27.01.2026 22:00
Lake Baikal in Russia, the world's deepest freshwater source, transformed into a massive crystal palace with the arrival of winter. In images that caused a stir on social media, moments of the ice layer, reaching several meters in depth, being pierced with a drill showcased the lake's eerie yet mesmerizing power once again.
Lake Baikal, located in the Siberian region of Russia and known as the deepest lake in the world, transforms into a massive ice block with the arrival of winter. A video shared on social media astonished viewers with the thickness of the ice layer on the lake and the clarity of the water.
As the oldest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal hosts a unique natural phenomenon alongside the freezing Siberian cold. In the viral footage captured in the region, a drill is seen attempting to make a hole in the freezing surface of the lake.
ICE LAYER EXTENDING FOR METERS
The most striking moment of the video is that despite the drill going down for meters, the water surface has still not been reached. It is known that the thickness of the ice on Lake Baikal can reach between 1.5 to 2 meters during the winter months. This allows trucks and cars to travel safely on the lake.
CRYSTAL CLARITY: THE WORLD UNDER THE ICE
Not only the thickness of the ice but also its glass-like shiny and smooth surface captivates onlookers. Baikal's unique ecosystem and the extreme cleanliness of its water make the bubbles and cracks formed under the ice look like a work of art.
A FLOOD OF TOURISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS
Every year, thousands of tourists and professional photographers flock to Russia in the winter months to see this "crystal world" up close. Authorities state that activities such as ice skating and ice diving during periods when the ice reaches a safe thickness are of great importance for regional tourism.