Ice is a BIG reason to travel to Lake Baikal! (PHOTOS)

Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev
Lake Baikal is the deepest and largest lake in the world, with the purest water.
Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev

It only freezes completely in late February and then begins to melt at the end of March. The ice thickness varies everywhere, from half a meter to several meters.

Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev

The most picturesque ice is on and around Olkhon Island. You can find dozens of different types there!

Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev

On the rocks - ice surges forged by wind and Baikal waves, some of them giant ice pillars several meters tall.

Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev

On the water - hypnotizing patterns of cracks and bubbles. In some places, the water is almost black, as if there is an abyss under your feet, while, in other places, it is light blue, with frozen grains of sand.

Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev

During the day, the sun shines brightly and, in the evening, after sunset, the ice cools down sharply and begins to make sounds, as if it is about to open up. But the ice is quite strong and durable, which is why locals have no qualms moving across it by cars (and even take tourists on rides!).

Pavel Kuzmichev
Pavel Kuzmichev
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