The World's Oldest And Deepest Lake Is Really Pretty When It's Frozen (PHOTOS)

There's a lake in Russia you may have heard of that happens to be the world's oldest (25 million years, thank you) and deepest (1,700 meters to be exact).

Located in south-east Siberia, Lake Baikal is an ice lover and ecological savant's dream come true. Oh, did we mention that it contains 1/5 of the world's unfrozen freshwater reserve (more than the Great Lakes combined)?

Here it is all frozen and stuff.

Referred to as the 'Galapagos of Russia', it's also an UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its plentiful and unique fauna, with some 1,340 species of animals and 570 species of plant.

Adventuresome tourists have long visited the lake to drive across it (or walk across it) frozen and take on some more regular expeditions like kayaking, skating and biking. You can base your trip in Irkutsk, one of Siberia's largest cities, that has the usual Russian fare of pretty orthodox churches and 19th century architecture.

For anyone keeping track, the weather forecast for the area the next few days hovers in the high teens, low 20s. Happy (ice) trails!