ISLAMABAD: Russia’s tiny yet world-famous settlement of Oymyakon, located deep in the frozen wilderness of Siberia, has once again captured global media attention as temperatures dropped to –42°C this week, with experts warning the mercury could fall even further to –49°C or –50°C in the coming days.
Recognised as the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth, Oymyakon is home to only 500 to 900 residents, who survive in conditions where maintaining daily life becomes an extreme challenge.
The settlement lies near the mountains of Yakutia, one of Russia’s harshest regions. In 1924, the temperature reportedly plunged to –71.2°C, though that reading remains unverified. The lowest confirmed temperature –67.7°C, recorded in 1933 — still stands as a global record for an inhabited location.
The name Oymyakon means “the water that never freezes,” a reference to a local hot spring that flows year-round. Yet during winter, almost no liquid water is visible. Cars must be kept running 24 hours a day, because if the engine switches off, it becomes nearly impossible to start again.
Residents often opt for frozen meat because collecting and heating water for cooking can be a challenging and time-consuming task. Extreme cold even affects burial practices — families must burn fires on the ground for several days to thaw the rock-solid permafrost before a grave can be dug.
Locals avoid standing still outdoors, as body temperature can drop dangerously fast. Eyeglasses are never worn outside because the metal frames can freeze and stick to the skin.
Oymyakon is located 577 miles (930 km) from Yakutsk — the world’s coldest city — and is connected by only a single road, a journey that takes around two days in winter.
During the coldest months, the sun disappears for up to 21 hours, leaving only three to four hours of dim twilight. Frigid air becomes trapped between the surrounding mountains, driving temperatures to record lows.
Yet in summer, the region transforms: temperatures can rise to 30–35°C, melting the ice and bringing life temporarily back to normal. Despite its isolation, the town has a school, post office, bank, and even a small airstrip.
For adventurers, Oymyakon has become a bucket-list destination. It hosts the world’s coldest marathon, where participants run 35 km through sub-zero conditions.
Experts say residents live here not only out of necessity but also tradition. Locals proudly call themselves the guardians of “the coldest place on Earth,” continuing daily life with remarkable resilience despite some of the harshest living conditions known to humankind.
