Yakutsk: The coldest city on earth
Yakutsk- the coldest city in the world, nestled in Siberia, where temperatures plummet to a staggering -76°F (-60°C). But what makes this area so cold?
With a population of about 336,200 people, Yakutsk is one of the most populous cities in Siberia, despite its harsh climate. Residents mainly work for Alrosa, a diamond mining company operating in the city. This remote city sees temperatures as low as -76°F (-60°C) and some locals report even colder days, although thermometers only register as low as -81.4° F (-63°C).
Climate-Data.org says Yakutsk’s average annual temperature is about -7.5°C (18.5°F). The city endures temperatures below freezing for six months each year, with rare summer highs of around 68°F (20°C) in July.
Yakutsk is the largest city built on permafrost, and to prevent the heat from melting the ice below, most buildings are built on stilts so that the heat they generate does not melt the layers freezing below. Warm air from these structures can create fog, as the intense cold prevents the warm air from rising.
Despite the extremely cold weather, death rates from cold-related illnesses in Yakutsk have not increased as dramatically as in other cold regions. Residents dress warmly, often in layers, and spend most of their time indoors. “Just dress warmly, in layers, like a cabbage,” advises Nurgusun Starostina, a local resident.
While Yakutsk is the coldest city, the nearby settlement of Oymyakon is even colder. Oymyakon, with about 500 residents, recorded a frigid temperature of -96.2°F (-71.2°C) in 1924. Interestingly, Yakutsk and Oymyakon are 577 miles (928 km) apart, requiring 21 hours of driving to cover the distance.
Why are these regions extremely cold? According to Alex DeCaria, a professor of meteorology at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, the intense cold in Siberia is due to its high latitude and vast landmass. Extreme temperatures are more common on continents because land heats and cools faster than oceans. Additionally, ice and snow cover help reflect sunlight into space, contributing to extreme cold.
During the winter, a large semi-permanent high-pressure system called the “Siberian Peak” forms across the region. This system is characterized by stable air, low humidity, and clear skies, resulting in very cold surface temperatures.
Geographic layout also plays an important role. Jouni Räisänen, senior researcher at the Institute of Earth System and Atmospheric Research at the University of Helsinki, notes that both Yakutsk and Oymyakon are located in local valleys surrounded by higher terrain. This setup traps cold, dense air near the valley floor.
Despite the harsh conditions, humans continue to live in these harsh environments. Cara Ocobock, biological anthropologist and director of the Human Energy Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, believes residents are proud of their ability to thrive in such challenging conditions.
In Yakutsk, people enjoy a short, warm summer with temperatures reaching 38.4°C (101°F) in 2011, but they endure an extremely long, cold winter. The Lena River flowing through the city freezes in winter, forming a natural pathway.
Yakutsk’s unprecedented cold underscores the resilience of its residents and the incredible adaptability of life in one of the harshest climates on Earth.
