Lake Baikal, the deepest in the world and filled with crystal clear water, is surrounded by a ring of picturesque mountain peaks and ranges.
The mountains of Baikal are not very high, the highest point above sea level is the peak of Baishint-Ula with a height of 2995 meters.
From the west, the lake is framed by the Primorsky and Baikal ranges, in the north-east is the highest of the Baikal ranges - Barguzinsky. The rest of the ridges are not so high, but all are very picturesque.
From this article you can find out which mountains are on Baikal, which peak is better to climb, which ridge will make fantastic photos.
Description of mountain ranges
- Olkhinskoye Plateau - not quite mountains yet, a plateau with unusual rock masses. Starts just sixty kilometers from Irkutsk.
- Tunkinsky Gortsy - located on the southern side of the lake, the easternmost spur of the Eastern Sayan.
- The Khaman-Daban ridge is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Baikal.
- Baikal and Primorsky Ranges, starting on the northwestern shores.
- Barguzinsky ridge is the northeastern andeast coast of Baikal.
- Mountains of Olkhon Island and Svyatoy Nos Peninsula.
This is not a complete list of the names of the Baikal mountains, it is simply impossible to describe them all in a short article. Therefore, we will focus on the most remarkable.
Alpine landscape on Lake Baikal
On the southern side of a huge lake, mountain peaks with real glaciers rise into the sky. These are the Tunkinskie Goltsy, a terrain whose relief repeats alpine water meadows and snow-covered peaks.
This is the most spur of the Eastern Sayan, the beginning of many mountain tourist routes. Coming here, you need to understand that these are practically deserted places, sometimes you need to get one and a half, or even two hundred kilometers to the nearest village.
Here, nature has been preserved in almost its original form, human intervention is still minimal. On the sides of rare paths, locals leave coins - a payment to the deities for disturbing their peace.
The beauty of these mountains is stunning, at the beginning of the trail, tourists enter untouched pine forests rich in mushrooms and berries. The paths are mostly trodden by numerous animals and lead to streams and small streams. The border of pine forests ends at an altitude of about 2000 meters.
The higher in the mountains, the more majestic Siberian cedars come across among the pines. Humidity is always high here, sometimes snow remains until July, so berry bushes and moisture-loving ferns grow in abundance at the roots of tall pines and cedars.
Dark gray mountain peaks
When the strip of forests is left behind, the landscape changes dramatically. At first, a not very noticeable path winds among large boulders. The higher, the more foreign everything around seems: bushes and even grass have completely disappeared, and the stony soil begins to resemble solidified lava.
The narrow path continues upwards and the surrounding area changes again. A fast mountain river flows here, there is an abundance of greenery on its banks, meadow grasses are green around.
If you raise your head, it becomes a little uncomfortable - the dark peaks of the mountains rise, the height of which reaches 2700 meters. Locals call these massive monolithic rocks bald mountains, which is where the name of the Baikal mountains came from.
At their foot are several picturesque mountain lakes. The most famous of them, Lake Marabets, is located at an altitude of 2193 meters. The water in such lakes is crystal clear, but very cold, due to the proximity of icy peaks.
It will be problematic to conquer the peaks themselves without special training and equipment. But, having reached the lakes, you can take unusually beautiful photos of the Baikal mountains.
Haman-Daban Ridge
These mountains are one of the oldest on our planet, they appeared in the Jurassic period. This is a whole mountainous country, which is conditionally divided into Small and Big Khamar-Dabans.
The unusual name of this part of the Baikal mountains comes from the words of the local dialect: “khamar” means “nose”, and “daban” means “pass”.
On the slopes of the mountains growrelic forests, centuries-old poplars in several girths, dense thickets of ferns, green grasses above the knee.
Among these mountains, many fast full-flowing rivers flow, which gradually merge with each other. At the mouth of one of them, the Selenginka River, there are picturesque Sable Lakes.
This place is popular with hunters, as the name implies, there is always a lot of game in the pine forests near the lake. And the waters of the lake are rich in fish, which attracts lovers of fishing all year round.
There is a beautiful waterfall on one of the tributaries of the same river, which is a must see. Locals advise visiting this place at noon: then the sun's rays illuminate the flow of water for several minutes, and each drop of water begins to glow from the inside. It's not for nothing that this waterfall was called Fairy Tale!
Unusual warm lakes
In the foothills of this mountain range, there are many natural attractions that are interesting for tourists. There are as many as three warm lakes unique for this area, the water temperature in which rises to 28 ° C. It is believed that this temperature is due to the presence of hot underground springs. The most comfortable of them is the Emerald Lake, it is also the largest. Many vacationers gather on its sandy shores in the summer.
The second largest lake, called Warm, presumably formed from a glacier that slipped into the valley in ancient times. Its banks are swampy, the water seems almost black, so people don't swim here.
Third lake, Fabulous,absolutely lifeless due to the high content of various mineral s alts in it.
Barguzinsky Ridge
Of all the mountain ranges that surround Baikal, it is the Barguzinsky Range that is the most powerful and highest. Throughout the ridge consists of very sharp peaks with steep slopes and deep gorges. The rocks of the Barguzinsky ridge go down to the coast of Lake Baikal in huge steps.
At the tops of the mountains, many glacial lakes remain, from which fast mountain rivers originate. The highest waterfall of the Sayan Mountains on Lake Baikal, with a stream of water falling over 300 meters, is located on the Tykma River.
These mountains are still not well studied, relatively comfortably you can move only along the river valleys, where there are few hunting and animal trails. Despite the uniqueness of the local nature, it is better to travel in an organized group, and be sure to be accompanied by an experienced guide.
Mountains on the sacred peninsula
The largest peninsula of Lake Baikal, Svyatoy Nos, is surrounded by small rocky islands. From time immemorial, Buryat shamans performed their sacred rites here.
At the top of the peninsula there is a fairly flat high plateau, overgrown with grasses and partly covered with coniferous forests. It offers an amazing panoramic view of the surroundings of the lake.
The highest peaks of the peninsula are located in the north (1651 meters above sea level) and in the south (Mount Markova, 1878 meters).
Sacred centerLake Baikal
The largest island on the lake, Olkhon, is the geographical center of Lake Baikal and, at the same time, a historical and sacred place for local residents. To date, on the territory of this small island, scientists have found 143 archaeological sites (fortifications, ancient burial grounds, remains of masonry).
The rocks of Olkhon break right into the waters of Lake Baikal. There are many sandy beaches, cozy coves, beautiful rocks that break right into the waters of the lake.
The highest point of the island, Mount Zhima, located on Cape Izhimey, has long been revered by the local population as a holy place, the abode of the formidable god of thunder.
The majesty and beauty of the Baikal mountains fascinates, attracts attention and excites the soul of everyone who comes here.
