A Village That Redefines the Meaning of “Cold”
Imagine waking up in the morning, pulling back the curtains, and finding the window covered with such a thick layer of ice that you cannot see outside. You open the door, and your eyelashes begin to stick together. Your breath freezes in the air, forming tiny ice crystals.
This is not science fiction. This is Oymyakon, a small village in Siberia, Russia, widely known as one of the coldest permanently inhabited places on Earth.
The cold here can be so extreme that:
- The ink in ordinary pens can freeze.
- Mobile phone batteries can lose their charge within minutes.
- People may keep their car engines running because restarting a completely cold engine can be extremely difficult.
Let us take a closer look at life in this extreme-weather village.
1. Where Is Oymyakon? — Location and Geography
Fact| Details
Country| Russia
Region| Eastern Siberia
Republic| Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
Elevation| Approximately 750 metres
Population| Around several hundred people
Location| Roughly 350 km south of the Arctic Circle
Oymyakon is located near the Indigirka River in the Sakha Republic of Russia. The name is commonly associated with a local word meaning “non-freezing water,” referring to a nearby warm spring that historically provided water even during the severe winter.
The irony is striking: this is a place where temperatures can fall far below the freezing point, yet its name is connected with water that does not freeze.
2. How Cold Does It Get? — Temperature Records
Oymyakon is famous for its extreme winter temperatures.
- Lowest officially recorded temperature: On 6 February 1933, a temperature of approximately -67.7°C was recorded at Oymyakon. This is among the lowest temperatures ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Winter temperatures: During the coldest months, temperatures can regularly fall below -40°C.
- Long winter: The cold season can extend from around October to April.
- Summer: Despite its brutal winters, temperatures can rise considerably during summer and can occasionally reach around +30°C.
This means the annual temperature range can exceed 100°C, showing just how dramatically the climate changes between winter and summer.
3. How Do People Live There? — Lifestyle
(A) Clothing — A Matter of Survival
In extreme winter conditions, proper clothing is essential.
- Traditional clothing may be made from reindeer or other animal fur, providing strong insulation against the cold.
- Special winter footwear is used to protect the feet from freezing temperatures.
- People cover most of their faces, leaving only a small opening around the eyes.
- Protective eyewear can be useful because bright sunlight reflecting from snow can cause snow blindness.
At temperatures far below freezing, exposing bare skin for even a short period can be dangerous.
(B) Food and Diet
Traditional food in the region is heavily influenced by the local climate and environment.
One famous dish is stroganina, which consists of thinly sliced frozen raw fish. Freshly caught fish can freeze extremely quickly in the severe cold.
Fresh vegetables are difficult to grow locally during the long, harsh winter because the region has permafrost—ground that remains frozen for long periods.
Traditional diets therefore include foods such as:
- Fish
- Meat
- Reindeer
- Horse meat
- Dairy products
(C) Homes and Basic Facilities
Homes in Oymyakon have to be designed to withstand extreme cold.
Buildings require strong insulation and effective heating systems. In such conditions, water and sewage infrastructure can be challenging because pipes can freeze.
In some places, outdoor toilets are used because maintaining indoor plumbing in extremely cold conditions can be difficult.
When temperatures become dangerously low, even simple activities such as opening doors, handling metal objects, or travelling outside can become challenging.
(D) Schools and Daily Work
Education continues even during extremely cold weather, although schools may close when temperatures fall below certain locally determined safety thresholds.
One of the biggest challenges is simply breathing extremely cold air. People therefore often cover their mouths and noses with scarves or other protective clothing. This helps warm and humidify the air before it is inhaled.
4. What Do People Do There? — Employment and Livelihood
Traditional livelihoods in the region are closely connected to the natural environment.
Major activities include:
- Reindeer herding
- Fishing
- Animal husbandry
- Fur-related work
- Local trade
In recent years, tourism has also become increasingly important.
Visitors from different parts of the world travel to experience one of the coldest inhabited environments on Earth. Some local residents provide accommodation, food, guides and other services for tourists.
Saunas are also popular because they provide a dramatic contrast to the freezing outdoor environment.
5. Interesting Facts About Oymyakon
1. Mobile Phones Can Be Difficult to Use
At extremely low temperatures, batteries lose their capacity rapidly. As a result, people avoid keeping electronic devices outside for long periods.
2. Metal Can Be Dangerous to Touch
Touching exposed metal with bare skin in extremely cold weather can cause the skin to freeze and stick to the surface.
3. Frozen Breath
When temperatures are extremely low, moisture from breathing can rapidly freeze into tiny ice crystals, creating a visible cloud around a person's face.
4. Even Burial Can Be Difficult
Because the ground can remain deeply frozen, preparing a grave may require considerable effort, including thawing or heating the soil before digging.
5. Frozen Waterways
During severe winters, rivers and lakes can become completely frozen. Historically, frozen waterways have sometimes been used for transportation in remote parts of Siberia.
6. Extreme Daylight Variation
Because of Oymyakon's high latitude, the length of daylight changes dramatically throughout the year. Summer brings very long days, while winter has very short periods of daylight.
6. What Is It Like to Visit Oymyakon? — Challenges for Tourists
Visiting Oymyakon is not an ordinary holiday experience.
How to Get There
Travellers commonly reach Yakutsk, one of the major cities in the Sakha Republic, before continuing by road toward Oymyakon. The journey can take many hours and may involve difficult winter road conditions.
Keeping Vehicles Running
In extremely cold weather, starting a vehicle after leaving it switched off for a long period can be very difficult. For this reason, vehicle owners may take special measures to prevent engines and mechanical systems from becoming completely frozen.
Shopping and Food
Frozen fish and other foods are a normal part of life in the region. In extremely cold conditions, freshly caught fish can freeze very quickly.
The “Pole of Cold”
Oymyakon is often promoted as a “Pole of Cold” destination and attracts travellers who want to experience its extraordinary winter temperatures.
The Irony of Life in Oymyakon
The story of Oymyakon is not simply a story about extreme cold. It is also a story about human resilience, adaptation and survival.
While many people find temperatures around 10°C uncomfortable, residents of Oymyakon have developed ways of living and working in conditions that can fall below -50°C.
Their lifestyle demonstrates how human beings can adapt to some of the most challenging environments on Earth.
At the same time, the region is experiencing changes associated with a warming climate. Rising temperatures and changing winter conditions are important issues for communities across the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Siberia.
So, the next time you complain about the cold during winter, remember that somewhere in Siberia, people have built an entire way of life around temperatures that can plunge to -50°C and below.
Oymyakon is more than just one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth—it is a remarkable example of human adaptation to an extreme environment.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes. Temperature records, population figures, travel conditions and local practices can vary over time. Readers should verify the latest information from reliable sources before planning a trip to Oymyakon.
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