Buryatia: Baikal Lake and Olkhon Island

http://www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2009-03-20/A_fresh_choice__Baikal_is_a_cool_holiday_hotspot.html http://www.russiatoday.com/Art_and_Fun/2008-07-24/The_best_of_Russia_Close-Up_Unravelling_the_mystery_of_Baikals_largest_island.html Baikal is located in the Siberian Republic of Buryatia some 5,000 kilometres from Moscow, the region where Baikal lies is becoming a popular getaway for people from the big cities, and its coastline is getting noisier. Something thats not to be missed on Baikal is ice fishing. You hardly ever catch a sturgeon now but, with patience, you can count on some of notorious Baikal omuls, the trout-like freshwater fish that are found nowhere else in the world. The main catches are perch, pike, carp and, of course, omul. But those working at the local fish factory say the catch is getting smaller every year because of the Irkutsk hydroelectric plant which constantly changes the level of water in Baikal. Locals have a special way of cooking them, and they offer the delicacy at every resort. Indigenous people have been doing it for hundreds of years and their customs are now becoming one of Baikals biggest assets. Baikal, the world's largest and oldest lake, was recently voted one of Russias seven wonders. It lies in Southern Siberia, between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. Known as the Blue eye of Siberia, Baikal contains more water than all the North American Great Lakes put together. The Island of Olkhon is the largest on Lake Baikal. Olkhons been home to ethnic Buryats for centuries. Most still live off the land, breed cattle and fish. Every evening local villagers place their nets and in the morning the catch is always good.