Feature Stories - Baikal (99) More files...
Situated in south-east Siberia, the 3.15 million hectare Lake Baikal covers an area the size of Belgium. It is the oldest (25 million years) deepest (1,642 m) and largest by volume of any lake in the world. It contains 20% of all fresh, running water on the planet - more than all five of the USA’s Great Lakes combined - and is so vast that Siberian people call it a sea.

Russian photographer Olga Kamenskaya has returned to Baikal year after year, in search of the perfect photo which encapsulates its allure and beguiling beauty. "Despite having walked hundreds of kilometres on the lake, taking thousands of shots," she says, "I have still only touched upon its mystery."

Download our full story PDF, including text, here.

Diver exploring Lake Baikal, Russia, December 2008.
01484626
Olga Kamenskaya / Diver exploring Lake Baikal, Russia, December 2008.
Diver exploring underwater landscape and endemic sponges (Lubomirskia baicalensis), Lake Baikal, Russia, December 2008.
01487242
Olga Kamenskaya / Diver exploring underwater landscape and endemic sponges (Lubomirskia baicalensis), Lake Baikal, Russia, December 2008.
Diver exploring underwater landscape of Lake Baikal, Russia, December 2008.
01487243
Olga Kamenskaya / Diver exploring underwater landscape of Lake Baikal, Russia, December 2008.
Amphipod (Acanthogammarus maculosus) and Gammarids (Brandtia parasitica) on Demosponge (Lubomirskia baicalensis), Lake Baikal, Russia. March.
01482600
Olga Kamenskaya / Amphipod (Acanthogammarus maculosus) and Gammarids (Brandtia parasitica) on Demosponge (Lubomirskia baicalensis), Lake Baikal, Russia. March.
Snails (Megalovalvata baicalensis) on overgrown sponge (Baikalospongia sp.), Lake Baikal, Russia, August.
01484667
Olga Kamenskaya / Snails (Megalovalvata baicalensis) on overgrown sponge (Baikalospongia sp.), Lake Baikal, Russia, August.
Bighead sculpin (Batrachocottus baicalensis) on sponge (Lubomirskia baicalensis). Lake Baikal, Russia, March 2007.
01484649
Olga Kamenskaya / Bighead sculpin (Batrachocottus baicalensis) on sponge (Lubomirskia baicalensis). Lake Baikal, Russia, March 2007.
Mini van crossing over pile of ice on Lake Baikal,  Siberia, Russia, March.
01461832
Olga Kamenskaya / Mini van crossing over pile of ice on Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March.
Car on thick Lake Baikal ice, Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March. Property released.
01461823
Olga Kamenskaya / Car on thick Lake Baikal ice, Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March. Property released.
View of people standing on ice from underneath car, on the ice of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March. Property released and Model released.
01461837
Olga Kamenskaya / View of people standing on ice from underneath car, on the ice of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March. Property released and Model released.
People standing on thick ice on the surface of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March 2008.
01487760
Olga Kamenskaya / People standing on thick ice on the surface of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March 2008.
Cracks in the ice of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March.
01461430
Olga Kamenskaya / Cracks in the ice of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March.
Reflection in air bubble made by diver under surface of the ice. Lake Baikal, Russia, March 2007.
01484645
Olga Kamenskaya / Reflection in air bubble made by diver under surface of the ice. Lake Baikal, Russia, March 2007.