Yakutsk: The Coldest City on Earth Where People Wear 10 Kilograms of Clothes and Winter Never Truly Breaks
Yakutsk in Siberia, Russia, is recognized as the coldest city in the world — yet about 355,000 people call it home, with many residents working in the diamond mines. During the winter, the city becomes bitterly cold. In 1891, the BBC reported a record-breaking -63.9°C. The city sees very little sunlight during the winter months, and in January it is exposed to less than four hours of light each day. Earlier this month, locals were hit with icy -45°C temperatures. Despite this, residents continued life as normal, but schools reportedly didn't open. To brave the chilly temperatures, people wrap up in approximately 10 kilograms of clothing, according to @awareness_of_success, who shared a video about the city online. Local food consists largely of meat and fish, as little vegetation can survive. YouTuber Kiun B. grew up in Yakutia and shares online how people in her hometown survive the harsh conditions.
The Brutal Winter and the Short Daylight: -63.9°C Records and under Four Hours of Sun
Bitterly cold: During the winter, the location becomes ice-cold, and on February 5, 1891, a record-breaking -63.9°C was recorded. Sunlight: 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. Market stalls in the winter don't have any need for freezers to keep produce cool because of the icy weather, according to @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.
How People Survive the Cold: Clothing, Costs, and Two Looks
To brave the chilly temperatures, people wrap up in approximately 10 kilograms of clothing, according to @awareness_of_success, who shared a video about the city online. "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". 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. Kiun's sister Dayana's fur coat cost $3,000 compared to her down coat, which was $500. In both instances, she topped off her look with a $300 hat made out of arctic fox fur. "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." Kiun explained that knit ones are "just not warm enough for local winter". "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." The weather does surprisingly warm up in the summer, reaching highs of up to 26°C in July.
