Lake Baikal is a wonderful place that looks mighty both in winter and in summer. It is the oldest lake in the world that was there 25 million years ago and is 744,4 m deep. No other deeper lake can be found in the world. Let us visit the place and enjoy its beauty.
Olkhon is an island located right in the middle of the lake. 26 islands can be found in the region but Olkhon is the largest one. In summer it can be reached by water, ferry is available from May to December. In winter the lake is covered with ice.
Olkhon island is very close.
On the island.
The cusp named Shamanka is considered sacred. It is connected with the island with a small isthmus and contains a wide cave in it. Only shamans could enter the cave inhabited by ancient spirits. A cemetery of shamans is located nearby.
Olkhon has a variety of landscapes such as forests, rocks, sandy bays, etc.
Be careful while eating as the gulls are not afraid of people and can steal your food easily.
The seals are enjoying the rays of sun.
The fishing factory was founded in the beginning of the 20th century and now only a couple of workshops is functioning.
Abandoned airfield.
Black cormorant.
One of the legends related to the island says Olkhon is the place where the “conqueror of the Universe” was buried. That was how contemporaries used to call Genghis Khan, the great Mongol conqueror of the early 13th century. Local people ask tourists not to cut wild flowers or kill animals and use old roads if you come here by car, as it takes fragile soil of Olkhon long to recover.
If you want to find yourself in the middle of nowhere, come here, to Olkhon.
Location: Olkhon
via starbeak
Good
In the West, the lakefront property would be worth millions.?
Looks beautiful there.
I want to travel someday through all of Russia, such beautiful country. People living in Moscow don’t understand or appreciate what they have beyond the MKAD, a large rich country with breathtaking picturesque vistas, can’t give up their dusty metropolis with commodities at every corner. Such a waste…
Most Russians travel to cheap hotels in Turkey, Spain, Cyprus or Egypt. Around the lake Baykal you will find more foreigners than Russians. They still have the “soviet” idea of holidays: a big concrete bunker, an all inclusive buffet and roasting in the sun like a sausage. They usually have no eye for the true beauty of the nature of their own country. But the Russian hotels are also to blame, because outside the big cities of Moscow and Pieter the hotels are horrid and expensive.
Not true. This year i hiked there. It was mid august. 99% of tourists were russians.
Very good indeed. Untamed Russia is best.
nice spot.
The lake is actually 1642 m deep. A beautiful place
Who never saw Olkhon , never saw paradise !