Rogers Pass is a pass rising 1710 m above sea level. Located in the US state of Montana. Known for its inaccessibility and as one of the few natural habitats for grizzly bears, golden eagles and bald eagles. On January 20, 1954, the coldest temperature in the United States outside of Alaska was recorded here - -57°C.
Fort Selkirk is an abandoned trading post located on the Yukon River, Canada. It was founded in 1848 by explorer and fur trader Robert Campbell, but was later abandoned due to bad weather conditions. Now Fort Selkirk is protected by the state. It can only be reached by boat or plane. The coldest month here is January, and the lowest recorded temperature was -58.9°C.
Prospect Creek is a small community located 290 km north of Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. Serves as home to numerous mountain expeditions. Once a camp for workers during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Practically all year round Low temperatures prevail here. On January 23, 1971, a record low temperature was recorded, which was -62°C.
Snag
The seventh place on the list of the coldest places in the world is occupied by Snag, a small abandoned settlement located in the White River valley 25 kilometers east of Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada. It was founded during the Alaska Gold Rush. On February 3, 1947, a record temperature of -63°C.
Ismitte is a polar station of Alfred Wegener's expedition (1930-1931) located on the Greenland ice sheet 402 km from the coast. The minimum temperature recorded during the expedition was -65°C. average temperature the coldest month (February) is -47 °C.
The fifth place in the ranking of the coldest places in the world is occupied by Northays - the former research station of the British Expedition (1952-1954), led by Captain James Simpson. It was located on the Greenland Ice Sheet. On January 9, 1954, the station recorded the lowest temperature in North America - -66.1 °C.
Verkhoyansk is a city in the Republic of Yakutia, located on the right bank of the Yana River, 675 km north of Yakutsk, Russia. With a population of 1,173 inhabitants (2014), Verkhoyansk is one of the smallest cities Russian Federation. The average temperature here is -14.7° C. The lowest recorded in February 1892 was -69.8°C.
Oymyakon is a village located on the left bank of the Indigirka River in the Republic of Yakutia, Russia. As of 2010, 462 people live in the village. Oymyakon is the coldest populated area on Earth. The lowest temperature here was recorded on January 26, 1926 and was -79° C, however, according to unofficial data, the temperature in the village reached -83° C.
Plateau Station is an inactive American research station located on the Antarctic polar plateau. The average temperature in the cold season (from April to October) here is about -70° C, in the warm season (from November to March) - -40° C. The lowest temperature was recorded on July 20, 1968 and was -86.2° C.
East
The coldest place on Earth is the Russian (formerly Soviet) Antarctic research station, located 1253 km from the South Pole - Vostok. The station was founded on December 16, 1957 and is currently used jointly by Russian, American and French scientists. On July 21, 1983, the lowest temperature on the planet was recorded here, it was -89.2°C.
Climatic and weather conditions on our planet are characterized by significant diversity. When a snowstorm is raging at one end of it, warm tropical rain is falling somewhere or the scorching sun is shining. Do you know where the coldest place on earth is? If you ever decide to do extreme tourism or just want to expand your horizons, be sure to read information of this nature.
Unofficial record holder
The coldest place on Earth is located in Antarctica, in the so-called ice dome. The thickness of this unique block of ice is approximately 2.5 kilometers, which represents the largest reserves of frozen water. This area is completely uninhabited, and research is not being conducted on its territory. It is generally accepted that temperatures down to minus 100 degrees Celsius can be recorded here, but there is no official confirmation of this information.
Recognized leader
Since the information described above is not confirmed by reliable sources and research, it is generally accepted that the coldest place on Earth is located on the territory of the Vostok polar station in Antarctica. It was here that the official minimum was recorded, amounting to 89.2 degrees Celsius (the record was set in 1983; according to some secret sources, 14 years later, the temperature dropped another two degrees lower).
An explanation for this phenomenon could be natural features local places:
- the thickness of the ice located under the station is approximately 3.5 kilometers (altitude above sea level);
- significant distance from the ocean;
- long period of polar night.
Negative temperatures are common in the area where the station is located; as a rule, even in summer the air does not warm up above minus 21 degrees.
The coldest inhabited cities
Where is the coldest inhabited place on Earth? You shouldn’t be surprised by this question; some people feel comfortable even in the harshest conditions. climatic conditions. The official data is as follows: the pole of cold is located in the Russian Federation on the territory of Siberia. The leading positions in terms of the most extreme temperature indicators here are held by two settlements: Oymyakon and the city of Verkhoyansk.
