Oymyakon: The Coldest Inhabited Place

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Oymyakon is a rural village in the Sakha Republic of Russia, about 560 miles from Yakutsk, the nearest city. It lies in a valley surrounded by mountains that trap cold air and create a subarctic climate. It has an average temperature of -58 degrees Fahrenheit in January, and a record low of -96 degrees Fahrenheit in 1924. It is considered the coldest inhabited place on Earth. About 500 people live in Oymyakon, mostly ethnic Sakha who are nomadic reindeer herders. They also hunt, fish, and farm in the short summer months. They live in wooden houses with thick walls and stoves for heating. They have no indoor plumbing, as the pipes would freeze, so they use outhouses or ice holes. They also have no crops or fresh produce, so they rely on frozen meat, fish, and horse blood for food. Living in Oymyakon is challenging. The villagers have to deal with frostbite, hypothermia, respiratory infections, and depression. They also have to cope with darkness for 21 hours a day in winter, and daylight for 21 hours a day in summer. They have limited access to education, health care, culture, and transportation. However, they are not unhappy with their lifestyle.