Oymyakon – the coldest place on earth

The village Oymyakon in Sakha (Yakutia), eastern Siberia is known as the coldest permanently inhabited settlement on earth. Oymyakon is situated approximately 1000 km east of the major city Yakutsk, and is accessible by a 200 km sparcely maintained side-road from the Kolyma Road. The Kolyma Road was built by Gulag prisoners during the Stalin era, and is the only road leading through the remote parts of eastern Siberia.

 

I was visiting the distant little village of Oymyakon in junuary 2015, when temperatures varied between -45 and -52 ^oC. These are typical january temperatures, and nothing special for tough Siberians who are adapted to cold and long winters.

 



The Food store.

 

A local fisherman handles a wet fishing net barehanded in the cold without difficulties.

 

Yakutian cattle and horses are endemic breeds adapted to the extreme Siberian temperatures, and they stay outside all winter.

 

Reindeer herders in the Oymyakon Valley.

 

Tamara, our friendly host during the stay in Oymyakon.

 

You don't spend more time than necessary at the toilet when temperature drops below -50.

 

My travelmate Rune on the Siberian taiga.

 

«Selfie with reindeer»

 

More from the Siberia trip here:

http://antonsenfoto.blogspot.no/2015/02/kolyma-road_21.html

http://antonsenfoto.blogspot.no/2015/02/cafe-cuba.html

http://antonsenfoto.blogspot.no/2015/04/yakutsk.html

http://antonsenfoto.blogspot.no/2015/04/yakutsk-market.html

http://antonsenfoto.blogspot.no/2015/03/khandyga.html