Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On the frozen surface of Lake Baikal, fishing is not a tradition. It is survival.
For generations, lakeside communities have lived almost entirely from the fish beneath the ice, especially the omul, known as the bread of Baikal.
In winter, fishermen lower heavy nets under meters of ice, working in temperatures below minus 20 degrees. Every movement is dangerous. One mistake can mean death.
Once, Soviet kolkhozes supported entire villages. Today, they are gone. Fishermen work alone, villages shrink, and basic living conditions are increasingly precarious.
As fish stocks decline and communities age, Lake Baikal’s fishermen face an uncertain future, caught between resilience, memory, and a way of life that may soon disappear.
Documentary: Secret Life of Lakes - Lake Baikal, Ice and Water
Directed by: Stéphane Bégoin
Production : Arte France, ZED, Productions Nova Media
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Any illegal reproduction of this content will result in immediate legal action.
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#documentary #slice #fulldocumentary #freedocumentary #lakebaikal #siberia #fishermen #icefishing #omul #endemicfish #russianvillages #decliningcommunities #traditionalfishing #extremeliving #humanresilience #resilience #lifeinwinter #environmentandpeople #cold #ice #ruralrussia #snow #tough
On the frozen surface of Lake Baikal, fishing is not a tradition. It is survival.
For generations, lakeside communities have lived almost entirely from the fish beneath the ice, especially the omul, known as the bread of Baikal.
In winter, fishermen lower heavy nets under meters of ice, working in temperatures below minus 20 degrees. Every movement is dangerous. One mistake can mean death.
Once, Soviet kolkhozes supported entire villages. Today, they are gone. Fishermen work alone, villages shrink, and basic living conditions are increasingly precarious.
As fish stocks decline and communities age, Lake Baikal’s fishermen face an uncertain future, caught between resilience, memory, and a way of life that may soon disappear.
Documentary: Secret Life of Lakes - Lake Baikal, Ice and Water
Directed by: Stéphane Bégoin
Production : Arte France, ZED, Productions Nova Media
We fully own the rights to the use of the published content.
Any illegal reproduction of this content will result in immediate legal action.
SLICE wants to fill up your curiosity!
Accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time, this channel is your weekly dose of short docs about curious facts, discoveries, astounding info, unusual stories, weird, fun and instructive. Be smart, have a slice!
Subscribe now ►►► youtube.com/channel/UCvziXdVCN7PMdFZEFZ6aEqQ?sub_confirmation=1
Become a fan ! youtube.com/channel/UCvziXdVCN7PMdFZEFZ6aEqQ/join
Follow us 👇
In French: youtube.com/c/SLICEFR
Facebook: facebook.com/slicedocs
Instagram: instagram.com/slicedocs
#documentary #slice #fulldocumentary #freedocumentary #lakebaikal #siberia #fishermen #icefishing #omul #endemicfish #russianvillages #decliningcommunities #traditionalfishing #extremeliving #humanresilience #resilience #lifeinwinter #environmentandpeople #cold #ice #ruralrussia #snow #tough
