Dazzling Turquoise Ice Sculptures Form In Russia’s Lake Baikal In Winter
In eastern Siberia, Russia lies Lake Baikal, a majestic lake that holds more wonders than the eye could see.
Lake Baikal is known as one of the biggest and deepest lakes on Earth, holding an astounding 20% of all the world’s freshwater. The water is so pure, you can clearly see up to 130 feet below you, especially in winter when the lake completely freezes over.
A stunning natural phenomenon occurs in the Lake each year during March. Shifts in temperatures, wind, frost, and sunlight cause the frozen lake to crack, forming gigantic shards of turquoise ice that would remind you a lot of the Fortress of Solitude in Superman. This phenomenon is caused by slow, unequal pressure-packed within the body of the ice, and is a sight that photographers would journey long and hard just to capture.
Apart from these impressive features, Lake Baikal is also the oldest lake in the world at 20 to 25 million years old. It also contains more than 1,700 plants and animals, 80% of which can be found only in the area and nowhere else in the world.
