Several kilometers (about 60 km) from Irkutsk is situated Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world. Its maximum depth is 1637 m. It contains 20% of the world's surface unfrozen fresh water reserve. Shaped like banana, Lake Baikal is 636km from north to sourth, but only 60km wide. The Angara river is the only river that flows out the lake while more than 300 large and small mountain rivers flow into the lake.

Journalists call the lake "Blue Eye of Siberia".

Myths and legends surrounds it. The Buryats believed that the evil spirit Begdozi lived on Olkhon Island in the middle of the lake, though Evenki shamans held that this was the home of the sea god Dianda.

Baikal is inhabited by 52 fish species The best-known are omul and a unique endemic fish golomyanka (oil fish). It contains 30% of oil and the only fish adapted to live in the great depth of the lake.

The Baikal nerpa is the only fresh water seal on the planet.

Trekking, camping, boat excurcions, diving and riding are just a few of the pursuits available in this outdoor paradise.

One of the most interesting attractions of Baikal region is the Circum-Baikal line that was built in 1904. The length is about 84km. It has 40 tunnels and more than 200 bridges and trestles. Now this section is not commercially used, but serve as one more tourist entertainment on the lake with all its tourists bases and a special tourist train.