Irkutsk and Lake Baikal

We decamped from our train after our two night journey in Irkutsk, to freezing cold temperatures, boarded our bus to drive the 1 1/2 hours to Lake Baikal. We will spend two nights here.

The largest fresh water lake in the world.

It extends 653 kms and is 1637 metres deep, and has the most amazing Eco system.

We have travelled 5,185 kms of our trans-Siberian journey.

On arrival to our family owned hotel, everyone rushed to the showers and to get dressed into warm clothing. Temperature was 4 degrees.

Sign markers near our hotel.

Our hotel is made up of very nice cabins, it was so cold we stored our milk, yogurt and beer outside, at 4 degrees, just the right temperature.

We then all gathered to walk to the local market for some lunch and shopping. After this, we were all going to the museum, to learn more about Lake Baikal. 

On our freezing cold walk we passed a lot of metal art, made by a local man, I am told that you can vist his house, now on my list of things to do.

Great food at the local market.

Lake Baikal, has a population of 9,000, of course this number swells in the summer season.

Yes even the locals are cold.

Lake Baikal

Interesting facts.

We looked at the Eco life with microscopes.

Some of the interesting marine life.

An aerial view of Lake Baikal.

These fish were so funny, we were looking at them and they were looking at us.

We ran into some Aussies at this museum.

We were supposed to do a boat ride this afternoon, but due to the inclement weather, not safe, will attempt tomorrow.

In the morning after breakfast we braved our boat ride, still quite cold, off we set, we had sleet.

Just before we were to board.

Yes it was too cold to stay up top, my fingers were freezing.

The lake was a bit choppy as well.

After the boat ride, lunch and DH and I went to find the retro yard with metal works of art.

After a few wrong turns we stumbled upon the yard.

Great collection of junk, made in metal characters.

On return it started to sleet again and in a few hours we had snowfall.

We would have liked the weather to be a bit better, but it did not dampen our two days in Lake Baikal, which is famous for water sports, hiking and many other activities.

Tomorrow we explore Irkutsk and again board our train in the evening for an overnight to Ulan-Ude.