Lake, southern Siberia, Russia, in Asia. With a length of 395 mi (636 km) long and an area of some 12,200 sq mi (31,500 sq km), it is the largest freshwater basin in Eurasia. It is also the deepest continental body of water on Earth (5,315 ft [1,620 m]), containing one-fifth of the fresh water on Earth's surface.
More than 330 rivers and streams flow into it; on its east it receives the Barguzin and Selenga rivers, and most of its outflow is through the Angara at the northern end. The island of Olkhon is in its centre. Plant and animal life are rich and various; at least 1,500 species are unique to the lake. Growing industrialization along its shores has produced threatening pollution. In 1996 the Lake Baikal Coastal Protection Zone was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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