Lake Baikal is located in Buratya, which is in south Siberia, Russia. It is the deepest and largest freshwater lake in the world,  and one of the clearest. During the winter ice-season (January to April), the lake freezes completely to a depth of 140 cm, allowing safe vehicle driving and hiking. Beautiful ice caves and other ice formations are created on the rocky banks and many unique cracks, crevasses and frozen bubbles can be seen. Olkhon, the large island in the middle of the lake, is the home and center for many Buryat Shamans who consider the lake and its surroundings to be a sacred place.