What rare species are in Lake Baikal?

Lake Baikal is home to several endangered species, including the Baikal seal, the world's only freshwater seal, and the omul fish, which is an important food source for the local population. In 1996, Lake Baikal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its exceptional value and importance for conservation.



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The largest species is the Siberian sturgeon, which sometimes measures more than 6 1/2 feet (2 meters) long. The only mammal is the Baikal seal. The first hydrothermal vents, or hot-water springs, ever discovered in a freshwater lake were found at the bottom of Lake Baikal in 1990.

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Not only is Lake Baikal safe to swim in, but it also boasts some of the purest water in the world. The only drawback is the temperature - even during the warmer months, a dip in the lake is pretty invigorating.

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Situated in south-east Siberia, the 3.15-million-ha Lake Baikal is the oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1,700 m) lake in the world. It contains 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve.

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Only 20 lakes, worldwide, are ancient: more than 1 million years old. Lake Baikal is not only Earth's oldest lake, at 25–30 million years of age, but also the largest, and the one with the most potential for revealing new discoveries at the frontiers of astroparticle physics.

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The Blue Lake, New Zealand This lake on New Zealand's South Island is the clearest lake in the world, according to science.

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Roopkund (locally known as Mystery Lake or Skeleton Lake) is a high altitude glacial lake in the Uttarakhand state of India. It lies in the lap of Trishul massif.

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Micropterus salmoides. Largemouth bass are top predators in freshwater lakes and rivers. The effects of their presence (or absence) can cascade throughout the ecosystem.

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The ancestors of cottoid fish emerged in the Far-Eastern seas of Russia. During the Miocene, about 20 million years ago, they began to invade rivers, adapting to life in fresh water. Moving down the rivers, they ended up in Lake Baikal, first in its shallow waters, then in deep waters and the water column.

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