Sochi Olympic torch relay dives into world’s deepest freshwater lake (video, photos)

The Olympic flame plunged into Lake Baikal on Saturday. A man with a jetpack then carried it above the lake to shore.

A Sochi 2014 group dived about 40 feet into the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake with three special torches that can burn underwater at a temperature of 3,600 degrees Farenheit, according to Russian news outlet RT.

Here’s video from RT.

The Sochi 2014 website explained how the flame could stay lit while submerged:

The continuous burning of the flame during the dive was possible thanks to a special burner, which was designed and developed in a similar way to flares used for warning signals at sea. The device was lit by the unique Olympic flame using a special pyrotechnic charge.

A Russian TV anchor, the vice president of the Sochi Olympic Organizing Committee, a professional diver, an emergency rescuer and a former underwater swimmer scout for Russia’s Pacific Fleet accompanied the flame, according to RT.

Lake Baikal contains enough water to provide Earth's 7 billion people with six cups of water a day for the next 6,000 years. #sochi2014

— David Nowak (@David_Nowak1) November 23, 2013

The dive culminated with a “flame kiss,” as seen in one of the photos below:

#Sochi2014 Olympic Flame goes underwater at Lake #Baikal. We are proud to share with you this unique photos. pic.twitter.com/vUC77mPSXc

— Sochi 2014 (@Sochi2014) November 23, 2013

Sochi-2014 Olympic torch dives into history at Lake Baikal http://t.co/XogHDXXJ2h pic.twitter.com/kgbwYOWtmO

— RT (@RT_com) November 23, 2013

Факелоносец на летательном аппарате во время эстафеты Олимпийского огня на Байкале pic.twitter.com/uwVjHaP2C1

— РИА Новости (@rianru) November 23, 2013

WOW! The lit #Torch below the surface of Lake Baikal, where culminated with a "Flame Kiss" at a depth of 13 meters pic.twitter.com/LOWGCHNXTy

— Sochi 2014 (@Sochi2014) November 23, 2013

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