Residents in Yakutsk, Siberia, face bone-chilling temperatures that necessitate bundling up in multiple layers before stepping outside. The city, often regarded as the coldest on Earth, experiences extreme cold that can make outdoor conditions nearly unbearable.
Positioned in Siberia, Russia, Yakutsk is home to approximately 355,000 people, many of whom are employed in the region’s diamond mining industry. Despite the harsh climate, the city sustains a thriving community.
Winter in Yakutsk is particularly severe, with temperatures plummeting to record lows. Notably, on February 5, 1891, the city experienced an unprecedented chill of -64.4°C, according to a report by the BBC.
During the frigid winter months, daylight is scarce in Yakutsk, with January offering less than four hours of sunlight each day. This limited exposure to daylight adds to the challenging living conditions.
Earlier this month, the cold snap continued as locals endured temperatures that dipped to -45°C, underscoring the city’s reputation for extreme cold.
Earlier this month, locals were hit with -45°C temperatures.
Despite the icy lows, residents in the Siberian city continued life as normal, though schools reportedly didn’t open.
To brave the chilly temperatures, people have to wrap up in 10 kilograms of clothing, according to @awareness_of_success, who shared a video about the city on Instagram.
Yakutsk is located in Siberia, Russia, and is commonly known as the coldest city in the world
During the winter, the location becomes ice-cold and on February 5, 1891, a record-breaking temperature of -64.4°C was recorded
Local food largely consists of meat and fish as little vegetation can survive the cool weather.
YouTuber Kiun B. grew up in Yakutia and shares online how people in her hometown survive the harsh conditions.
‘It is an absolute must to wear several layers of clothing,’ she explained in a previous clip, noting that ‘the knees are particularly prone to freezing in such extreme cold’.
Kiun’s sister Dayana demonstrated how she gets dressed for the day, starting with a turtle-neck and leggings. She then added a fleece zip-up and padded pants. To keep her feet warm, she opted for traditional Yakutian boots made out of reindeer skin.
‘Women in Yakutia usually have two looks,’ the YouTuber said. ‘One is more feminine with fur coats made of mink or fox. Another one is more casual with a down jacket, which keeps you very warm, and they are cheaper than a fur coat.’
Dayana’s fur coat cost $3,000 (£2,220) compared to her down coat, which was only $500 (£370).
In both instances, she topped off her look with a $300 (£222) hat made out of arctic fox fur.
Kiun explained that knit ones are ‘just not warm enough for local winter’.
The city sees little sunlight during the winter months, and in January it is only exposed to less than four hours of light each day
‘In addition to covering her head, she also wears mittens with beaded Yakutian patterns and fully covers her face,’ she added. ‘Otherwise, the exposed parts can get frostbite.’
Market stalls in the winter don’t have any need for freezers to keep produce cool because of the icy weather, @awareness_of_success details.
The extreme temperatures mean locals often keep their cars running or covered so they don’t freeze up.
The weather does surprisingly warm up in the summer, however, and reaches highs of up to 26°C on average in July.
