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In places where temperatures can reach −70°C, survival depends on adapted infrastructure, technology and human resilience to withstand extreme weather conditions.
For many, winter means a few months of cold. But there is one place where temperatures can drop below -70°C and the ground never thaws. That place is Oymyakon in Russia, considered the coldest inhabited settlement in the world.
The small Siberian village faces extreme conditions, where survival requires resilience and adaptation. The residents have developed strategies to deal with this reality, with daily challenges in Frost.
How Oymyakon became the coldest city
Oymyakon began as a stopping point for reindeer herders. Over time, a small community grew up there, despite the freezing temperatures.
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In 1924, the town recorded -71,2 °C, the lowest temperature ever recorded in an inhabited place. The intense cold is due to the geography of the region. The village is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, preventing the entry of warmer winds. The cold air is trapped, creating an extreme climate almost all year round.
Everyday life in the coldest place in the world
Living in Oymyakon means facing daily challenges. The extreme cold affects everything from food to transportation.
- Nothing grows in the soil — Frozen ground prevents agriculture. The local diet is based on reindeer meat, frozen fish and dairy products.
- Tap water not working — The cold freezes the pipes. Residents collect water from wells or store it at home.
- Cars cannot be turned off — Engines freeze and may stop working if turned off in winter.
- Clothes are a matter of survival — Going out without several layers of thermal clothing can be dangerous, as exposure to intense cold can be fatal.
- Activities continue as normal — Schools and businesses are open. Classes are only suspended when temperatures drop below -50°C.
Fun facts about Oymyakon
In addition to the extreme cold, Oymyakon has some peculiarities that make life even more challenging.
- Winter almost all year round — Snow has covered the region for nine months. Summer lasts only a few weeks and can reach temperatures of 20°C.
- Be careful when blinking — At temperatures below -50°C, tears can freeze instantly.
- Cell phones don't work — Cold weather drains batteries quickly and can break screens on electronic devices.
- Freezing meats in the open air — In the market, food is left outside the refrigerators and frozen naturally.
- Extreme days and nights — In winter, there are only three hours of sunlight per day. In summer, the sun can shine for up to 21 hours.
Main economic activities
Mining is the main economic activity in Oymyakon. Some activities are financed by the government, such as gold mining. There are also mines for antimony, a rare and valuable metal. In addition, the local population survives by raising livestock, such as cattle and horses, hunting reindeer and elk, and fishing in frozen lakes.
Another activity that is showing slight growth is tourism, attracting between 300 and 400 visitors per year. Tourists brave the freezing cold to take part in reindeer races, ice fishing and bathing in hot springs. The exotic beauty of the landscape is also a draw, with a sacred lake and mountains that make up the backdrop of the remote Siberian town.
How do residents deal with the cold?
The population of Oymyakon, around 500 people, has developed strategies to cope with the cold. Their homes are well insulated and heated with wood or electricity. A diet rich in protein helps maintain body temperature.
Even in extreme conditions, local traditions continue. Traditional festivals, sled races and other activities are part of everyday life.
Oymyakon is one of the most extreme places on the planet. To survive, you need to be prepared and know how to deal with temperatures that defy human limits.
For those seeking adventure, visiting the village can be an unforgettable experience. But it is essential to be prepared to face a cold that few have ever felt.
With information from Correio Braziliense.
Very “freezing” report. I like the cold and I think that human beings “are cold-blooded”. But -50°C and having frozen tears is a tough nut to crack.
The main information, economic activity, was missing from the article.
Raising reindeer and fishing
“Oymyakon’s main economic activity is mining. Some activities are financed by the government, such as gold mining. There are also mines for antimony, a rare and valuable metal. In addition, the local population survives by raising animals, such as **** and horses, as well as hunting reindeer and elk and fishing in frozen lakes.
Another activity that is showing slight growth is tourism, attracting between 300 and 400 visitors per year. Tourists brave the freezing cold to take part in reindeer races, ice fishing and bathing in hot springs…
They didn't speak but they wrote!!!
Government resources, gold mining, hunting and fishing, didn't you read the report?
You really missed reading the article, the economic activity is CLEARLY described!! 🙄🙄🙄
Please read it again!!! THEY even BREED HORSES!!! EVEN THOUGH it is impossible to even imagine HOW they manage to stay alive in such conditions!!! THEY also FISH in frozen lakes!!! My brain can't even process that!!! I'm not even good enough to visit a place like that!!! I can't stand the cold or the heat HERE IN BRAZIL!!!... And there, when it's hot, it's twenty degrees!!! Cold is over seventy below zero!!! Just managing to stay alive there IS ALREADY an intense economic activity 😂... But they manage...
And yet
Can you breed HORSES?
FISHING
E
CREATE TOURIST INTEREST which is ALSO an economic activity there and has been for some time
It was said yes,
Survival and economic activities are, gold and antimony extraction, fishing and hunting
You forgot to read the report. If the title doesn't allow for a pertinent comment
It is in the text: “Mining, gold and antimony”.
I would never live in that place and only the adventurous like it.