Recognized as one of the few remaining ancient lakes in the world, Lake Baikal has preserved natural history and housed thousands of animal species for centuries.  

In Siberia, just north of the Mongolian border, sits Lake Baikal, one of the deepest lakes in the world. The lake houses 22 percent of our planet's fresh water and measures over 5,300 feet deep. Furthermore, its location between mountains allows for over 330 rivers and streams to connect to it, and the lake is made up of three basins. While Lake Baikal only equates to around half the surface area of Lake Michigan, measuring in at about 12,200 square miles, its magnificence lies in its history. 

Experts have estimated that the lake is between 25 and 30 million years old, making it one of the few remaining ancient lakes on the planet. This is because it lies in an active rift zone due to its plate tectonics, unlike most other lakes which have a history of being covered by ice sheets in previous glacial periods. Most ancient lakes are formed when the Earth's plates begin to move apart from each other, creating a rift valley that is deepened over time by erosion. Eventually, the rift widens so much that it begins to fill with fresh water. Around 75 percent of Earth's ancient lakes have been formed through this process, with the exceptions having been formed by meteor impacts and volcanic action.

 Therefore, not only does Lake Baikal preserve years of Earth's history, but it is exclusively home to around 2,000 unique animal species. Although the lake is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that hasn’t stopped climate change from affecting the lake, as the surface temperature has increased by 1.5 degrees Celsius over the past 50 years. In conjunction with increasing chemical pollution, the ecosystem is believed to be rapidly changing for the first time in decades.  

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, locals have been taking advantage of the lack of visitors populating the lake, many beginning to trek out to visit the body of water themselves. Especially during the fall and winter months, many visitors enjoy skating, hiking, or even skiing over the  ice and snow. 

Located near one of Russia's largest cities, there has been a constant tug-of-war between developers, locals and environmentalists to seek a balance between encouraging tourism which benefits the local economy, and protecting the deteriorating ecosystem. While the momentary break in visitors has undoubtedly allowed the ecosystem to begin to recover, ultimately its fate lies in the hands of its visitors.

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Zara is a third year Communication student at the University of California, San Diego. Her passion for journalism comes from her love of storytelling and desire to learn about others. In addition to writing at CATALYST, she is an Opinion Writer for the UCSD Guardian, which allows her to incorporate various perspectives into her work.