OLDEST AND COLDEST LAKE
that Lake Baikal has a strange way of sensing good and evil in people and treats them accordingly) began coming to mind in an eerie way.
She, however, never expected the water of the most ancient lake to be so forgiving that she could vividly watch various types of crustaceans, fish and other residents of the lake float by. This was Laila’s reminder that Baikal was not merely a body of water, but an ancient lively entity with a soul, a source of endless life.
Story worth telling
Oxygen bubbles were imprinted and carved in the frozen sheets of ice above her head. And as she came up to the surface, bidding goodbye to a body of water with millions of years of history, she felt an indescribable joy, knowing that her story would impact generations of young girls and women to come.
“This diving experience taught me that, in order to properly appreciate the vast creations of the earth, we must get comfortable with the idea of the unknown. The earth was created for everything to coexist harmoniously - humans are only a small part of this system - and I realised that as soon I hit the water,” said Laila who is currently pursuing her passion as a geologist, working with strategic and precious metals in the mining industry of Oman.
Done with this dream, Laila has now set her eyes on the Pacific Ring of Fire (a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur). She’s also planning to return to Russia to visit the Valley of Geysers in Kam
Lake Baikal, located in southern Siberia, is the largest source of freshwater on Earth, containing 23% of the world’s fresh water. It is also considered the clearest and geologically the oldest lake on the planet, its age estimated at 25-30 million years. It is also the deepest lake on Earth, and is estimated to grow even deeper in the future. It is home to over two thousand plant and animal species, many of which are endemic to the region and evolved over millions of years. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. chatka peninsula.
As a piece of advice to young girls in Oman, Laila says, “Mind over matter. There's a whole world out there that's yet to be discovered. The ‘box’ we live in is created by the fear and limitations we impose on ourselves. It is just that - a box - and you have the power to step out of it, whenever you want to!”