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Show MYSTERY OF LAKE BAIKAL Body of Water Remote From Ocean Contalni Many Organisms Apparently Ap-parently Marine. Tho rlddlo of Lako Baikal, In con tral Asia, is similar to that of Lako Tanganyika, In central Africa. In both cascb a largo body of fresh water, remote re-mote from the ocean, contains organ Isctib apparently marine Both lakes, again, contain a very large number of spoclos not found elsowhere. Lake Bal kat contains numerous salmon and seals as well as throo species of her ring. It also contains a few mollusca of apparently marine forms. Ono of the most remarkable fea tures of tho lake, perhaps, Is that, although al-though it Is frozon over for about five months In tho year, the animal life la extremely abundant and varied. This may bo partly accountod for, perhaps by tho extstenco of hot springs. Ono of tho latest attempts to answer an-swer tho rlddlo of Lake Baikal Is that of tho Russian Investigator Berg. Of tho 33 specimens of fish found In tho lako ho finds that 14 aro peculiar to It, whllo ,19 have a wldo distribution In Siberia and Europe Many of theso pocullar species aro without near rolationB nnywhoro. Of the mollusca 90 per cent, aro peculiar Berg docs not think tho facts do maud tho hypothesis that tho lako was onco marine. Ho believes that it has always beon fresh and that the fauna peculiar to It havo had a twofold or Igln. A part 'has originated In the lako itself during tho long nges of Its existence, and tho rest Is a portion of tho prehistoric fresh water fauna of Siberia which it has preserved. Hor pcr's Weekly. , t |