Its waters are considered some of the cleanest, and the scenic beauty of the destination, its varied biodiversity and local culture make this magnificent natural wonder truly deserving of its status.

Baikal is 1642 m (5387 ft) deep, making it the deepest. The lake was inclided in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. Its "age" is even more impressive. It is said to date back to around 25-30 million years ago.

You may be wondering how this wonder of nature was formed? Baikal was formed as an ancient rift valley, characterized by its long crescent shape. It ranks as the seventh largest lake in the world by area.

Where exactly is it located? Lake Baikal is located in the southern part of Eastern Siberia, on the border between the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia. It is certainly worth the trip to go there and see the lake in its full glory.

And now we are back to its crystal clear water. In winter, in open areas, water transparency can reach up to 30–40 meters. Crazy, right?

Despite all the diversity the area offers, from dense forests to glaciers, it also has islands. The largest island is Olkhon, which is the third largest island in the world located in a lake.