Brits are renowned for their weather-related grumbling, whether it's a drizzle, a chill, or a rare burst of sun. Yet, our climate grievances pale in comparison to the daily reality for residents of the planet's most frigid urban centre. While we might shiver during a frosty morning, we are thankfully spared the life-threatening conditions endured in Yakutsk, the Siberian city officially recognised as the world's coldest.
The Unforgiving Climate of Siberia's Icebox
Yakutsk, the capital of Russia's Sakha Republic, is home to over 355,000 resilient souls. The city is constructed upon a foundation of continuous permafrost, meaning the ground is permanently frozen. From November through February, thermometers routinely linger well below -20°C, with an average December temperature of a staggering -37°C.
The historical record is even more chilling: the mercury once plummeted to -64.4°C in February 1891. More recently, in January 2023, the city endured its coldest snap in two decades, with temperatures hitting -62.7°C. Winters are also oppressively dark, with less than four hours of sunlight per day, creating perilously low visibility.
A unique and hazardous phenomenon known as 'ice fog' descends on the city when the air becomes so cold that warmer air cannot rise. The climate is not relentlessly icy, however. By April, temperatures finally climb above 0°C, and summer months from May to September can see highs of up to 40°C.
Daily Life in the Deep Freeze
Surviving in such an environment requires meticulous adaptation. Locals like TikTok user Kiun B, a lifelong resident, demonstrate the rigorous routine of simply stepping outside. Her essential winter wardrobe includes thermals, camel wool kneepads and socks, insulated trousers, two padded jackets, a scarf, a hat, and traditional mittens and boots. "Sometimes, even a quick trip to the grocery store feels like a huge effort," she explains.
Authorities warn against any outdoor activity when temperatures fall below -40°C. For those who must venture out, exposure should be limited to 10-20 minutes. The cold air is so severe it can be difficult to breathe, and Kiun recounts a time her tears froze into icicles on her face. Using a smartphone outdoors is largely impractical, as it requires removing gloves.
Cars, Homes, and Human Resilience
Transport presents major challenges. Cars must be specially adapted with double-glazed windshields and kept running constantly in heated garages during winter to prevent oil and batteries from freezing solid. If a car engine is switched off, it may remain unusable until spring. Consequently, many rely on public transport, including buses and a hovercraft that crosses the frozen Lena River.
Indoors, life is more manageable. Apartment blocks feature 24-hour central heating and are built on stilts to avoid melting the permafrost below, which also limits building height. Homes often have two or three doors to trap heat.
For outsiders, the sensation of such cold is brutal. Travel vloggers Matt and Julia noted the danger of kissing outdoors (skin can stick to metal) and described the penetrating chill. On Reddit, users sharing experiences of -30°C or lower describe a loss of all motivation to go outside, a choking sensation when breathing the air, and a stinging pain on any exposed skin.
While Yakutsk holds the title of the world's coldest city, the coldest place on Earth is the Eastern Antarctic Plateau, where temperatures can sink to an almost unimaginable -94°C. For the thousands who call Yakutsk home, their extraordinary daily existence in the deep freeze remains a powerful testament to human adaptability and endurance.
