The coldest place in the world
Do you want to know which is the coldest place in the world? A little hint: it gets colder than -70°C there. You can find out where the place is here.
What is the coldest place in the world?
The coldest permanently inhabited place in the world is in eastern Russia and is called Oymyakon. In 1926, the cold record of -71.2 °C was measured there. The mountain ranges surrounding Oymyakon prevent the supply of warm air and are therefore the reason for such extreme cold. The streets of Oymyakon are mostly empty due to the low temperatures in winter (October to April), which is why the place looks like a ghost town despite its 462 inhabitants.
In summer it can get up to +30 °C. Residents of Oymyakon are exposed to severe temperature differences. Good to know: Oymyakon means “hot spring” or “thawed water” because there is a thermal spring nearby.
What is life like in Oymyakon?
The permanent ground frost makes it impossible to grow fruit and vegetables. The city's residents mainly eat meat and fish. In winter, residents have to wear a scarf over their mouth at all times, otherwise breathing would be too painful.
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The cold also plays a role when building a house: Heated garages are a must, otherwise the cars won't start and it There are only pit toilets in the coldest place in the world because the low temperatures mean that no water pipes are laid can.
However, because Oymyakon residents grew up with the cold, they have become accustomed to it and even prefer winter to summer.
Top 5 coldest places in the world
It is so cold in these places that normal life is not possible there. They mostly serve as research stations and are not permanently habitable.
1. Vostok Station (Antarctica): – 89.2 °C
The research station is located at an altitude of 3,488 meters on a frozen lake. With the average temperature of -65°C, there is no risk of the lake melting and the station sinking.
2. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (Antarctica): – 82.8 °C.
At the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, of the 130 researchers, 50 researchers leave the station in winter and only return when the temperatures are higher.
3. North Ice (Greenland): – 65.9 °C.
The North Ice Station in northern Greenland served as accommodation for a British expedition team from 1952 to 1954.
4. Yukon (Canada): -63°C
Canada's Yukon is considered the coldest region in North America. Nevertheless, the place is now considered a popular travel destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
5. Prospect Creek (Alaska): -62°C.
Prospect Creek is considered the coldest region in the USA. The site served as temporary accommodation for construction work on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Nowadays, the small settlement in northern Alaska is completely deserted.
For people who did not grow up in such cold areas, the extreme temperatures could quickly become dangerous. The brain is less efficient because the body is busy defending itself against the cold. By weakening metabolism, oxygen consumption is reduced and the heart beats slower. In addition, exposed areas of skin should also be avoided, otherwise it can cause frostbite.
So life in the coldest place in the world is not for faint-hearted people.
