Inside world's coldest city which remains totally frozen over for months every year
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Frostbite and hypothermia is 'almost as common as the cold itself' in the bone-chilling city. With December temperatures hovering between -35C and -41C and and an average of four hours of sunlight a day, it's no surprise Yakutsk holds the icy title of the world's coldest city. Located in Siberia, Russia, Yakutsk experienced a record low of -64.4°C on 5 February 1891, despite not being the closest city to the North Pole.
The city's gruelling winters are a result of several factors, including the river valley it's built on that traps cold air. Yakutsk also experiences a high-pressure system commonly referred to as the Siberian High. "This weather pattern brings cold air masses from the Arctic region, leading to prolonged periods of intense cold," the BBC explains. Lastly, Yakutsk experiences a Permafrost - meaning the ground is permanently frozen due to the cold temperatures.
YouTuber Kiun B is one of 355,000 residents that live in Yakutsk. In a video documenting how she copes with the brutal conditions, the content creator explains how a 'thick smog' obscured the sun for most of the year. "[It's like] a scene from a science fiction movie," she said.
Kiun has experienced 'mild frostbite' on her nose and cheeks from being outside, and has to supplement Vitamin D and Iron to stay healthy due to a lack of sunlight and access to vegetables. But in Yakutsk, life 'doesn't stop' just because it's -40C. "We still go outside, go to school and work," the local added. "Getting frostbite and hypothermia in Yakutsk is almost as common as the cold itself.... In such cold, car batteries can freeze leaving travellers stuck... which can be fatal. Sadly, every year about hundreds of people freeze to death in Yakutsk.".
