It is known that the coldest continent of the Earth is Antarctica, and a record low temperature in Antarctica was recorded by Dutch and American researchers at the end of June 2018 and amounted to -98.6 ° C. But from the extreme south, where there are no cities, but only polar stations, we will go to the North and find out what is the coldest city in the world, and how its population tolerates low temperatures.
1
Verkhoyansk. Russia
On the often snowy bank of the Yana River, the handsome Verkhoyansk is spread, the number of inhabitants of which is today just over 1,100.
It was founded in 1638, and for many years acted as a fortress and a center of animal husbandry and gold mining. Political exiles were also sent here. It is noteworthy that it was the political exile Sergey Kovalik who recorded in 1885 during all the time of research the lowest temperature within the city equal to -67.1 ° C.
After 7 years, in 1892, an absolute minimum of -67.6 ° C was recorded. Severe frosts are not uncommon here, so this Russian settlement is the coldest city on Earth.
2
Oymyakon. Russia
But this title of the cold city near Verkhoyansk disputes the town in one of the uluses of Yakutia with the beautiful name Oymyakon, in which there are only 512 residents.
The average January temperature here is -54.1 ° C, and in the summer the thermometer can reach + 32 ° C. The temperature record in the vicinity of Oymyakon was -71 ° C.
Oymyakon is recognized as the “cold pole" of our planet, but does not have the status of a city, because Verkhoyansk is the leader in the list of the coldest cities in the world, but Yakutia is rightfully the coldest region not only in the Russian Federation, but also in the world.
3
International Falls. USA
The climate in International Falls, located in the north of the United States, is not as cold as in Oymyakon. However, according to meteorologists, this part of the United States is one of the coldest places in continental America.
The town, with a population of just over 6,420, is comfortably located on the most Canadian-Canadian border. Winter is snowy, very long and rather cold, accompanied by snowstorms. The average temperature of the winter months is -21 ° C, and the absolute minimum is -48.3 ° C.
Due to the severe frosts that are recorded in this part of the United States, the city is comically nicknamed the "Fridge of the nation."
4
Fraser. USA
Among the mountain peaks of Colorado at an altitude of more than 2,600 m above sea level, the town of Fraser was built, whose population is only 912 people.
As in Russia, two American cities are debating which of them is colder. The average annual temperature in alpine Fraser is kept at 0 ° C, and even in summer it can drop to -1.6 ° C.
As in International Falls, the coldest winters in the USA are recorded here, but ski enthusiasts are not afraid of frosts and tracks and hotels of the Winter Park ski resort are located next to Fraser.
5
Yakutsk Russia
The capital of the Republic of Sakha, the city of Yakutsk is the largest cold city in the world and for many years has been a leader in the list of the coldest cities on Earth.
The absolute minimum here was fixed at -64.4 ° C, and the average annual temperature is -8.8 ° C. In addition, the largest amplitude of temperature indicators is recorded here, a little more than 100 °.
Winter in Yakutsk and its environs lasts from October to April, and the average temperature of the winter months is -40 ° C.
6
Hell. Norway
Perhaps not everyone will decide to live in a city whose name translates as "Hell", but the population of the Norwegian town of Hell in the amount of just over 1 thousand people has adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the subarctic climate.
From December to March, the city freezes completely, and the lowest temperature is fixed at around 25.6 ° C, although the average February temperatures are 6.6 ° C.
Despite the cold, the Norwegian city is a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world, because many want to have a personal photo in their collection by the plate with the name “Hell”.
7
Barrow. USA
A small city with a population of 4,500 inhabitants is located in Alaska, and is the northernmost city of the United States. In addition, quite low temperatures are recorded here, which puts it in the rating of the coldest places on the planet.
If we talk about average temperature, then the annual rate is kept at -11 ° C, and the record low temperature was -48.9 ° C. The air temperature does not exceed 324 days a year in Barrow, and large frosts and even heavy snowfall can begin even in July.
But the biggest danger in this part of the planet is strong winds that literally knock you down.
8
Snedge. Canada
The Yukon, in whose territory the settlement of Snej is located, is characterized by a subarctic climate with long winters and low temperatures.
The town is grateful for the appearance of the gold rush, and the lowest temperature in the snowy valley of the White River was recorded in 1947, and the wound was -62.8 ° C.
Interestingly, the average temperature in winter is -12 ° C, and in summer it does not exceed 1.2 ° C. In winter, and sometimes in summer, snowfalls often occur, accompanied by strong winds.
9
Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia
The list, which included the coldest cities in the world, was not complete without mentioning the coldest capital. Oddly enough, but the coldest of all world capitals is Ulan Bator.
The fact is, Ulan Bator, blown by the steppe winds, was founded in a region with a sharply continental climate, also at an altitude of 1,300 m, where it is naturally colder.
In Ulan Bator, winter begins in November and warming occurs only at the end of March. The mark of the thermometer in this period of time is often fixed on the indicator at - 50 ° C. But thanks to drier air, the cold in the capital of Mongolia is much easier to tolerate than, for example, in the north of Russia.
And you can read about many of the sights of Mongolia on the pages of our site most-beauty.ru.
10
Nuuk. Denmark
The population of the capital of the self-governing territory of Greenland as part of the Kingdom of Denmark is 16,500, and earlier it was called Godtaab. This name can still be found on maps of the late twentieth century.
It is 240 km from the city to the North Pole, and therefore low temperatures are recorded here. The minimum was fixed at -32 ° C, and the average annual temperature in winter is at -8.1 ° C.
The warm current is saved from complete freezing of Nuuk, and the houses in the town are painted in different colors, which allows people to avoid depression during a long and cold polar night.
Interesting facts about the coldest cities in the world
Everything in this world is known by comparison, and the average temperature of the coldest month was taken to compile our rating, but there are also funny exceptions to the rules.
- It is noteworthy, but the summer in cold Yakutsk is much warmer than in the capital of the Russian Federation Moscow.
- In Astana, located on the steppe plain, the average temperature of the coldest month is -14.2 ° C, but in the twentieth century, minima were recorded reaching the level of -51 ° C.
- Interestingly, in the coldest cities of the world, people are very rarely susceptible to viral colds, since, according to scientists, their pathogens, bacteria and viruses freeze at low temperatures.
- The city of Murmansk, where the minimum temperature was -39 ° C, is the only hero city beyond the Arctic Circle.
- In the Norwegian city of Longyear, it is forbidden to die, because it is impossible to bury people because of the frozen ground due to severe frosts. There are no maternity hospitals here, so birth is also forbidden. Longyearbyen is considered the northernmost city in the world.
A systematic fixation of air temperature began only in the 19th century, although the observations of weather conditions were still carried out by scientists of Ancient Greece. The weather in the world today is changing, and modern generations of people live in the interglacial period, and who knows what temperatures were recorded on the Earth's surface during the ice ages. But most importantly, our distant ancestors were able to adapt to the cold and survive in the harsh conditions of the periodic onset of glaciers and a sharp cooling.
Article author: Valery Skiba