great in summer too. Definitely stop there for a few days...

Have fun,
TT

ps: PR = 'Public Relations' and can be taken as publicity/promotions as a wider definition.

[peacefrog]

got it, thanks.

Tell me TT, would you recommend crossing the lake and continuing the train on the other side, or taking the train from irkutsk along the southern shore?

[technotrekker]

Is it still an option to cross and take that different line? I thought it was discontinued or at best a very restricted service...

If you can still go up it you would be heading into serıous Sıberian wılderness so not sure how exciting it would be. Even on the main lıne when you do a long stretch the countrysıde wıll look exactly the same each mornıng when you wake up! Trees, trees and more treeees!

What I would be very ınterested to do ıs go dırectly north on the traın from Moscow to Murmansk - well beyond the Arctic Circle. Northern lights and vodka nights - yikes!

[peacefrog]

TT: ok, I'll check out and decide when I arrive there.

Smiley, thanks for the advice. Actually, when on foot I am not able to say "no I won't drink" , so I guess I'll just end up slipping under the table

[Vilka]

I plan so stopover in Irkustk for a few days, if you have suggestions about things not to be missed...

You could read this great Baikal lake travel review.

Hope I help you some

[baikaleast]

Winter is a special season, when everybody wants to go to the Baikal. Winter travel to unforgettable places on the Baikal will not cheat your expectations and will give you real Siberian fairy tale, make you warm in the winter frost by the unprecedented beauty of this place.
To see the lake in winter time can bring event more pleasure then in summer. Dazzling winter sun, wide open spaces of the cleanest Baikal ice, in which you can see the dark deep lake, fantastic ice mounds, magic landscapes of winter Baikal, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges and the snow-covered Taiga remind the decorations of the fairy tale. You will get acquainted with the unique Baikal region, where life and the traditional cultures remain relatively unspoilt, where you will have a chance to be warmly greeted by local famillies.
Moreover, you will have a chance to uncover Ulan Ude, the charming capital of Buryatia Republic, the most important center of Buddhism in Russia - Ivolginsky Datsan.
This is the mysterious world of the deepest lake on our planet, which you can capture through inspirational, evocative photography.

More information: juliana1985@mail.ru
Skype: Baikaleast
ICQ: 428696935

[baikaleast]

Dear friends,

I know 5 reason to go to Lake Baikal. Do you any other ideas?

1. Baikal is the deepest (1637 m) freshwater lake in the world

Among lakes of the world Lake Baikal is at the first place on depth. On the Earth only 6 lakes have the depth more than 500 m. The greatest mark of depth in the southern hollow of Baikal is 1430 m, in the middle - 1637 m, in the northern - 920 m. The bottom of the lake lies 1,285 m below sea level, and is the deepest continental rift on the earth (12977 m). For reference, the deepest point in the Marianas Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean is 11,021 m

2. Baikal is the oldest (25 million years) freshwater lake in the world

Geologists believe that the Baikal has already been in existence in late Palaeogene. Its origination started not less than 25-30 million years ago. In contrast the second oldest lake in China is only 5 million years old and Lake Tahoe is a mere 10,000 years old. Scientists are still debating about the lake's origin. Some are trying to prove that it emerged as a result of tectonic processes of orogenesis, while others consider it as having been formed as a result of the earth's crust gradually subsiding. So far nobody has been proved right point of view.

3. Lake Baikal contains 20% of the world surface unfrozen fresh water

Baikal is in itself the only well of the planet, holding up to 20% of all the world`s unfrozen fresh water (up to 80% of all the fresh water in the Russian federation). In Baikal there are 23.6 thousand cubic milliliters of water, and Baikal water is exceptionally pure. The lake acts as a powerful generator and biofilter producing this water.

4. 70% of flora and fauna of the lake can be found in the area of Baikal only

Lake Baikal is one of the richest out of all the lakes on the planet. According to the latest data Baikal holds 2570 types and subtypes of animals out of which a minimum 56% are endemic (O.A. Timoshkin);More than 2630 types and varieties of animals (1550) and plants (1085), found up nowadays in the lake, almost 2/3 are endemic, have appeared in the lake and are nowhere else to be found on the planet (B.B. Takhteev).

5. Lake Baikal is the cradle for many nations and the home for many cultures

The Siberian inland sea has played a vital role in the historical past of peoples of Asia. According to the archeologists, at different times here many tribes and ethnic groups of different cultures have lived. There are Hunnu, Turks and Mongolian tribes, the ancient Korean, American Indians etc. Up to this day on Lake Baikal there are three major ethnic groups: Evenks, Buryats and Russians. But the ancient culture of Evenk and Buryat people with their holy attitude to the nature, traditional shamanism and unique spiritual songs used to be the dominant at the lake for many centuries until Russian colonization in 17th century. Simply said, centuries of independent life in wild nature have made Siberian Russians reliable, strong, traditional, and nature-respecting. These people differ from central Russians and are respected much in Russia.

