Lake Baikal
Siberia's Great Lake
By Marc Di Duca
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Paperback, 192 pages
16pp colour photos & 13 maps
Published: February 2010ISBN: 9781841622941 Format: 216mm x 135mm Status: Available £15.99
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Keen geographers know that Baikal is the world's largest freshwater lake and that it's home to unique species such as the nerpa freshwater seal. But Lake Baikal is much more than a body of water. Here, two cultures – Russian and Mongol – meet. The area is steeped in shamanism and Buddhism, while the lake's shores are scored by the tracks of the Trans-Siberian Railway. This is the first English-language guide dedicated to Lake Baikal and its surroundings. It provides full coverage of activities, wildlife, culture and religion, as well as practical information on travelling in this diverse corner of Siberia. Series: Bradt Travel Guides Rating: 4 / 5 stars - 1 vote(s). |
Press Reviews:
'Even if you're not planning a trip to Lake Baikal this guidebook is a nice read.'
Adventure Travel
'Bradt's Lake Baikal also begs greater attention for its subject: the world's deepest lake is normally seen only as a stopover on the Trans-Siberian. Linger, though, for shamanist rituals, wild hiking and – juding from the 'Don't Miss' photo section – some gloriously ugly examples of Soviet aprtment block architecture.'
Wanderlust
Was very helpful in picking out sites to visit (e.g. architectural museum) and more importantly getting us connected with Jack Sheremetoff for his Baikaler hostel and for a two day farmstay excursion with an amazing guided hike to see the petroglyphs on the shores of Lake Baikal. We can't wait to go back and see Baikal in the winter.
Introduction VII
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION 1
Chapter 1 Background Information 3
Geography 3, Climate 5, History 6, Government and
politics 19, Economy 20, People 22, Language 23,
Religion 24, Culture 27, Natural history 29,
Environmental issues and conservation 31
Chapter 2 Practical Information 35
When to visit 35, Highlights 36, Suggested itineraries 37,
Tourist information 37, Tour operators 38, Red tape 40,
Embassies 42, Getting there and away 43, Health 47,
Safety 51, What to take 54, Money 55, Budgeting 56,
Opening times 58, Getting around 59, Accommodation 61,
Eating and drinking 64, Public holidays 67, Festivals and
special events 68, Shopping 69, Activities 69, Arts and
entertainment 71, Media and communications 73, Cultural
etiquette 74, Travelling positively 75
PART TWO THE GUIDE 77
Chapter 3 Irkutsk 79
History 79, Getting there 82, Getting around 83,
Orientation 83, Tourist information 83, Where to stay 84,
Where to eat 85, Entertainment and nightlife 86,
Shopping 87, Other practicalities 87, What to see and do 87
Chapter 4 Southern and Western Baikal 93
Getting around 93, Angarsk 93, Ust-Orda 94, Taltsy Open-air
Museum of Wooden Architecture 96, Listvyanka 97, Port
Baikal 102, Bolshie Koty 103, Olkhon Island and Khuzhir 105,
Maloe More 111, Slyudyanka 111, Baikalsk 114, Arshan 115,
Mondy 117, Oka region 117
Chapter 5 Eastern Baikal and Southern Buryatiya 119
Getting around 119, Baikalsk to Ulan-Ude 120,
Ulan-Ude 121, Ivolginsky Datsan 128, Tamchinsky
(Gusinoozersky) Datsan 130, Novoselenginsk 132,
Kyakhta 134, Selenga Delta 136, Gremyachinsk to
Ust-Barguzin 137, Ust-Barguzin 138, Barguzin 140,
Barguzin Valley 141, Davsha 143
Chapter 6 Northern Baikal 145
Severobaikalsk 145, Nizhneangarsk 150, Baikalskoe 153,
Goudzhekit 155, Dzelinda 155, Northeast shore 156
Appendix 1 Language 159
Appendix Further Information 168
Index 181
Born in the UK, Marc Di Duca has spent a decade living, working and travelling in post-communist Eastern Europe. His Ukrainian wife and in-laws have helped him gain a sound knowledge of Russian to add to his fluent Czech.
Was very helpful in picking out sites to visit (e.g. architectural museum) and more importantly getting us connected with Jack Sheremetoff for his Baikaler hostel and for a two day farmstay excursion with an amazing guided hike to see the petroglyphs on the shores of Lake Baikal. We can't wait to go back and see Baikal in the winter.
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