Lake Baikal, Russia
Lake Baikal in Russia is the world’s deepest lake, measuring an incredible 5,387 feet (1,642 meters) deep. It is also the largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, containing roughly 20 percent of all unfrozen freshwater on Earth. The lake is home to a wide variety of plants and animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet and it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural beauty and biodiversity.
Baikal has long been considered sacred by local indigenous people including Buryats, Evenks, and Tofs who live around Lake Baikal and have relied on it for their sustenance for centuries. Local legends tell of how god created the lake when searching for a place to hide from the devil.
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