The cold legends of Siberia
Posted by Vikas Acharya on January 23, 2026Oymyakon and Yakutsk are often mentioned together because they’re two of the coldest inhabited places on Earth—but they’re very different vibes.
🧊 Oymyakon
- A tiny rural settlement (a few hundred people)
- Often called the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth
- Record low: −67.7°C (−89.9°F) 😳
- No real infrastructure—no airports, universities, or big hospitals
- Daily life is hardcore survival mode: cars run nonstop in winter, schools only close below ~−52°C
🏙️ Yakutsk
- Capital of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
- Population: ~350,000 (huge by Arctic standards)
- Winter temps regularly hit −40 to −50°C
- Record low around −64°C
- Full city life: universities, theaters, restaurants, Wi-Fi, nightlife (yes, really)
- Built on permafrost, so buildings sit on stilts