A little more than a thousand people live in modern Verkhoyansk; this city is relatively young, located within the Arctic Circle, the first mentions of it date back to the end of the 18th century. At this time, convicts who violated the law or opposed state power. The air temperature in winter in this region, according to average indicators, is approximately minus 46 degrees. Record figures were recorded in 1885 (-67.8)
An even more difficult weather situation occurs in Oymyakon, located on the banks of the small Indigirka River. About 500 people live on its territory, who annually have to withstand truly severe cold. According to long-term meteorological observations, winter temperatures in this area are significantly lower than in neighboring Verkhoyansk. The absolute minimum was recorded in 1926 and amounted to -71.2 degrees.
When answering the question, where is the coldest place on earth, you have to choose between these two settlements.
The coldest populous city
The large Russian city of Yakutsk, the center of the Sakha Republic, can easily claim the title “The coldest place on planet Earth.” The settlement was founded back in 1632, and today the number of its inhabitants has reached 250 thousand people. The townspeople easily tolerate frosts and are not afraid of even the most severe cold, their bodies have adapted so well to difficult weather conditions. Dry figures from official statistics can confirm such a bold statement:
The kingdom of cold outside Russia
When searching for an answer to the question of where the coldest place on earth is located, you most often hear about various residential and non-residential locations on the territory of the Russian Federation, however, outside our country there are also areas of the kingdom of cold and ice. Of course, the island of Greenland can be considered such a place. The average temperature for individual altitudes in this area is minus 47 degrees (data recorded in the center of the island are averages for February).
How do people live in extreme conditions?
Who is he, a resident of the coldest place on earth? Of course, even in the most northern latitudes there are representatives of the world of flora and fauna, but we will talk about whether ordinary people can live in such an area.
Polar scientists live at Vostok station all year round; hundreds of the most ordinary people, defying the elements, frost and cold. What difficulties do local residents have to face? The greatest problems of northern life are usually associated with:
Being outside at very low temperatures is quite difficult, if not impossible. So, at minus 70 degrees, the liquid in a person’s eyes freezes, which means that for carrying out scientific research special uniform is required. Without such devices, even with milder indicators, you can stay on the street for no more than a quarter of an hour, and sometimes even 10 minutes. In addition, in extremely low temperatures, it is not recommended to try to run or breathe frequently and deeply. Experts advise paying significant attention to shoes; for example, platform models with the thickest soles are in high demand in this case.
Incredible facts
It is cold and icy outside, and if you are sitting in a warm room in a chair with a cup of tea, then in such frost you can think about those places on our planet where it is now even colder and the temperature is much lower.
International Falls, Minnesota, USA: -40 Celsius
International Falls takes its status as the coldest place in the mainland US quite seriously, and is willing to prove it even in court.
Which is what they did in 2002 when they won a case against the city of Fraser, Colorado. Thus, The title of "Refrigerator of the Nation" remained with International Waterfalls. They even celebrate the Freezer Days Festival every year.
Moreover, at International Falls there is the lowest average temperature in the country is 0-2 degrees Celsius.
Stanley, Idaho, USA: -47 Celsius
International Falls is not the coldest place in the continental US: The championship belongs to the city of Stanley in Idaho.
On top of this, the city boasts the highest number of coldest days of the year from 1995 to 2005.
The city is located in the Rocky Mountain region, and is surrounded by the White Cloud, Boulder and Sawtooth mountain ranges, and three national forests.
Prospect Creek, Alaska, USA: -62.1 Celsius
Prospect Creek is a small village in Alaska that was home to miners and oil pipeline workers.
Prospect Creek records the coldest temperatures in the United States: in January 1971 it dropped to -62 degrees Celsius.
Despite this cold, the oil in the pipes does not freeze thanks to the thick thermal fiberglass coating.
Snow, Yukon Territory, Canada: -63.9 degrees Celsius
In the village of Snag, located in the White River valley, it was registered lowest temperature in North America: -63.9 degrees.
In 1947, when this temperature was recorded, the village was inhabited by 8-10 natives, fur traders, weather station employees, radio operators and technicians.
The temperature was so low that meteorologists had to add a new division on the thermometer scale, and send it to the laboratory to determine the exact temperature.
Yakutsk, Siberia: -64.4 Celsius
Yakutsk is located on the northern bank of the Lena River.
The winters there are so cold that the frozen river serves as a reliable road.
In Yakutsk you can find almost all the elements of Mendeleev’s periodic table, and folk legends This is associated with the cold.
According to one legend, the god flew over the earth and distributed wealth and resources, but when he got to Yakutia, he was so cold that he dropped everything from his hands.
Verkhoyansk, Siberia: -69.8 degrees Celsius
Verkhoyansk is another Siberian town, located near the Arctic Circle.
