We all know that Siberia is probably the coldest region on Earth. But the village Oymyakon in Siberia is the coldest village there and is still inhabited. Temperatures in Oymyakon go as low as -50oC (-60oF). It is so cold that if you were to step out naked in the village you could die or frostbite in one minute.
Winters in the village are usually long and extend from October to March. In summers the temperatures go as high as 34.5oC (-94oF) and you can hardly feel that it is the coldest place. It is one of the places that has such vast ranging temperatures.
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The village is located in a remote area and is not easy to get there. You will first have to arrive in Moscow and then travel to Yakutsk, the coldest city on Earth or reach Magadan. From there you need to take the ‘Road Of Bones’ to Oymyakon. Both cities are approximately 900km from the village but that is the closest city that has an airline connection. Travelling through Yakutsk is more convenient.
A day in winters is 3 hours long while in summers day times extends to 21 hours. The region has a subarctic climate because of which the ground is in a frozen state almost permanently. Because of this, almost nothing grows in this region and the locals mainly survive on all types of meat like fish and reindeer meat.
The ground is so frozen that it takes several days to even dig a grave. They dig and light fires and keep doing this until the grave is big enough for the coffin. Even so that there are no bathrooms in homes because it is almost impossible to build indoor plumbing.
The village does not have much to do but has some winter sports games for the tourists to enjoy. You can go ice fishing and on reindeer hunts. You can also enjoy activities like sledging, skiing, snowmobiling or go on an adventure to nearby places like the Gulag Prisons and Lena Pillars. You can also attend the annual Pole of Cold festival in Tomtor village, which showcases the local cuisine and culture. One thing is for sure you will get a lot of vodka to enjoy.
P.S: Pack every sweater in your closet if you are planning to visit in winters. Also, there are no hotels in the area so get yourself a comfortable homestay.
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