Look Inside the World’s Coldest City (2024)

This story appears in the February 2018 issue of National Geographic magazine.

Earth’s highest city, its most crowded city, its most polluted city: Geneva-based photographer Steeve Iuncker sought them out. For a project Iuncker calls Villes Extrêmes—Extreme Cities—he wanted to photograph ordinary life in cities that set extraordinary records or embody stark superlatives. That’s how he ended up in Yakutsk, Russia.

The capital city of the vast (1.2 million square miles) Siberian region known as the Sakha Republic, Yakutsk is widely identified as the world’s coldest city. “No other place on Earth experiences this temperature extreme,” Iuncker says. Though temperatures during the brief summer can exceed 85°F, winter temperatures regularly fall to -40°F, he says—and the lowest ever recorded was a staggering -83°F.

See more pictures of the coldest city in the world.

Among the extreme cities, this one was especially challenging to capture, Iuncker says: “Everything is ice, fog, and shadows” that obscure vistas and landmarks. When he braved the cold to step outside, frost instantly coated his camera, and its mechanisms froze to a halt.

Iuncker says his photo project explores this question: Do extreme environments trigger extreme emotions or behaviors in inhabitants? Not in Yakutsk, it seems. It’s often too cold to break ground for construction or graves, too cold for airplanes to fly or crops to grow. Markets like the one seen here may not have fresh vegetables, Iuncker says—but they have very fresh, very cold fish “arranged like bunches of flowers.”

Look Inside the World’s Coldest City (2024)

FAQs

Which is the No 1 coldest city in the world? ›

That's how he ended up in Yakutsk, Russia. The capital city of the vast (1.2 million square miles) Siberian region known as the Sakha Republic, Yakutsk is widely identified as the world's coldest city.

What is the coldest city on Earth right now? ›

The coldest city in the world is Yakutsk in Siberia, Russia.

What is the coldest city ever recorded in the world? ›

Oymyakon is the coldest permanently inhabited human settlement on Earth, with an average winter temperature of around −50 °C (−58 °F).

Why is Yakutsk so cold? ›

Yakutsk is the largest city in the world with an average winter temperature of below −30 °C (−22 °F). Yakutsk is an inland location, being almost 1,000 km (620 mi) from the Pacific Ocean, which coupled with the high latitude means exposure to severe winters and also lack of temperature moderation.

Which city is the coldest in USA? ›

Fairbanks, Alaska

With a minimum average temperature of about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit, Fairbanks takes the cake as the coldest city in the U.S. The northernmost major city in Alaska, Fairbanks has seen record cold temperatures reaching minus 66 degrees in the past.

What is the hottest city on Earth? ›

Dallol, Ethiopia

Dallol holds the official record for highest average temperature for an inhabited place on Earth. From 1960 to 1966, the annual mean temperature of the locality was 34.4 °C (93.9 °F), while the average daily maximum temperature during the same period was recorded as a scorching 41.1 °C (106.0 °F).

How cold can a human survive? ›

This is the temperature where the body continues to function normally. Any temperature below 96 degrees Fahrenheit interferes with normal organ functions and can lead to hypothermia, shivering, and pale skin. Extremely low temperatures such as 75 degrees Fahrenheit can cause cardiac arrest or death.

What is the hottest place on Earth today? ›

Geography and Map Division. Not only is Death Valley the hottest place on earth, Badwater Basin within the valley is the lowest point in North America, sitting at 282 feet below sea level.

What are the 3 places having the lowest temperature? ›

Where is the coldest place on Earth?
  • Eastern Antarctic Plateau, Antarctica (-94°C) ...
  • Vostok Station Antarctica (-89.2°C) ...
  • Amundsen-Scott Station, Antarctica (-82.8°C) ...
  • Denali, Alaska, United States of America (-73°C) ...
  • Klinck station, Greenland (-69.6°C) ...
  • Oymyakon, Siberia, Russia (-67.7°C)

What is the coldest state? ›

Alaska is the coldest state in the U.S., with an average statewide temperature of 28.4 degrees in 2023.

What is the hottest country in the world? ›

Mali. The title of the hottest country in the world goes to Mali. The West African country experiences a predominantly hot desert climate, particularly in the northern regions, while the southern parts have a semi-arid climate that receives very little rainfall.

Which are the two hottest city of the world? ›

What is the hottest place on Earth?
  • Mitribah, Kuwait. Mitribah is a weather station located in northwest Kuwait. ...
  • Turbat, Pakistan. Turbat is a city in southern Balochistan, Pakistan. ...
  • ʽAziziya, Libya. ...
  • Wadi Halfa, Sudan. ...
  • The Sahara Desert. ...
  • The Flaming Mountains, China. ...
  • Oodnadatta, Australia. ...
  • The Sonoran Desert.

What are the dangers of Yakutsk? ›

hazard type: Floods, Forest Fires, Melting of permafrost soils, heat supply failures.

Is Yakutia safe? ›

The city is known for its friendly locals and low crime rate. However, as with any destination, it is important to take precautions and be aware of your surroundings. Women should avoid walking alone at night, and it is recommended to dress modestly and avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

Which country has 10 coldest cities? ›

So, grab your parka, layer up, and prepare to be amazed by the top 10 coldest places on Earth:
  1. Vostok Station, Antarctica (-89.2°C) ...
  2. Denali, Alaska (-83°C) ...
  3. Oymyakon, Russia (-88°C) ...
  4. Verkhoyansk, Russia (-89.2°C) ...
  5. Klinck research station, Greenland (-89.4°C) ...
  6. Plateau Station, Antarctica (-86°C)
Dec 16, 2023

What is the number 1 coldest state? ›

Alaska is the coldest state in the U.S., with an average statewide temperature of 28.4 degrees in 2023.

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