Chapter 8 The baikal rift system

Abstract

This chapter describes the Baikal rift system, which is 1800 km to 2400 km long and is situated at the boundary between the Siberian Platform to the northwest and the Caledonian Sayan-Baikal fold belt to the southeast. This rift system has been the object of intensive study by Soviet scientists for many years. The Baikal rift system is composed of fifteen individual topographic depressions which are associated with an approximately 1500-km long domal uplift. The central portion of Baikal Rift system is almost entirely located on the relatively weak and anisotropic basement of the Sayan-Baikal fold belt. The sub-vertical crustal boundary between the Siberian Platform and the fold belt forms an abrupt western boundary for the central portion of the rift system and its domal uplift, and in particular runs along the west side of the Lake Baikal depressions.