What is a freshwater biome?
A freshwater biome has a salt concentration of less than 1% and the plants and animals living there have adjusted, making them unable to survive in a biome with high salt concentration. Some examples of freshwater biomes include:
- Ponds and lakes
- Streams and rivers
- Wetlands
Where is Lake Baikal?
Lake Baikal is located in southern Siberia, Russia.
53N 108E
53N 108E
What is the weather/climate like?
The climate of Lake Baikal is 10 degrees warmer in the winter and 10 degrees cooler in the summer than in the rest of East Siberia (continental climate). Along with seasons, the spring is 10-15 days late and the fall is longer than the areas beyond Lake Baikal. This is due to the mountainous regions that surround the lake, as well as the forests that cover nearly the entire coast. But because of the fact that large bodies of water hold heat longer than land, the temperatures around Lake Baikal are generally higher than the rest of Siberia.
What types of plants are located there? (Flora)
Lake Baikal is home to more than 1,000 species of aquatic plants. Most of this vegetation consists of algae including:
- Blue-green algae
- Chrysophyta
- Pirrophyte algae
- Diatom algae
- Green algae
- Rhodophyta
- Rhdest
- Thin reed
- Water buckwheat
- Cattail
- Hornwort
- Sedge
What types of animals are located there? (Fauna)
Lake Baikal supports 53 species of fish which belong to 13 families. These families include:
- Cyprinidae
- Percidae
- Cobitidae
- Esocidae
- Gadidae
- Thymallidae
- Coregonidae
- Salmonidae
- Acipenseridae
- Cottidae
- Comephoridae
- Abyssocottidae
- Siluridae
Environmental Threats
Lake Baikal experiences many environment threats such as:
- Industrial pollution
- Agricultural runoff
- Potential oil and gas exploration
- Effects of local mining activities
- Oil pipeline along the north shore (this was prevented by environmental organizations).
Why should you visit?
This lake is truly historical and beautiful, giving tourists many reasons to visit. With its unique climate and diverse wildlife species, Lake Baikal is a must-see. When traveling there, you are able to take a boat to Baykal National Park and from there walk along the tourist trail. The lake's freshwater community (all of the living things in an area that rely on each other) is extraordinary, like nothing you've ever seen before.
Interesting Facts
- Deepest lake in the world - 1,632 meters deep
- World's oldest lake - developed 20-25 million years ago
- It is so clear that one is able to see to a depth of almost 40 meters
- Makes up approximately 20% of the world's fresh water
- Holds the world's largest volume of fresh water - 23,000 cubic km
- Over half of the species living in Lake Baikal are singular to this place
- The dimensions of Lake Baikal make it appear as if it is a sea
- 80% of the animals are endemic
Works Cited
- "Baikal Web World - Fauna on Lake Baikal." Baikal Web World - Fauna on Lake Baikal. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bww.irk.ru/baikalfauna/baikalfauna.html>.
- "Lake Baikal Facts." Lake Baikal Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.lakebaikal.org/Lake-Baikal-Facts.html>.
- "Lake Baikal, Russia." WWF. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/lake_baikal/>.
- "Lake Baikal." - UNESCO World Heritage Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/754>.
- "Baikal Web World - Fauna on Lake Baikal." Baikal Web World - Fauna on Lake Baikal. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bww.irk.ru/baikalfauna/baikalfauna.html>.
- "WWW Irkutsk: Animals and Fishes of Lake Baikal." WWW Irkutsk: Animals and Fishes of Lake Baikal. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.irkutsk.org/baikal/animals.htm>.