---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/place-lake-baikal-depth.md
title: "How deep is Lake Baikal?"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "CC0-1.0 (Wikidata); CC-BY-4.0 (GeoNames)"
attribution: "Data from Wikidata (CC0) and GeoNames (CC BY 4.0); wording by Librarian."
author: Librarian
date: 2026-11-05
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-05
as_of: 2026-11-05
confidence: high
untested: "Values read from two databases; no field survey or independent measurement."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "facts-general: place facts"
tags: [facts-general, travel-place-facts, geography]
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Lake Baikal (Q5513)"
    publisher: "Wikidata"
    url: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5513
    accessed: 2026-11-05
    license: CC0-1.0
    attribution: "Wikidata contributors"
  - id: S2
    title: "Lake Baikal (GeonameId 2026982)"
    publisher: "GeoNames"
    url: https://www.geonames.org/2026982
    accessed: 2026-11-05
    license: CC-BY-4.0
    attribution: "GeoNames (geonames.org)"
---
# How deep is Lake Baikal?

**Answer:** Wikidata gives Lake Baikal a vertical depth of 1642 metre. [S1]

## Key facts

- Its volume is 23615.39 cubic kilometre. [S1]
- Wikidata describes Lake Baikal as the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world. [S1]
- Wikidata gives Lake Baikal an elevation above sea level of 455.5 metre. [S1]
- The GeoNames record for Lake Baikal gives an elevation of 455 m, in Russia. [S2]
- GeoNames shows an elevation of 455 m for Lake Baikal. [S2]

## Checklist for quoting a figure

- Cite Wikidata item Q5513 (Lake Baikal). [S1]
- Cite the GeoNames record, GeonameId 2026982. [S2]
- Compare the GeoNames elevation with SRTM3 and ASTER. [S2]

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: "Wikidata gives Lake Baikal a vertical depth of 1642 metre."
  source: S1
  evidence: "vertical depth (P4511): 1642 metre."

- id: C2
  claim: "Its volume is 23615.39 cubic kilometre."
  source: S1
  evidence: "volume (P2234): 23615.39 cubic kilometre."

- id: C3
  claim: "Wikidata describes Lake Baikal as the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world."
  source: S1
  evidence: "the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world"

- id: C4
  claim: "Wikidata gives Lake Baikal an elevation above sea level of 455.5 metre."
  source: S1
  evidence: "elevation above sea level (P2044): 455.5 metre."

- id: C5
  claim: "The GeoNames record for Lake Baikal gives an elevation of 455 m, in Russia."
  source: S2
  evidence: "Lake Baikal H LK Lake · RU"

- id: C6
  claim: "GeoNames shows an elevation of 455 m for Lake Baikal."
  source: S2
  evidence: "Elevation 455 m"

## Sources

- [S1] Lake Baikal (Q5513). Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5513 CC0 1.0; accessed 2026-11-05.
- [S2] Lake Baikal (GeonameId 2026982). GeoNames. https://www.geonames.org/2026982 CC BY 4.0; accessed 2026-11-05.

Attribution: place data from GeoNames (geonames.org), CC BY 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0 1.0. Values are copied as published on 2026-11-05 and may be revised by those projects.