In the Irkutsk region, 76 ice holes will be prepared for Epiphany in 34 municipalities, and in Irkutsk the bathing will take place in Yakobi Bay. Rescuers said where the ice holes will open, including Baikal, the Angara, Irkut and Kuda, and who will be on duty during the bathing. Strong frosts down to minus 45 degrees are expected in the region, so organizers especially stress safety measures.

On January 19, Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany. On this day, believers immerse themselves in special consecrated ice holes. The Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Irkutsk Region reported on the preparations for the Epiphany celebration in the regional center and the Irkutsk District. According to rescuers, 10 Jordan fonts will be set up in the Irkutsk District, including two that will open on January 19 on Lake Baikal. They are located in the village of Bolshoye Goloustnoye and in the village of Listvyanka. In Listvyanka, swimming is planned in open water.
Also, a Jordan font will be opened on the Angara River in the settlement of Molodezhny near Irkutsk, in the settlement of Bolshaya Rechka, and at the 21st kilometer of the Baikal Highway. On the Irkut River, Jordan fonts will open in the village of Smolenshchina and in the village of Maksimovshchina; on the Kuda River—in the village of Urik and in the settlement of Khomutovo. On the Kaya River, a Jordan font will be set up in the village of Markovo. In Irkutsk, Epiphany bathing is planned to be organized in the Jordan fonts in the Yakobi Bay of the Irkutsk Reservoir. During bathing in the ice hole, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, rescuers, firefighters, ambulance personnel, volunteers, and police will be on duty on the ice.
In total, in the region, as in 2015, 76 Jordan fonts will be opened for Epiphany in 34 municipal districts of the region, including 5 Jordan fonts opened exclusively for water collection.
All of this was reported by the Chief State Inspector of the Irkutsk Region for Small Vessels, Dmitry Mironov.
From January 17 to 19, in the western, central, and southern districts, severe frost is expected in low-lying terrain, with nighttime temperatures of -40 to -45º. From January 17 to 19, abnormally cold weather is expected in Irkutsk, with the average daily air temperature 7-12º below the climatic norm.