Lake Baikal: Unit I

Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world by volume.  It also happens to be located in a fairly interesting country which happens to be the place where the language we are studying in this class is spoken the most. Written, о́зеро Байка́л, the lake happens to contain 20% of the world's unfrozen, surface freshwater.  Also an astonishing 3,587 feet at its deepest it remains very clear.  It is thought by many scientists to be one of if not the worlds oldest lake.  For so long as humans have inhabited the area the lake has provided for them.  Ancient tribes such as the Kurykans and the Buryat thought the lake a great sea.  On a more modern note, the site's extreme biodiversity draws researchers from around the world.