Deep In The Heart Of Siberia

  • Storm clouds pass over Lake Baikal in Siberia. Baikal is the world's largest and oldest lake, and is estimated to hold close to 20 percent of the world's fresh water. When the lake freezes, residents can drive across the ice. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • Yuri Bronnikov, a former engineer, stands in front of a wintry landscape on the shores of Lake Baikal. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • Bronnikov prepares cold-smoked omul on a snowbank. Omul is a type of whitefish found only in Lake Baikal, and is considered a delicacy throughout Russia. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • Schoolchildren take the bus home from classes in the town of Posolske, on Lake Baikal. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • Tatiana Ilyinichna works behind the counter of a small grocery store. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • A man sips his tea in a roadside cafe on the highway between the city of Ulan-Ude and Lake Baikal. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • A brightly colored hardware shop lines the streets of Posolske. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • A man hauls water in old milk cans. Many homes in rural areas here do not have running water. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • A small dog waits for scraps outside a grocery store. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • Storm clouds pass overhead (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • A man rides his motorcycle slowly on the town's ice-covered streets. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • Georgy Pushkaryov, a resident of Posolske, says he’s been disappointed with Russia's ruling political party. (David Gilkey/NPR)
  • Storm clouds pass above Lake Baikal. (David Gilkey/NPR)