However, these seas are saline, and the Baikal water is fresh, besides, in our Siberian lake functions natural mechanism of purification, developed over the centuries and, as it proved to be. of perfect performance.
First, the water in Baikal is constantly intermixed. From steep shore slopes like from trampolines water rushes down gradually forcing out the deeper layers. With cyclic recurrence of about once in 20 years the surface and deep layers of water change places. Constant circular currents of surface waters and concealed underground sources of heat, warming up both the bottom of the lake and lower layers of water that go up, only aid to the water movement. Because of this perpetual circulation, water is a good habitat for different life forms.
Baikal purifies itself of everything brought by rivers and brooks, and also of products of vital functions of its own flora and fauna. A curious fact: hvdrobiologists calculated that every water drop that gets into the lake in form of precipitations or with tributaries, remains in Baikal for as much as 400 years! During this time, mechanical particles form sediment, and the organic ones become food for inhabitants of the lake.
Some species of numerous organisms that inhabit Baikal seem to be created intentionally to purif’ the environment. The Baikal crustaceans fulfill colossal invisible work, which brings, though, quite visible results. The smallest of them are the epishura, barely perceptible with unaided eye. Epishura is both a food for many fish, and workers of immense laboratory of water purification, which can ‘filter’ the upper 50-meter layer of water three times a year.
Another crustacean - funny and gluttonous amphipod - gobbles up anything that gets into water at different depth and at the bottom, it eats up drowned insects, dead fish and animals.
Many Baikal crustaceans are cndemics of the Siberian lake, that is they are not found in any other water body of the planet.
THE DREAM OF SUMMER ROCK
(page 54 - 55)
It truly can be only dreamt about. The rock is not rock at all, but a humpbacked old woman with a staff. A finished silhouette, chiseled without any participation of man. but comprehended by human. For how many centuries does this old lady plod? She is lonely on this deserted shore, only birds visit her, and winds fan, and she cannot reach the water by any means...
Baikal rocks are of different color. Here is the red, ochre. farther on are rocks of limestone or maybe of dolomite marble that glows any time of the day.
Many wonders can he found on the Baikal shores that extend to 2000 kilometers. One has to look attentively to find warm sards and blue pieces of lazuli polished by water, so blue that it seems to absorb the blue of the depths. On the other hand, nephrite, also found on the shore, is of grassy green color. However, the water sometimes gets so green, one cannot but marvel. Of this green stone another mythical creature appeared - either a kangaroo, or a dinosaur. It is not at all mean, protects a cave entrance.
In a word, if one looks around more attentively, one can see not only the sea landscape, but images that are worthy of Salvador Dali’s paintings.
THE FOG - THE CLOSED EYES OF THE MORNING BAIKAL
(page 58 - 59)
Baikal under the bright sun sparkles and dazzles. But once we came to Baikal when low clouds seemed to wander right on the steep shore slopes. Gray, moist, shaggy, they rained, and this rain resembled fog. Water lied in the bowl of shores like lead - heavy and still. The panorama of the lake from great height was captivating...
Fog in this area is as diverse as any other displays of nature. Sometimes it is semi-rain, such as we have seen that day. But often fog does not betoken rain: for some time the mysterious white shroud intrigues, plays hide-and-seek, that is, hides all the surrounding things, dissolves all colors and absorbs all sounds. and then, as if with one movement, disperses, recedes and reveals the blue expanse.
The classic image of a horse with a bell grazing in fog occupies a fitting place at Baikal. How sweet is the mystery of fog, how childish are the nature’s tricks, ready to propose a riddle, and then, without waiting, burst out laughing and blurt out the correct answer! There is no fog, no secret - here it is, the clear water, here arc the transparent expanses, tender eyelashes of forests. There is place for everything at Baikal - for monolithic mountains and for fragile, almost transparent, butterfly.
Sometimes it is nothing but a hint, delicate and gentle - white airy fog, that seem to exist solely to shade the horizon in order not to confuse the heart of man with the vastness of the sea lying before him.
THE BROCADE OF WATER...
(page 60- 61)
Baikal changes not only during different seasons, no, its image transforms every hour, and it is interesting sometimes to observe the all-transforming play of light on the surface or in the depth of
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