[starlagurl]

That's all interesting, but is this actually true?

Lake Baikal contains 20% of the world surface unfrozen fresh water

The whole entire country of Canada has only 7% of the world's fresh water... that's a LOT of fresh water in Lake Baikal...

[baikaleast]

If your time is limited, and you plan only a short stop in the Lake Baikal region, but you want your time to be well spent and you want to discover something new, visit interesting places, experience new things...

I would like recommend you some possibilities for the interesting excursions:

Excursion to the Ivolginskij Tempel (40 km from Ulan-Ude)
This is a unique Buddhist temple complex widely known abroad Russia. Most of the guests who visit Republic of Buryatia seek to visit this temple surrounded with a picturesque neighborhood. Here you will learn the history of how Buddhism penetrated into Russia, will find out about the Dashi Tchojkhorling Institute. The name means "wheel of learning, which brings happiness". Here future lamas, healers and specialists in Oriental and Tibetan culture study. You can visit an actrologer or a specialist in Tibetan medicine. And on festive days you may get a chance to see the imperishable unique body of Pandido-Khambo Lama Dashi Dorjo Itigelov.

Acquaintance with the capital of Buryatia – Ulan-Ude.
During the excursion you will learn the history of the city that once was a small winter village on the steep bank of the Uda River and then grew into a prominent city of merchants Verkhneudinsk. Old merchants' villas built in the 18th and 19th centuries, Odigitrievski Cathedral constructed in the style of “Siberian baroque”, a striking Soviet square and the biggest sculptured head of Lenin, a unique Opera and Ballet theatre, numerous museums, all this together with harmoniously interwoven Western and Eastern traditions will leave indelible impressions.

Acquaintance with the village of Old Believers.
During the visit to an authentic village of Old Believers (“semeiskie”) in the Baikal region you will about the culture of Old Believers which is included into UNESCO world heritage. You will learn about customs and traditions of the “semeiskie” people, will hear unique ancient folk songs, take part in traditional games and joyful dances. You will learn the facts about how a traditional house of Old Believers is built and will get acquainted with its household objects the history of which dates back to ancient times. And of course no one will be left indifferent with the richly laid table: Russian borshch, boild potatoes fried with lard, mushrooms in marinade, vegetable salads, berry pies, home-made kvass.

Acquaintance with the Buryat village.
It is a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the way of life of the nomad Buryats and dive into their traditions, culture and everyday life. A yurta is settled in one of the most picturesque places in the neighborhoud of Ulan-Ude where the hosts meet guests with a greeting song. Getting inside the yurta guests learn about household objects and take their seats in accord with a tradition. In this cozy, warm atmosphere the hosts treat the guests with the dishes made by the same recipes that were used during Genghis Khan time. The meal is accompanied with telling Buryat folk legends, demonstration of a unique in its kind throat singing, slow Buryat songs and dances. The guests are offered to take part in a Buryat folk dance Jokhor and get acquainted with some traditional folk games: archery, fight, Shage game (dice).

Excursion to the Selenga River Delta.
The Delta of the Selenga River is the most beautiful and picturesque place where the river joins to the huge amounts of water of the Lake Baikal. Also it is a key ornithological territory of Eastern Siberia. You will explore numerous channels, see islands where rare species of waterfowl and semi-aquatic birds nest, visit the oldest lighthouse in Baikal region and the boarder of the Kabansky nature reserve. You will also try dishes of the traditional Baikal cuisine and just enjoy the harmony of untouched nature.

One day at Baikal.
For those who don't have much time during the trip to our region but for who missing a visit to one of the most admirable lakes in the world would be something inexcusable I offer to discover the sacred Siberian Sea taking a one-day trip to the banks of Baikal. Picturesque landscapes, heady fresh air, captivating facts that the guide will tell about unique Baikal nature, history and traditions of the people living on the ancient Baikal land for centuries and the traditional Baikal cuisine, all this will let you proudly say «Yes, I did visit the lake Baikal!»

Kyakhta – Eastern Gates of the Great China Way.
Kyakhta is an old merchants' town Kyakhta (used to be Troitskosavsk) which once was one of the most important transit points of the Great Tea Way. During the excursion you will get acquainted with unique Siberian architecture of the Kyakhtinskaya Sloboda settlement, hear fascinating facts about the history of the region's developing, commercial relations between the two great empires – Russian and Chinese, about the époque of geographic discoveries in Central Asia. You can visit the Kyakhtinski Museum of Regional Studies named after academician V.A. Obruchev which is the oldest museum in Siberia and is rightly called "miniature of the Hermitage".

