Driving the Ice Road of Lake Baikal in Siberia
Located in the south of the Russian region of Siberia, Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest non-oceanic body of water. When the ice conditions allow it, an ice road is constructed every year.
Can you drive across Lake Baikal?
The road across Lake Baikal is 12 km (7.5 mi) long. The safest period for the trip, is from the beginning of February to the end of March. In this period the ice thickness is a meter or more. The lake serves as a temporary road, forming a navigable land route between the settlements at its northern and southern ends. The ice is so clear that you can recognize the bottom stones through it.
Where does Lake Baikal ice road start and end?
Located in the Irkutsk Oblast, the road runs west-east from the village Kurkut (on the mainland) to Irkutskaya Guba on Olkhon Island, a sprawling, rugged island offering stunning views of the lake.
Is the Lake Baikal ice road open?
The road is open in winters, usually between February and March, when the ice conditions allow it. The route opens when the thickness of the ice on the road is about 60 cm (24 in). It’s open to the public from 9 am to 6 pm. The ice can be up to 1.5 metres thick, and the lake serves as a temporary road for trucks travelling across it. The road is really strong: 75-cm thickness of the ice is enough to hold the 15-ton truck on it.
Pic: http://baikaler.com/ice-tour-around-lake-baikal-11-days-10-nights/