Lake Baikal, located in southern Siberia, Russia, is the world’s deepest and oldest freshwater lake. It stretches about 636 kilometers (395 miles) long and up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) wide. Surrounded by mountain ranges, the lake lies in a rift valley, making it a significant geological feature. Baikal contains around 20% of the Earth’s unfrozen freshwater and is renowned for its biodiversity, including many endemic species like the Baikal seal. The lake is fed by over 300 rivers and drained