Russia - Irkutsk

Irkutsk city... the gateway to Lake Baikal. Whether one arrives on the Trans-Siberian Railway, by flight or by car like us, one will pass through and stop at this lively city on the way to Lake Baikal.

Irkutsk city overlooks the Angara River. The Angara River drains the water of Lake Baikal.

Russia - Pearl of Siberia - Lake Baikal

We visited Lake Baikal on 29 May 2018. It was a clear day.

Lake Baikal, also called The Pearl of Siberia, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This fresh water lake is the deepest and oldest lake in the world, having been in existence for more than 25 million years (Source: Wikipedia). 

We made our way from Irkutsk city and drove 70km southeast towards the small village of Listvyanka.