With temperatures around -40 degrees Celsius for at least three months of the year, Yakutsk in eastern Siberia, Russia is considered the coldest city in the world, according to National Geographic.
Some other places have more extreme weather, such as the Oymyakon settlement of about 500 people, 925km east of Yakutsk, which recently experienced a record cold of -67 degrees Celsius, or Antarctica has Winter temperatures average -60 degrees Celsius, but nowhere is it considered a fully functional city like Yakutsk , home to more than 280,000 people. Because the ground freezes year-round, most buildings are built on stilts, otherwise the house would slowly sink as the heat generated indoors melts the permafrost.
Thick fog and snow covered Yakutsk. (Video: YouTube).
The rich underground resources offset the challenges posed by weather in the region. Local mines account for about one-fifth of the world’s diamond production. In addition, Yakutsk has abundant reserves of natural gas, oil, gold, silver and many other minerals.
In 2013, Steeve Iuncker, who grew up in the Swiss Alps, where temperatures average -4 degrees Celsius from December to late February, decided to experience the effects of cold weather on body and life. living. Iuncker recalls that when the host’s daughter came to pick him up at the airport, she looked at him from head to toe and asked him to bring enough hats, gloves, scarves and boots.
Frosty street in Yakutsk. (Photo: Steve Iuncker).
“Who knew that just stepping out to catch a taxi would need so much attention,” Iuncker shared. In Yakutsk, every outing requires careful planning. “Don’t walk around, don’t hover or look at the goods. Here the cold determines everything. Or how your body reacts to the cold determines your actions.”
Iuncker noticed that the locals visited each other quite a lot, but the visit lasted only a few minutes. “They walk in, take off their coats, drink a cup of hot tea, eat bread and jam before putting on their shirts, and walk out, as if the neighbor’s house was a stopover along their journey,” Iuncker said.
Fish displayed all day outdoors without refrigeration in Yakutsk. (Video: YouTube).
Iuncker had to adjust his work habits. His dual-lens camera can only take pictures for about 15 minutes. After that time, the film will harden and the film may crack.
The scene in Yakutsk is somewhat fanciful with thick fog covering much of the city, but the ground can easily fool passersby. “It’s very easy to get lost because you can’t see more than 10 meters in front of you and the streets are all exactly the same. That’s the thing you don’t want to run into the most because of the risk of freezing,” Iuncker shared.
“The people of Siberia are as tolerant of the cold as we are, but they are better prepared,” admitted Iuncker after his journey to Yakutsk.