Merkitskaya Fortress (Tugnujskaya Valley).
Travelling along a fascinating route to the Tugnujskaya Valley (120 km from Ulan-Ude) you will see a natural outpost of militant Merkits – Tugnujskie columns, the sacred apricot grove of Genghis Khan, ruins of a defensive barrage dating back to the époque of the Huns, a unique natural monument Taban-khurgan (the Five Fingers), mysterious caves with well-preserved petroglyphs, the Bain-Khan Mount which is one of the greatest mounts in Asia, and you will hear many captivating legends and stories about the first campaigns of Genghis Khan.

Buddhist Relics of Buryatia – Buddhist Temples.
In the Republic of Buryatia you can visit the main Buddhist temples and sacred places: Ivolginskij Dazan – the center of Buddhism in the Russian Federation where one of the Buddhist miracles is situated - the imperishable body of Pandido-Khambo Lama Dashi Dorjo Itigelov, Tamchinskij and Murochinskij Datsans – the oldest Buddhist temples in Russia that once used to be the biggest centers of Buddhist philosophic education. If you wish, it is possible to visit an astrologer lama or a specialist in Tibetan medicine.

Old Circum-Baiakl railroad.
This is a fascinating excursion along the Circum-Baiakl railroad – a giant historic and architectural, engineering and landscape site where tunnels, drainage systems, retaining walls have been well preserved for a century at the length of 85 km. And all this stands at the background of capes and cliffs of the picturesque Baikal bank. On your wish it is possible to organize a walking tour as well as an excursion ride in a comfortable railway bus (a cabin of a one-carriage diesel train with first-class seats). During the whole way you will hear an interesting story told by the guide about the history of Circum-Baikal railroad building. During the trip a few stops are provided in the most interesting and beautiful places, your can go out of the carriage accompanied by the guide.

"The Heart of Baikal" – the Olkhon Island.
The Island of Olkhon is not only the biggest isle in the lake Baikal, it is also the heart of Baikal, its geographic, historic and sacral center, the mysterious beauty of which attracts people from all the corners of the world since ancient times. An excursion to the Olkhon Island (270 km from Irkutsk) is a good chance to plunge into the world of legends and traditions, enjoy on your way the great landscapes of the sacred Tazheranskaya Steppe and the Small Sea bay, to see one of the nine sacred places of Asia – the famous Shamanka Rock (Burkhan Cape) and the settlements of the ancient civilization of Khurykan, to visit religious places of shamans – Khoboi Cape (the northern end of the isle), marble cape of Sagan-Khushun, the healing lake of Yalginskoe and the lake of Shara-Nur, to get acquainted with the traditional lifestyle of the local people. And all this you will be able to do for a limited amount of time. On your wish it is possible to organize the excursion on land-rovers (UAZ), mountain bikes, horses as well as on foot.

Tunkinskaya Valley + the Arshan Resort.
It is an amazing place where you can not only enjoy miraculous landscapes of the Tunkinsky Alps of the Baikal region, but also restore your strength at the mineral waters of the Arshan Resort. These mineral springs are known for their healing qualities, they are helpful for cardiovascular disorders, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. The surroundings of the resort are very picturesque. You will see the most famous and interesting places like the sacred place of shamans "Takhmi-Baryaasha" (Tabacco Giving), one of the oldest resorts in Buryatia "Nilova Pustyn", a Buddhist temple "Burkhan-Baabaj". You will be able to take a fascinating walk to the gorge of the mountain river Kyngarga, the bottom of which is paved by Nature with water polished marble, will see a powerful waterfall 6 meters high at the falling edge of which there is a bridge. There are 12 waterfalls on the Kyngarga River. On your wish it is possible to have an interesting horse-ride along a picturesque valley of the Irkut River.

Trekking to the Cherski Peak.
You can take a short trekking-tour to the natural park "The Cherski Peak" and climb up the mountain with the same name (2,090 meters). This fascinating route will let you learn how to cross numerous rivers, you will see picturesque landscapes of the famous mountain chain Khamar-Daban, mountain lakes, the most beautiful waterfalls, you will visit the Starokomarskaya road – the ancient caravan way from Russia to Mongolia and China. And the views of the vast Baikal lands which you can see from this height will let even an amateur mountaineer feel a real winner, a conqueror of the mountain peaks.

Yours faithfully,
Julia

[manzara]

Baikal: the very name fills Russian hearts with awe. And it is starting to attract pioneering tourists looking for an extreme wilderness experience.

Does Baikal appeal to you as a possible destination? Ever been anywhere similar - cold and remote?

Lake Baikal

[sibways]

My question is: would I be nuts to do this?
It's 40 below zero and dark most of the day, isn't it?

hi, you wouldn't be nuts. That's ok to go by train in winter especially if you have accomodation booked. hospitalityclub.org is for the help.
I'd add that the winter is just nice in Siberia. And no mosquitos

[sibways]

It does ! I don't mind "it's starting"... Tourists visit the lake's surroundings from very old times. I'd add that Baykal gives the possibility to visit not only the shore but closest tayga with bears, rivers, and beautiful peaks. Now Round-Baykal trails is made by volunteers but the guide still needed to go aside.