Which is the Coldest Village on Earth?

Earth is full of extremes, from raging volcanoes, endless deserts, to icy cold mountains. Today, we will take you through one such extreme place on earth, which is famous for its extremely cold climate. It is a place where the eyelashes will freeze if you stay outside for more than 5 minutes! A place where boiling water, when tossed in the air, can turn into ice crystals even before it touches the ground.

Sounds scary and exciting at the same time. Such a place exists on the map, and it is inhabited by humans. In fact, this place is recognised as the coldest permanent human settlement in the world.

No wonder this place is called the coldest village on earth. 

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What was the Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth? Read Now!

Coldest Village on Earth: Overview

Source: Generated with AI

Oymyakon Meaning

The name Oymyakon is based on the Oymyakon River. The term Oymyakon is derived from the Even word kheium, which means unfrozen water or a place where fish spend the winter.

It is a stark contrast to the actual place, where the land remains frozen all year round. The frozen land is called permafrost.

Coldest Village on Earth

The coldest village on earth is Oymyakon. It is a remote village situated in the Oymyakonsky district of the Sakha Republic in the Siberian region of Russia. It is the coldest permanently inhabited human settlement on earth.

Temperatures here can reach up to -55 °C, in normal times, while the lowest official temperature ever recorded was -67.7 °C or −89.9 °F, recorded in the year 1933, at the Oymyakon weather station.

Unofficial records suggest that the lowest temperature hit −71.2 °C or −96.2 °F in the year 1924.

Why is Oymyakon so cold?

Oymyakon is located between two valleys, which trap winds at ground level, making temperatures significantly lower than at higher altitudes. This phenomenon is the main reason why Oymyakon experiences such freezing cold most of the year. 

How do people live in Oymyakon?

Oymyakon is home to about 500 people, is an example of human resilience in extreme cold weather, marked by remarkable adaptation in lifestyle, such as wearing insulated clothes which can be upto 20 layers or more of clothing. The base layer consists of thermals, followed by a middle layer of insulating clothing such as sweaters or fleece, and a thick, windproof outer layer (reindeer fur coats) to protect against the freezing cold. Specialised footwear made of reindeer hides protects the inhabitants from the freezing cold.

At times, the weight of the dress can reach up to 40 kilos due to the extensive layers of clothing needed to protect the skin from frostbite. 

Breathing the air in Oymyakon feels like glass is pricking the inside of the nose and can result in a bout of coughing for an extended duration; it happens due to the freezing of the moisture. If someone remains inactive for 5 minutes in the cold outdoors, they can develop frostbite.

Houses in Oymyakon are insulated with a 7-layer design that prevents residents from the cold winds and freezing cold outside. There is a lack of internal plumbing in the houses, and people have to rely on ice to meet their water needs. 

There is a central heating system in the village that supplies heat through insulated pipes. This heating system serves as the village's lifeline during extreme weather conditions.

Living in such harsh weather requires more than just clothing and heating. To survive, the body must produce heat, and for that, the diet of the inhabitants of Oymyakon is high-fat and protein-rich, composed of reindeer meat, horse meat, and thin slices of arctic fish known as stroganina.

Is Oymyakon colder than Yakutsk?

Yes, Oymyakon is colder than Yakutsk; in fact, Oymyakon is one of the coldest places on earth, and the coldest village on earth with permanent human settlement. Although Yakstuk is known for its harsh cold, which can reach -36.9°C ( -34.4°F), while in Oymyakon the temperatures can easily reach -60.5°C in winter. Oymyakon recorded the lowest temperature ever recorded at -67.7 °C (−89.9 °F) in 1933, making it one of the coldest places on Earth.

This was all about the coldest inhabited place on earth, Omyakon. Keep reading for more such informative articles.

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