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Lake - Freshwater
Fish of the Lake Baikal
The oldest, deepest, and most voluminous freshwater lake on Earth - a 25-million-year-old rift lake in Siberia with 2,500+ endemic species.
Continent: Asia Area: 31,722 km² Max Depth: 1,642m Climate: Temperate
📖 Overview
Lake Baikal is a freshwater ocean. At 25 million years old, it is the oldest lake on Earth. Its 1,642-meter depth exceeds the height of six Empire State Buildings stacked. It holds 20% of the worlds unfrozen surface freshwater. Baikal is famous for its freshwater seal (nerpa), omul (endemic whitefish), and golomyanka - an oil-rich pelagic fish that gives birth to live young. The lakes ecosystem is under threat from tourism development and industrial pollution.
🐟 Notable Species
Baikal seal (nerpa - only freshwater seal in the world), omul, golomyanka (translucent viviparous fish), Baikal grayling, taimen.
🔗 Nearby & Similar Regions