Waking up on a moving train would make you nauseous. The unfriendly crew showed her mood early in the morning. I needed to pee but the bitch hit the toilet door and pointed angrily for me to get back inside the cabin.okay dokay this part of the world has not learnt how to smile and customer service does not exist.I restrained myself not to cause any commotion. The journey still had a long way to go.
The cabin suddenly became quiet; the excitement dispersed and the conversations went dead. I need to do something and be alive again. For hours we’ve been chugging along Lake Baikal; somewhere in rural Siberia. Yep we’re in Siberia, the cold and lonely place that can be found on top of the world’s map. It is not so rugged after all, just a beautiful countyside with green forests in the summer and white snow in the winter. Since this morning the train went through a forest with streams and stony rivers. The huge lake that looked like an ocean. Small villages dotted along the railroad. I just never dreamed ,of all the other places I could go, to actually be in Siberia.
As we’re approaching midday, the sun seemed to shine handsomely that made every view from my window a gorgeous summer tale. In the summer of 1985,I used to go fishing at a lake outside Wichita, Kansas. Looking out as we passed by the lake, it brought back the memories of that good old days. The heat, the cool breeze from the lake and that long summer days made the whole experience memorable. Today, even though from a moving train, I could reminisce that moments vividly.
Some info on Lake Baikal generated by AI
Lake Baikal, located in southern Siberia, Russia, is one of the most remarkable natural wonders on Earth. Here are some key details about this incredible lake:
1. General Overview
Location: Southern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast and the Republic of Buryatia, Russia.
Type : Freshwater, rift lake (formed in a continental rift zone).
Age : Estimated to be **25–30 million years old**, making it the **oldest lake in the world**.
2. Size & Depth
Surface Area**: ~**31,722 km²** (12,248 sq mi) – about the size of Belgium.
Length**: **636 km (395 mi)**.
Width**: Varies from **20–80 km (12–50 mi)**.
Maximum Depth**: **1,642 m (5,387 ft)** – the **deepest lake in the world**.
Water Volume**: ~**23,615 km³** – the **largest freshwater lake by volume**, holding about **20% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater**.
3. Unique Features
Crystal-Clear Water**: Visibility can reach up to **40 meters (130 ft)** due to low mineral content and abundant oxygen.
Biodiversity**: Home to **over 3,700 species**, **60% of which are endemic** (found nowhere else), including:
Baikal Seal (Nerpa)** – the world’s only exclusively freshwater seal.
-Omul Fish** – a local delicacy.
-Golomyanka** – a unique transparent fish.
Ice Formation**: In winter, the lake freezes with ice up to **1.5–2 meters thick**, forming stunning **transparent ice sheets and ice caves**.
4. Geological Significance
– Part of the **Baikal Rift Zone**, where the Earth’s crust is slowly pulling apart.
– Expands by about **2 cm per year**, potentially forming a new ocean in millions of years.
– Contains **sediment layers over 7 km thick**, providing clues to Earth’s climate history.
5. Environmental Concerns
Pollution** from industrial waste and the **Baikalsk Pulp & Paper Mill** (now closed).
Climate Change**: Rising temperatures threaten its unique ecosystem.
Invasive Species**: Introduction of non-native organisms disrupts the natural balance.
6. Cultural & Economic Importance
– Sacred to local **Buryat people**, who consider it a spiritual site.
– Major **tourist destination** for hiking, ice tours, and wildlife watching.
– Key **scientific research site** for biologists, geologists, and climatologists.
7. UNESCO World Heritage Status**
– Declared a **UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996** due to its exceptional natural value.
Lake Baikal is truly a natural treasure, often called the **”Pearl of Siberia”** for its beauty, ecological importance, and scientific significance.
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About two hours from Irkutsk, pine trees started to fill the land like the ones in Gorky Park. The dark shadows in the forest seem to keep many secrets.
An hour away from Irkutsk, the crews started to collect all the blankets back;the smile still was not there. Time to go ;maybe they have their own reasons not to smile…..
