Baikal – the gem of Siberia: one of Russia’s greatest natural symbols discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA
Baikal is a natural treasure, the majestic heart of Russia that embodies purity. The world’s deepest freshwater lake, like other national symbols of the country, unites generations, inspires pride and reminds people of the importance of caring for nature. This theme was the focus of the discussion "Baikal: The Gem of Siberia" at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event was part of a series of educational sessions dedicated to Russia’s key national symbols and took place on 2 November within the framework of the "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" International Festival held under the auspices of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.
"Baikal truly is the gem of Siberia. It is not just a lake but an extraordinary natural phenomenon within our country. When you look down, you can see water 25–30 metres deep. It is incredibly transparent – you can see every bubble, every crack. And, interestingly, Baikal ‘speaks’. If you lie on the ice in winter and listen carefully, you can hear it – the sounds resemble the beat of a drum. Many peoples live around it: the Buryats, the Evenks, and old Russian settlers. What amazes me most is how the locals treat Baikal – as a living being. Before travelling to the lake, one must perform a ritual and make an offering to the spirit of Baikal. It is believed that if you don’t, your journey won’t go as planned," said the session moderator, journalist, TV presenter and author of the project "We and They", Maria Shakhova.
Science, history, culture, travel, expeditions, paintings, poetry, songs, and adventures – all of these are part of Baikal’s story, noted the Scientific Secretary and hydrologist of the research and production centre "Map Maker", Candidate of Geographical Sciences Nikolai Yasinsky. In his words, Baikal is a natural symbol without which Russia would be impossible to imagine.
"When we speak about Baikal, we often use the word ‘most’ – and rightly so. It is the deepest lake on our planet, reaching 1,642 metres. For comparison, the Ostankino Tower could fit inside it three times. Mount Yamantau, the highest peak of the Southern Urals, has approximately the same height. In terms of surface area, Baikal is comparable to the size of Denmark. The lake contains 20% of all liquid freshwater on Earth and 80% of Russia’s freshwater reserves. In terms of water resources, Russia ranks second in the world after Brazil and its Amazon River," said Nikolai Yasinsky.
He spoke about ongoing research at the lake, the contribution of scientists and volunteers, and the development of ecological and cultural tourism, as well as the role of Baikal in shaping Russia’s national identity.
However, Baikal can be explored not only from a scientific perspective. Motorcyclist, member of the Russian Geographical Society and holder of three Russian and world records in travel and ice–riding speed on Baikal, Tatyana Ziganshina, shared the story of her winter journey across the lake.
"In 2023, my friends and I were lucky to complete a winter trip around Baikal. We travelled along its frozen shoreline for about a thousand kilometres – from the village of Maksimikha to the settlement of Listvyanka on the lake’s eastern side. We wanted to study the northern part of Baikal, as it is less accessible – there are no roads in many areas. Most of the coastline runs along mountains, with no way to drive there, so the only route is over the ice. This allowed us to explore the northern part of Baikal, test our endurance and set a Russian record by completing this journey," said Tatyana Ziganshina.
The discussion also featured singer Adelina Akhmedova (ANILEDA), who performed her song "We’re Going to Baikal". It tells the story of how nature brings kindred hearts together, even if they come from different places – a song about people who found love by the lake.
"For me, Baikal became a place of inspiration that turns your whole perception upside down. You look at the water, the mountains, the wind, the smell of the air – everything feels so alive, so breathing, that you don’t even want to speak. When I first came to Baikal, I stood there for a long time, just watching. That was when I first felt that nature has its own voice, that Baikal has its own sound and its own music. After that trip, I wanted to write more music about nature, kindness and the beauty we so often overlook," said ANILEDA.
The International Festival "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" runs from 31 October to 5 November at the National Centre RUSSIA, the World Trade Centre and the Moskino Cinema Park. The programme includes educational and cultural events, expositions and masterclasses aimed at uniting representatives of government bodies and the expert community.
The festival is organised by the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs (FADN of Russia) in coordination with the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the Presidential Executive Office of Russia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, with the participation of the Ministry of Culture of Russia, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Moscow Government, Moskino, Gazprom–Media Holding, RUTUBE, the Russian society Znanie, the Russian Geographical Society, ROSKINO JSC, the Regional Film Support Foundation, and the Internet Development Institute.
Event photobank
The programme opened with several major cultural and educational events.
The 20th anniversary of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, the "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" took place this week.
Seven film screenings at once were held at the National Centre RUSSIA as part of the film forum of the "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" International Festival.
