Lake Baikal is the world's largest storage of fresh water. It is located in the very center of Asia and looks like a huge crescent. Traditionally, Baikal is considered a lake, although in terms of depth, length and structure of the basin, it looks more like a small sea. Disputes about the natural status of the reservoir do not subside.
Instructions
Step 1
Already several centuries ago, reputable scientists, relying on the facts confirmed by science, often used the term "sea" in relation to Lake Baikal. This image is reflected in the epic of local peoples, in the notes of travelers and even in folk songs, where it is sung about "the glorious sea, the sacred Baikal." Comparison with the sea, however, is most often caused by the impressive size of Lake Baikal.
Step 2
Lake Baikal is also related to the sea by the healing nature of the coast. Since ancient times, people in these places have been cured by clean, healing air, curative mud and mineral springs. As early as the 17th century, researchers of these places compared Baikal with the southern seas, which have the ability to heal body and soul from ailments. Indeed, according to some features of the bottom structure, Baikal resembles the famous Dead Sea.
Step 3
What gives grounds to consider Baikal a lake? The fact is that Baikal has no outlet to ocean waters and is the world's largest storage of fresh water. Its reserves are so huge that they could provide the entire population of the Earth for several decades. Scientists have calculated that Baikal contains about one-fifth of the world's total drinking water. There are so few mineral salts in the water of Lake Baikal that it can be used as distilled water.
Step 4
Baikal can also be attributed to lakes due to the peculiarities of aquatic vegetation and fauna, which are characteristic of lakes. More than two thousand species of aquatic animals live here, and a significant part of them can be found only in this lake. Scientists explain the abundance of living organisms by the high oxygen content in the Baikal water column.
Step 5
The history of Lake Baikal is counted in many millions of years. During this time, not too high, but rather steep waves actively influenced the cliff-covered shores, which leave their bases under the water surface. You can often see places where the coastal slopes are bordered by huge boulders and pebbles, becoming like impregnable fortress walls.
Step 6
Interestingly, some geophysicists support the hypothesis that Baikal belongs to the emerging ocean on the planet. Measurements show that the shores of the lake are gradually expanding every year. An indirect confirmation of this hypothesis is also the frequent earthquakes and magnetic anomalies observed near Lake Baikal. All this testifies to the slow transformation of the lake basin.
