Baikal seal resort
About 52 million years ago, according to the hypothesis of scientists, the tops of the underwater Academic Range were above the surface of Lake Baikal, and a unique archipelago was formed, including the Big Ushkaniy and Small Ushkany Islands, which in turn consist of three islands - Thin, Long and Round. On our planet there are few such strange places, mysterious archipelagos that have preserved their originality.
The isolation of the Ushkani Islands for many millions of years, their remoteness from civilization provided them with a unique nature and microclimate. For example, there are the oldest outcrops of marble of stunning beauty shades – from pink to emerald. And even there is an elephant (a small rock of pink marble shaped like an elephant), which lowered the trunk into Baikal and drinks its crystal water. Only on the Big Ushkaniy Island you can see fantastic clusters of anthills (9 km2 of the total area of the islands are about 6-7 thousand), while some of them are truly giant in size (high in human height and up to three meters in diameter). The flora of the islands is also diverse. Larchs have bottle-shaped trunks, and many trees have a flag-shaped crown, here you can also find a rare flower from the orchid family - winter dremlik.
It is no coincidence that this archipelago is included in the reserved territory of the Trans-Baikal National Park and is under its careful supervision. These islands have long been chosen by the Baikal seal (Phoca Sibirica) - endemic and the only mammal of Baikal from more than 2000 living organisms inhabiting the lake. Nerpa is the top of the food chain in Baikal and its impact on its ecosystem is huge. The total number is about 70 thousand animals. It is still unclear how the seal got into the freshwater continental body of water.In clear sunny weather, cute and funny seals like gas stationers like to bask on coastal stones. Sometimes several hundred individuals gather on the “sloppy” beach. Therefore, in summer excursions to Ushkanyi Islands, where the opportunity to observe the seal in its natural habitat is of particular interest to tourists. There's an observation deck here. Through the cloaking network, it is convenient to observe these shy animals and take photos and videos, remaining invisible to them. However, visiting Ushkanyi Island is allowed only with a special written permission, which can be obtained from the administration of the Trans-Baikal National Park in the village of Ust-Barguzin.