All About Olkhon

Olkhon!!!! I can’t wait to tell you about this amazing place, especially if you’ve never heard of it. It’s the largest island on lake Baikal, which is the oldest and deepest lake in the world (and locals say the cleanest) containing 20% of the worlds fresh water. The island only received electricity in 2005 and internet is spotty to say the least, and it’s population is no more than 2000 people. But it’s a place of incredible historical, literary, and ecological significance for Russia and the world and I’ve been dying to come here since I started to plan this summer over a year ago. I’m doing a 3-day excursion here, off-reading through the middle of nowhere Siberia and nothing has ever felt more magical (except that I got food poisoning yesterday night and was up most of the night, that was not magical 🤢). But I’m feeling great today and ready to explore more of the island!!