Explained: What causes the rare ‘Baikal Zen’?

Have you ever seen a rock standing on a wave of water? This surprisingly rare phenomenon is called Baikal Zen. Also known as the Zen Stone phenomenon. Its a rare sight and one that will surprise you like anything.

This occurs usually at Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia.

Zen Stone or Baikal Zen Explained

There are multiple scientific theories that try to prove the phenomenon.

1. One theory says “At one point the bottom of the stone froze to the surface of the ice, and over time, relentless winds wore away its underpinnings, sublimating the ice and shaping a smooth pedestal within a shallow depression”
   
2. Another theory says “this rare effect happens when a flat rock that has fallen onto the ice catches the spring sun and melts the ice underneath it”

The effect is usually fount mostly in Lake Baikal of Siberia. However, it is not unique to that lake only and can occurs in other frozen lakes as well. However Lake Baikal has its uniqueness being the deepest freshwater lake in the world.

Few Interesting Facts about Lake Baikal

• Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world (by volume) and the world’s deepest lake containing 22 to 23% of the world’s fresh surface water.
• Experts say Lake Baikal is the oldest lake in the world and home to approximately 1,700 to 1,800 endemic plant and animal species.
• The volume of the lake is almost equivalent to all five of the North American Great Lakes combined.

The first known photos of the Baikal Zen or Zen Stones phenomenon first surfaced on the web back in 2018. These photos were part of a photography competition won by Olga Zima. Since then the interest on the phenomenon has grown immensely and new photographers have emerged who have captured the phenomenon.

One recent example is Elena Vtorushina of city Ulan Ude who posted a whole album.

In many ways such phenomenon tell us about the miracles that exist on earth that are yet to be discovered. It also gives us motivation to discover more about life, nature and earth.

If you are looking for more motivation don’t forget to check out our list of 100+ Motivation Quotes for Life