Natural Wonder · Irkutsk, Russia
Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is a rift lake and the deepest lake in the world.
Photo: amanderson2 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Irkutsk, Russia |
|---|---|
| Type | Natural Wonder |
| Length | Length: 636 km |
| Coordinates | 53.5000° N, 108.0000° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Lake Baikal is known for
Lake Baikal is a rift lake and the deepest lake in the world.
About Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is a rift lake and the deepest lake in the world. It is situated in southern Siberia, Russia, between the federal subjects of Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Republic of Buryatia to the southeast. At 31,722 km2 (12,248 sq mi)—slightly larger than Belgium—Lake Baikal is the world's seventh-largest lake by surface area, as well as the second-largest lake in Eurasia after the Caspian Sea.
History
The Baikal area, sometimes known as Baikalia, has a long history of human habitation. Near the village of Mal'ta, some 160 km northwest of the lake, remains of a young human male known as "MA-1" or "Mal'ta Boy" are indications of local habitation by the Mal'ta–Buret' culture ca. 24,000 BP.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Irkutsk |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Ulan-Ude Airport (Mukhino) (UUD) |
| Distance from the airport | 117.0 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Baikal International Airport (UUD) · Ulan Ude, Russia · 119.2 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Russia
More natural wonders
Frequently asked questions
What is Lake Baikal?
Lake Baikal is a rift lake and the deepest lake in the world.
Where is Lake Baikal located?
Lake Baikal is in Irkutsk, Russia. Its coordinates are 53.5000° N, 108.0000° E.
How do I get to Lake Baikal?
The nearest town is Irkutsk, and the nearest airport is Ulan-Ude Airport (Mukhino) (UUD), about 117.0 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Lake Baikal?
The Baikal area, sometimes known as Baikalia, has a long history of human habitation. Near the village of Mal'ta, some 160 km northwest of the lake, remains of a young human male known as "MA-1" or "Mal'ta Boy" are indications of local habitation by the Mal'ta–Buret' culture ca.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Baikal — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5513 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.