Oymyakon at -71°C, a trip into the extreme cold, do you dare to come?

Located in the northeastern part of Russia's Siberian region, Oymyakon is a small, unassuming village that once had a record low temperature of minus 71.2 degrees Celsius. Since becoming famous, it has attracted many thrill-seeking travelers.

The record low temperature was set in 1926, so long ago that many people doubted it, but the lowest temperature scientifically measured was -67.7 degrees Celsius. But whichever temperature it is, it is already "scary" for us. Oymyakon's title of "Cold Pole" is true to its name.

Why is it so cold at just 63 degrees north?

It is common knowledge that the closer you get to the poles the colder it gets, but this is only a general rule and is influenced by many other factors. Oymyakon is located near 63 degrees north latitude, not yet entering the Arctic Circle (66 degrees 34 minutes north), so how does it earn the title of 'cold pole'?

The high latitude of Oymyakon itself means that it receives very little solar radiation, especially in the winter months when sunlight is short.

The Sea of Okhotsk is relatively closed to the southward cold currents, and the sea is relatively close to the ocean, so there is little energy exchange with the ocean, and it has always been called the "Pacific Ice Cellar".

The sea has been known as the "Pacific Ocean Ice Cellar", and the topography of the area is a basin opening to the north so that the already weak warm air currents from the south cannot reach it, while the cold currents from the north can drive in and stay here.

All these reasons contribute to the extreme climate of Oymyakon. In contrast, the central parts of Europe at the same latitude as it, such as Norway and Sweden, are much warmer than here due to the warm North Atlantic currents, and the average daily minimum temperature in winter is only a few ten degrees below zero.

The most surprising thing about Oymyakon is not how cold it is, but that people have settled here for long periods. It's a standard small village town and it's admirable that the first people chose to live here. According to the data, its record low temperatures have not been surpassed to date of any place where humans have lived.

Everywhere you look when you come to Oymyakon is covered in snow and ice, it is an authentic frozen world. The village is small, but the infrastructure is relatively well equipped, such as a clinic and a school. Due to the harsh climate, their way of life is somewhat different from ours. In the coldest times, people don't go out and will hibernate like a hibernator, relying on coal and wood for heating, and in extreme conditions, you will find that this most primitive way is the one that works best.

The Russian Far East, although sparsely populated, is not without its people there are several villages dotted around this cold land. Despite the cold, many people do not want to leave the place where they live.

There are two sides to everything in the world, and extreme cold has many advantages. One is that the air is clean and there is zero pollution, and the other is that many germs cannot survive here and people rarely get sick. So once you get used to the weather, you will find that living here seems to be a good choice.

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I wonder if there is something about this village in the extreme cold that strikes you.

Would you rather struggle in a bustling city or spend your life in seclusion at the edge of the world?