The city, which is a center for deer breeding, was founded in 1638, and was a place of exile until 1917.
In addition to the fact that Verkhoyansk is considered one of the coldest places on earth, there there is a huge difference in temperatures at different times of the year: for example, in January the average monthly temperature is -45.8 degrees Celsius, and in July +16.9 degrees.
Oymyakon, Siberia: -71.2 degrees Celsius
Oymyakon is considered the coldest permanently inhabited place on earth.
The village is located below 350 kilometers from the Arctic Circle. The school there closes only when the temperature drops below -52 degrees Celsius.
Along with Verkhoyansk and Yakutsk, Oymyakon was a place of exile for political prisoners.
Vostok, Antarctica: -89.2 Celsius
Vostok Station, located near the Southern Geomagnetic Field in the center of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level, is officially recognized as the coldest place on the planet. Here On July 21, 1983, a world record was registered: -89.2 degrees Celsius.
Despite the fact that this is a Russian station, scientists from all over the world conduct research here. One of the main projects involves drilling a 3700 meter ice sheet, which can provide information about the Earth's climate over the past 500,000 years.
Despite such low temperatures, very little snow falls in the station area - approximately 25 centimeters of precipitation per year.
Do you know where there is such a temperature that can freeze a person's eyes? But TravelAsk knows and will certainly tell you.
Chilling soul and body Antarctica
The coldest place on Earth as a whole is the Russian Vostok station. The lowest temperature in the history of meteorological observations was recorded here. The thermometer dropped to -89.2 degrees. This happened on July 21, 1983.
At this temperature, a person's eyes and lungs can freeze.
Is there life in Antarctica?
Well of course there is:
But people also live here. About 25 people are constantly at Vostok station throughout the year. IN winter time usually the number of researchers is reduced to 13 people.
Naturally, frosts down to -90 degrees are not here all year round. The average temperature of the coldest month, August, is -68 degrees, and the warmest month, December, is about -31 degrees. There are also records here, almost heat. So, on January 11, 2002, the temperature rose to -12.2 degrees.
The situation is aggravated not only by low temperatures: the station is located at an altitude of 3 kilometers above sea level, so there is almost zero air humidity, as well as a lack of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Acclimatization to such natural conditions lasts at least 3 months. And these three months are hellish: polar explorers experience frequent dizziness and flickering in the eyes, ear pain, nosebleeds, a feeling of suffocation and a sharp increase in blood pressure, loss of sleep and loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, pain in joints and muscles, weight loss from three up to five kilograms, and respiratory arrest and loss of consciousness may also occur. The average annual wind speed here is about 5 m/s, the maximum is 27 m/s (almost 100 km/h). There is practically no precipitation here. But the polar explorers are not discouraged.
Everything you need is delivered by plane in the summer. In winter, Vostok station is practically cut off from the world: delivery here can only be arranged by sledge-caterpillar train.
There have been more difficult times in the lives of polar explorers. Thus, the winter of 1982 was truly heroic: on the night of April 13, a fire occurred at the station, causing the main and backup diesel generators to fail. "Vostok" remained without power. For 8 months, 20 people warmed themselves with homemade potbelly stoves running on diesel fuel, until a sleigh-caterpillar train with a new diesel-electric installation arrived from another Russian Antarctic station, Mirny.
What do the “residents” of Antarctica do?
The coldest place on the planet has many unexplored areas. This is understandable: extreme temperatures are not conducive to fast work rates. However, scientists believe that Antarctica is the main key to the solution to space.
The fact is that not far from the station there is Lake Vostok, which is covered with a 4-kilometer layer of ice. It is assumed that its area is 15.5 thousand square kilometers.
Just imagine: it has been separated from the life of the planet for the last few million years. Therefore, it is likely that there are other forms of life there, and evolution took place differently on its territory. After all, oxygen enters the lake through the ice, and the water in it is quite warm: 7-10 degrees. Which means there could be life there. By the way, about 40 species of bacteria have already been discovered in the lake, previously unstudied.
And Lake Vostok is the key to space. The point is that in solar system there are several celestial bodies with similar formations and atmospheric conditions: for example, Jupiter’s satellite Europa. Accordingly, there may be similar bacteria and animal organisms there. Therefore, this is a whole project to search for extraterrestrial life.
Antarctica or Yakutia
Asia ranks second in terms of frost. The highest record temperature in a residential area was recorded in the village of Oymyakon in Yakutia. It was -71.2 degrees. Although there is unofficial data that in 1938 the thermometer here dropped to -77.8 degrees.
