World’s Coldest Cities: How Life Still Goes On In Minus-55°C Temperature

What would you do if stepping outdoors meant facing minus-55°C? In Oymyakon, Utqiagvik, and Yellowknife, people survive such brutal cold, so cold that cars must be kept running to avoid freezing solid.

Oymyakon, Russia: Oymyakon is known as the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth. Situated in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) in northeastern Siberia, it recorded an official low of –67.7°C (–89.9°F) in February 1933. Even today, winter temperatures average between –45°C and –50°C. Surrounded by mountains that trap icy air, the region remains bitterly cold and isolated, with only a few hundred residents. People here rely on heavy fur clothing, wood and coal heating, and preserved foods. Cars are often left running so the engines do not freeze. Interestingly, in 2010, the warmest month touched 18°C, almost a summer’s day for locals.

Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska: The northernmost city in the United States, Utqiagvik lies above the Arctic Circle on Alaska’s northern coast. Home to around 4,500 people, mostly from the Inupiat community, it remains extremely cold due to its 71°N latitude and proximity to the Arctic Ocean. Homes are built on stilts so heat does not melt the ice beneath. Despite the harsh environment, the Inupiat have lived here for centuries, depending on traditional hunting, fishing, and community support.

Yellowknife, Canada: Yellowknife, with a population of around 20,000, experiences harsh winters with temperatures dropping to –26°C or lower. Located far north, the city receives limited sunlight in winter. Once known for its gold mines, it is now a hub for diamond mining and government activity. Thick ice roads stretch across frozen lakes, connecting the city during winter. Tourists visit for activities like ice fishing and dog sledding, and to witness the spectacular Northern Lights.

Astana, Kazakhstan: Astana frequently ranks among the world’s coldest capitals, with temperatures plunging to –51.5°C. Because it lies far from any large body of water, its climate changes sharply, scorching summers and freezing winters. Located on the vast Kazakh Steppe, with no mountains or forests to block Arctic winds, the city is fully exposed to blasts of icy air.

Longyearbyen, Norway: Longyearbyen, part of Norway but located deep in the Arctic Ocean between mainland Norway and the North Pole, is the world’s northernmost settlement with over 1,000 residents. Summers bring endless daylight, while winters plunge into months of darkness. Unique rules apply here: residents must carry rifles outside town due to the presence of polar bears, and burials are prohibited because bodies do not decompose in the permafrost.

So, if someone asks you to name the coldest places on Earth, these regions certainly top the list. And while we shiver at temperatures of 0-5°C, it is astonishing to imagine how people here manage daily life in such relentless cold.