RUSSIAN EMBASSY SCHOOL IN MADAGASCAR

PROJECT

« LAKE BAIKAL - RUSSIA'S NATIONAL TREASURE»

MADE BY DASHA ZAITSEVA (6TH FORM)

ANTANANARIVO-2014

Baikal is a unique creation of nature. The lake is located in the southern part of eastern Siberia within the republic of Buryatia and Irkutsk oblast (province) of Russia.

It is the oldest existing freshwater lake on Earth (25–30

million years old), as well as the deepest continental body of

water. Its maximum depth is 1642 meters.

The lake is fed by as many as three hundred and thirty inflowing rivers. The main ones are the Selenga River, the Barguzin River, the Upper River, the Turka River, the Sarma River and the Snezhnaya River.

the Selenga River

Baikal contains 30islands, the largest of which is Olkhon (about 72 km long)

Olkhon Island

Plant and animal life in the lake is rich and various. There are about 2000 animal species at different depths, and hundreds of plant species live on or near the surface. The majority of the species are endemic to Baikal.

Baikal seals (Phocasibirica), endemic to Lake Baikal

There are about 53 species of fish, belonging to 13 families; the most numerous of these are 31 species of gobies.

There are more than 320 bird species in the Baikal area.

Baikal’s climate is much milder than that of the surrounding territory. Winter average air temperatures −21° C, and summer average temperatures +11° C.

The lake surface freezes in January and thaws in May or June.

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