Bergans Bajkal 2010 Expedition took place in February and March 2010 when Václav Sůra and Pavel Blažek successfully accomplished the first Czech crossing (lengthwise) of the lake Baikal in Siberia. The crossing was finished after 24 days and 6 hours at 1.01 p.m. of the Irkutsk Time (GMT+8), March 19, 2010 after the guys had walked almost 650 km (440 miles). It has been the second fastest unassisted crossing ever accomplished (unassisted means that neither dogs nor kites were used to cover the distance). Pavel and Vašek carried all of the equipment and food with them right from the beginning and did not resupply along the way - their sleds weighed about 108 kg (238 lbs) per person when they set out.

KEY FACTS ABOUT THE EXPEDITION

LAKE BAIKAL

The lake Baikla is situated in the southeast of
Siberia, Russia. At 25 - 30 million years old it is
the world’s oldest lake. It is 640 km (398 miles)
long, the width differs from 27 to 80 km (17 -
50 miles). Lake Baikal is in a rift valley
created by the Baikal Rift Zone where the
crust of the earth is pulling apart at the
speed of 2 cm (about an inch) a year. With
an average depth of 744.4 m (2,442 ft) it is
also the deepest lake in the world - 1637 m
(5,387 ft) deep in the deepest point. The lake is
the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world
holding over 20% of the world's surface fresh water.

DISTANCES, WEIGHT, TEMPERATURES, ETC.

LENGTH OF THE LAKE636 km / 395 miles
TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED683 km / 424 miles*
WEIGHT OF THE SLEDS AT THE BEGINNING108 kg / 238 lbs
WEIGHT OF THE SLEDS AT THE END56 kg / 123 lbs
LOWEST TEMPERATURE-36 °C / -33 F
MAX DISTANCE COVERED IN 1 DAY36.41 km / 22.6 miles
START OF THE EXPEDITIONKultuk village
END OF THE EXPEDITIONNizhneangarsk village
DAILY ENERGY OUTPUTabout 8,000 Kcal

* 647 km (402 miles) according to GPS which provided only the distance as the crow flies to which you have to add at least 1.5 km (about a mile) a day to get the distance which was actually covered.

SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE EXPEDITION WEB

Today's photos of the ice crack is amazing and breath taking. It looks as though you are looking through a prism into the depths of the earth. I wish you much smooth ice for your journey tomorrow. Stay safe.

Tim Buchanan

KROKEM JEZEREM LEDEM

Documentary about expedition Bergans Baikal 2010

Director: Jakub Jurásek

LECTURES, EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS