Lake Baikal is so large that it can easily be mistaken for sea, it is also the deepest and oldest lake on Earth, as well as the largest freshwater lake in terms of volume. But these are only the best known facts about Lake Baikal. There are more mysterious things going on there.

For example, the phenomenon known as Baikal Zen - large pebbles, puzzlingly balanced on a thin pillar of ice, above the frozen surface of the lake. Scientists have studied this rare phenomenon for many years, but still have not had the most accurate answer.

Photographs of the Baikal Zen phenomenon started circulating online about four years ago, but many think they are just images created by digital.

However, it was soon later proven that the images were authentic and that such natural works of art could form on the surface of Lake Baikal during winter.

So what exactly is Baikal Zen? In fact, it can be simply described as "meditating" flat stones lying on thin ice, several centimeters above the surface of the lake. It was undoubtedly a beautiful sight and one that scientists around the world had to scratch their heads on for a long time.

It is believed that Baikal Zen occurred when these flat stones froze on the surface of the lake, then heated by the sun’s rays, to the point where the ice below them began to melt. However, heat is not the only cause of this phenomenon. If this is the case, the ice will melt uniformly and there will be no pillars of ice to hold.

Occasional strong winds blowing on Lake Baikal also played an important role in the creation of the Baikal Zen systems, as it prevented the melting of the central column of ice. So while most of the ice under the rocks melts due to heat, creating a concave surface, the central pillar remains the fulcrum. Therefore, wind must be blown for this amazing phenomenon to happen.

But how to start with these stones curving across the lake? According to Russian photographer Elena Vtorushina, who took some photos of Baikal Zen formations in 2018, they were blown into the ice by strong winds and froze in place.