Lake Baikal

A picture speaks a thousand words.

I can take a thousand pictures of Lake Baikal and not do it any justice.

This was our first view .

That little patch or white behind the trees. That's lake Baikal.

And we got closer.

A good portion of the surface of Lake Baikal seems to be covered in ice.

The clear blue skies, the ice covered lake, the bare trees.

I can't even begin to describe it. 

At this point we have the lake on one side and snow capped on the other. 

And back to back freight trains interrupting a good shot.

EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Lake Baikal is not the largest freshwater lake in the world in terms of surface area. 

Its the deepest freshwater lake and is said to be a mile deep.

And it also holds upto 20% of the world's fresh water.

The circumference of Lake Baikal is estimated to be around 2100 kms. 

So no. I won't be taking my morning walk around the like I would do at Kukkarahalli Kere.

The first time I heard of Siberia and Lake Baikal would have been in 1981 when my parents took us to Ranganathittu bird sanctuary. The guide there pointed out various migratory birds from Siberia and Lake Baikal which would migrate south to Ranganathittu every year for the winter.

Looking at Lake Baikal now, in May... Well, most of the surface is still covered in ice. 

Hopefully will get to see some old avian  friends back home here too.

A lone fisherman. He has cut a hole in the ice and is fishing.

Alone.

Seems at peace with the world.

And we passed this. Looked quite like a Buddhist place of worship.

And then I remember, we're in the Republic of Buryatia, where the dominant ethnic dwellers are Buddhist.

Snow capped mountains on the other side of the track.

Going to sign off here. 

More later 

From Russia with Love