Lake Baikal

In the midth of a thinly populated wildness
lies the foremost natural wonder - lake Baikal. It’s the oldest lake in the
world - its age is about 25-30 million years. Scientists estimated that more
than 1500 life forms live in and around this lake, which can be found nowhere
else on Earth. It’s the world's largest reservoir of drinking water. It occupies
the territory of 12000 m² and 400 km long. It contains 1/6 of fresh
water found on the planet and in spite of the vast pollution by the nearby
industry the most of it still remains unspoilt. About 30 uninhabited isles are
scattered throughout the  lake.

Most of the coastline lies in an
environmentally protected area.

The most numerous of the indigenous people
are Buryats. They has been living here from untold centuries, even before
Yanguis Khan swept through during the early XIII century.

A feeling of tranquillity settles over the
coastal village in long summer afternoons. A vehicle driving along the
village’s mainstreet is a rare sight. A motorcycle with a sidecar is the most
popular civil transport; and a passenger car still remains an object of curiosity
for children.

The area’s largest city is Ulan-Ude which
was first established by the Russians as an outpost for tzar’s tax collectors
during Russia’s Eastward expansion in the XVI and XVII centuries. It lies in
the border area between the Siberian forests and the grassy steppes.

It’s an average Siberian town without much
distinction, except for a strange fancy relict in the main square. The world’s
biggest head of  Vladimir Lenin has more than 25 feet tall and it is ironically
said by rumour that it was inspired by the head of Buddha that was located in
Ulan-Ude before the Soviet takeover. And now although most of Soviet monuments
have been dismantled this one is going to stay because the locals became quite
fond of it.

Alexander V. Myskin, gr.
2o1.