So, if we compare the altitude above sea level of the village of Oymyakon and the Antarctic station “Vostok”, then Oymyakon can be considered the coldest place on Earth. The village is located at an altitude of 740 meters above sea level. If we bring both temperature indicators to sea level, then in Oymyakon it will be -77.6 degrees and at the Vostok station only -68.3 degrees.
In third place is the largest island of North America - Greenland. At the Northern Ice research station on January 9, 1954, a record was recorded: -66.1 degrees.
The weather is changing again, and here's a look at some of the insanely cold places where people actually live.
The lowest ever recorded was minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit (-89.2°C) at a Russian research station in Antarctica, Vostok, on July 21, 1983. While most cities aren't as terribly cold, some are still pretty close to that mark. Below are the eight coldest cities in the world where people live.
1) Verkhoyansk, Russia
According to the 2002 census, Verkhoyansk, Russia, has 1,434 inhabitants. It was founded as a fortress in 1638 and served as a regional center in animal husbandry and gold mining. Located 650 kilometers from Yakutsk, another cold spot on our list, and 2,400 kilometers south of the North Pole, Verkhoyansk was used for political prisoners between 1860 and the early 20th century.
It's not surprising why undesirables were exiled here: in January the average temperature is minus 50.4 degrees Fahrenheit (-45.7 °C), and the average monthly temperature remains quite low from October to April. In 1892, residents recorded temperatures of minus 90 degrees F (-67.7 °C).
2) Oymyakon, Russia
People in Oymyakon object to Verkhoyansk being given the title of coldest place in the Northern Hemisphere, arguing that they recorded a minimum temperature of minus 90 degrees F (-67.7 °C) on February 6, 1933.
By the way, political prisoners were also often exiled here during the Stalinist regime. Oymyakon is located three days' drive from Yakutsk, and between 500 and 800 people live there. There is no mobile phone service here, there are few modern amenities at all, and schools in the village do not close at -52°C. Travel companies offer tours to Oymyakon as the “ideal destination” for an exotic adventure.
3) International Falls, Minnesota.
International Falls, Minnesota may not be as cold as Oymyakon, but it is one of the coldest places in the continental United States. About 6,703 people live in International Falls (2000 census), which straddles the US-Canada border.
Winters here are long and cold, with average temperatures in January of about 2.7 F (-16.2 °C). The mercury will reach zero on more than 60 nights per year, and the area receives a lot of snow (166 cm). International Falls is in a bidding war with the city of Fraser, Colorado over the use of the "Refrigerator Nation" brand name.
4) Fraser, Colorado.
Fraser, Colorado is located at an elevation of 2,600 meters in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and is home to 910 residents (as of the 2000 census). Located near the popular Winter Park ski resort, Fraser enjoys some of the coldest winters in the continental United States. The average annual temperature throughout the year reaches 32.5 degrees Fahrenheit (almost 0 °C), and in the summer drops to 29 degrees (-1.66 °C).
5) Yakutsk, Russia
Yakutsk has a reputation as the coldest city in the world. The world's lowest temperature outside Antarctica was recorded near Yakutsk in the Yana River basin. In winter, the average minimum drops below −40 °C, starting in October and lasting until the end of April. In January, the average temperature reaches -34 degrees Fahrenheit (-36.6°C); the record low temperature recorded in January is minus 81.4 degrees Fahrenheit (-63 °C).
6) Hell, Norway
Hell, which means “hell,” became famous in Norway for the very successful combination of its name and subarctic temperature. The average air temperature in February 2010 was about 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.6 °C). Behind last years The flow of tourists to this city has increased significantly, mainly to take pictures in front of one of the railway station signs.
Hell freezes on average for a third of the year, from December to March.
7) Barrow, Alaska
Barrow is the northernmost city in the United States and is located just 2,100 kilometers south of the North Pole and 510 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The small city, home to 4,581 people, was built in an area of permafrost that is characterized by a lack of periodic thawing and very harsh winters.
The sun sets at the end of November and does not appear until the end of January. Even during summer days the air is very cold. Average temperatures don't rise until June, and even then barely - July averages a high of 40.4 degrees Fahrenheit (4.6 °C).
Barrow is the economic center of the North Slope, and many of its residents work in the energy industry. The city can only be reached by plane or sea.
8) Snedge, Canada
Located in the Yukon Territory, the village of Snedge was the first settlement in the Klondike during the Gold Rush. A village in the White River Valley recorded the most low temperature at minus 81 degrees Fahrenheit (-62.8 °C) on February 3, 1947. This is the coldest recorded temperature in continental North America. The average temperature in Snedge ranges between 10.3 °F (-12.05 °C) and 34.3 °F (1.2 °C).
