Despite the severe Siberian frosts, Baikal has not yet frozen completely, ice formation is about 11 days behind schedule. Scientists note that nearly three quarters of the lake is now covered with ice, and freezing traditionally begins in the northern part of the lake. In one or two weeks, Baikal should become crystal clear, and thousands will come to see this natural wonder.
Despite such severe Siberian frosts, Lake Baikal has not yet frozen over completely. January on Baikal is the month when the ice cover forms. Baikal freezes, or, as they say, “sets,” every year at different times. Usually, the ice begins to form in the second half of January. This year, the ice began to freeze from the northern part. First, the shallow waters there are covered with a layer of ice. Then the lake’s central basin freezes. After that, ice formation moves south.Employees of the Limnological Institute carefully observe and record the ice formation. According to their calculations, this process is now running about 11 days behind schedule. At present, almost three quarters of the lake’s surface is covered with ice. Another week or two, and the entire Baikal will turn crystal clear. And that means that very soon thousands of people eager to see this natural beauty will head to Baikal.
— Baikal is just about to freeze over. For this, several conditions are needed — the water temperature must be half a degree lower; that is already the case now. And second — there should be less wind, — says senior researcher at the Limnological Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Zhdanov.