Lake Baikal-A Place Of Both Beauty And Mystery

The Universe and our own solar system have amazed not only scientists but the rest of us here on earth as well. We looked in awe at all of the beauty and mysterious landscapes that popped out at us, from images taken by space probes located in deep space. Landscapes on mars for example, that have mountain ranges higher than anywhere else on earth. Active volcanoes on one of Jupiter's moons. And yes even a methane ocean that lies beneath a thick cloud cover on Saturns moon Titan. It is no secret to modern man, that mechanical eyes in space; have sent images back to earth, for all of us here to stare at in wonder and amazement.

However engulfed within all of that wonder and amazement, we often forget about all of the mysterious and awe-inspiring features, that our own planet earth displays for us here. For instance what other planet in the solar system for that matter has a surface that is covered by more than two-thirds water? And of all of that mentioned water, one single lake that comprises over one-fifth of the water across the entire surface of earth. If you were wondering if you heard correctly...a lake that holds one-fifth of earth's total water volume? Than no-you were not imagining this and you hearing is not going yet.

That lake worthy of mention, is no other than a lake by the name of Lake Baikal, located in a region of Siberia near the mongolian border. Lake Baikal not only holds the largest volume of water than any other lake by as much as 20%. It is in addition the deepest lake in the world and at approximately 25 to 30 million years old, one of the oldest. At its deepest point, lake baikal reaches a depth of over 5,300 feet, or a little over a mile and a half deep.

The oceans depths are only considered to be deeper next to that of Lake Baikal. When you think of the area of water off of Newfoundland, in the North Atlantic ocean. This is an area where back in 1912, the sinking of the HMS titanic took place. As Titanic plunged to its watery grave, it came to rest at a depth of 3,281 meters, or 2.5 miles deep. So when you think about it, the watery depths of Lake Baikal at its deepest point, is nearly half the depth at 1,642 meters, or 5300 feet deep as the Titanics grave on the bottom of the North Atlantic. Truly mind-boggling if you think about it for awhile.

This particular lake has also been associated with much beauty as well as mystery. Upon looking out from the shoreline outward over the vast waters of lake Baikal, one would think that they may have stumbled accidentally upon an unimaginable area of beauty, like nowhere else on this planet, possibly even resembling that of God's country even. Besides the flora and fauna in the way of over 1000 different types of flower's, that straddle the surrounding landscape. There are also a variety of different types of wildlife species that frequent the shores of lake baikal. In addition and below its often turbulent surface, one may find a variety of fish such as large sturgeon's, which make lake baikal their home. And a variety of seals like the Nerpa, can be found basking in the sun on rocky abutments along its shoreline.

But besides all of the surrounding beauty in the way of all of the waterfowl, seals and fauna, that can be found in and around this enormous siberian lake. There have also been other sightings of things that are unexplainable and even disturbing to a few people. Some have reported seeing what they call a monster living within lake baikal. The strange lake monster as legend has it, is thought to be possibly a large seal, pinniped, or maybe even a prehistoric relic; that has remain undetected in the deep and murky depths of the lake since its beginning. Now this may seem to be highly debatable and nothing more than farfetched, because there is no physical evidence in the way of photos. But it cannot be totally ruled out either, unless proven otherwise.

On the other hand there is more compelling and baffling evidence, of photograph's of what appears to be markings, embedded on Lake Baikal's fairly thin surface ice. These photosgraph's suggest that something, possibly large circular UFO's, have landed on the central, as well as southern portions of lake baikal. Much of Lake Baikal remains frozen throughout most of the year, so possibly this is why circular impressions have been able to be documented and filmed from miles above our earths atmosphere. Yes, orbiting space stations-suggest that something leaving large circular impressions had at some point in time, set down upon the frozen lakes surface. Possibly something not of this world? But we will have to examine this phenomenon further by looking a little closer into the mechanics below lake baikal's often turbulent surface.

Even though the surface of Lake Baikal remains frozen throughout the majority of the year. There are a few months during the summer where it can become, a placid and serene expanse of unending beauty. On occasion a brisk wind touches the surface waters, stirring up a multitude of whitecaps. It is during the month of April in particular where this frozen wasteland of water, gives way to the strange markings on its surface. These markings in the way of circles as briefly touched upon, are also associated with UFO sightings by tourists and other visitors who enter the region around Baikal.

But are they really UFO's or an elaborate hoax made up by the Russian Government or others? We may never know, but the problem that makes this more difficult to figure out, is that during the daytime hours, much of lake baikals frozen surface melts.. And during the nighttime hours, the lake freezes over once again, continuuing to repeat the process in a vicious cycle. During this time period it is thought that Hydrothermal currents or heat vents, causing convection deep below its surface, continually contributes to the appearance of these strange circles. As the resulting thermals rise to the surface beneath the ice, they in turn cause the strange markings . This theory may hold water to a certain point, but not as much as the lake itself does.

This theory may also explain the reason why this phenomena occurs in the central, or mid-portion of Lake Baikal where the lake is found to be at its deepest. But what really has puzzled many, including scientist's is as to why these circular patterns show up at the southern end of the lake where there is really no evidence of convection occurring. In addition here, the surface is not as deep, but is more solid overall. No one may ever know the real mysteries associated with Lake Baikal, including its infamous lake monster and the bizarre circles that often appear instaneously during the chill of the evening hours.. But for those of you, who are not too frozen at heart and seek a different and somewhat alien landscape. A landscape where both beauty and mystery abound. Than why not take your chances with Lake Baikal in Siberia, as you next vacation getaway.