Photographer Travels To The Coldest Village On Earth Where The Temperature Can Reach -71.2C (-96F)
If you think that winter has already come to your city, pictures from Oymyakon, Russia, the coldest village on Earth, might change your mind. With the lowest temperature of −71.2 °C (−96 °F), recorded in 1924, and the average for January being -50°C (-60°F), this village is the coldest permanently inhabited place on this planet. New Zealand-based photographer Amos Chapple decided to go on a two-day journey from Yakutsk, the coldest major city on Earth, to capture what everyday life is like in Oymyakon.
“I was wearing thin trousers when I first stepped outside into – 47 °C (-52°F). I remember feeling like the cold was physically gripping my legs, the other surprise was that occasionally my saliva would freeze into needles that would prick my lips”, the photographer told to weather.com.
The photographer recalls that the hardest thing was not the cold itself, but that his camera’s focus and zoom rings would occasionally freeze in place.
More info: amoschapplephoto.com (h/t: petapixel)
The Central Market In Yakutsk is full of fish and meat as the crops do not grow there
The ‘Road Of Bones’ is the only route to Oymyakon
Even the village sign reads ‘Omyakon, The Pole Of Cold’
A woman walks by a frozen house located in the village center
A thick layer of fur keeps these dogs warm
Most toilets are built outside, because the frozen ground makes it impossible to build indoor plumbing
Local farmer keeps his cows warm at night by tucking them away in this barn
The only working shop in Oymyakon provides the villagers with everything they need
Cars can only be placed in heated garages. The ones left outside must keep running, otherwise they won’t restart
A coal heating plant keeps the villagers warm
Why do people voluntarily choose to live there? Doesnt seem like a large community either, why not move somewhere slightly warmer and a bit more populated? (But hey, if they're happy living there, kudo's to then!)
Most people that live there are A - native inhabitants, descendants of the local tribes, or B descendants of people that were sentenced convicts during the Tsarist or Communist Russia. You are right, few people would consider moving to live there but once born there, you have few options to move away. The nearest big city is also very cold, as far as I know :)
Load More Replies...You'd have to be off your nut to live there. I grew up in Northern Alberta, and the coldest weather I've ever been out in was...below -50C. It was hard to tell because the thermometer bottomed out at -50. That kind of cold is physically painful, no matter how well you're dressed. Exposed flesh freezes in seconds. Death from exposure can happen in minutes. No thank you.
It's not a deadly place at all. I was born little bit west and love frost! At temperature -45C I and many children played on a street with snow. My chilhood was excellent, and frost give you reason running quicker, i.e. to like sport!
Load More Replies...That was really nice to see, wouldn't want to live there. Thanks for the images.
A Muscovite calls his friend in Yakutsk: - Hallo Kolya, they say on the tv that it's terribly cold over there, minus 50 centigrades! - Naaah, it's minus twenty at the worst! - But I see a reporter on the main square of Yakutsk in front of a thermometer showing minus 50 centigrades! - Aaah, OUTSIDE, yes, it's possible.
If you were Lithuanian, Latvian or Estonian in the 40s you would be taken to a train an transported like an animal to those places just for being teacher, doctor, businessman etc. And you would be happy if you arrived alive...
If they only have meat because crops won't grow there, what do they feed the cattle?
Thats the first thing that came to mind. I understand its thd coldest so i wonder about importing goods. Their diets must be horrible if they only eat meat and fish (assuming)
Load More Replies...Poor dog :( it is chained outside and has no where to escape of course it is freezing there no matter how thick its fur is
a dog on a chain, in this temperature... I wish his owner tried the same, maybe he'd learn some compassion before freezing to death
These people won't survive on climate with positive temps. American calls his friend in Russia: - Serozha!!! HELP! Here is -20C, we are freezing, can't go to work! What do you do when it gets -20 in Russia and you wait for the bus? - Nothing special, drink few beers, the kids eat ice-cream... The Russians are though people. :)
beautiful but i couldn't handle outside toilet. talk about freezing your a*s off.
this photos make me think of the frozen town in Silent Hill:Shattered Memories
These photos are from many years ago. But still, always interesting to look at though.
Why posting something that has been online for the last few years??? I've read the same article twice in dailymail.co.uk in the last 4 years..... lame "journalism"
A Muscovite calls his friend in Yakutsk: - Hallo Kolya, they say on the tv that it's terribly cold over there, minus 50 centigrades! - Naaah, it's minus twenty at the worst! - But I see a reporter on the main square of Yakutsk in front of a thermometer showing minus 50 centigrades! - Aaah, OUTSIDE, yes, it's possible.
I'm from tropical country. I fell unwell when I visited another country on winter days. Maybe I could die if I moved to this village
Beautiful place though...great courage to live in such a harsh climate!
Wow and I was complaining my fingers were almost frozen to my camera when I was shooting in -2 degree weather. I will never complain about shooting in the cold again. These are beautiful photos. Thank you for taking them and sharing with everyone enabling us to get a glimpse into this village those who live there.
Yikes no thanks I moved to Arizona from Boston years ago- even though I'm from a New England family I still hate being cold!
Eliminates a lot of BS and BS people... you don't play it straight - you are dead... simple russian logic...
Load More Replies...Why do people voluntarily choose to live there? Doesnt seem like a large community either, why not move somewhere slightly warmer and a bit more populated? (But hey, if they're happy living there, kudo's to then!)
Most people that live there are A - native inhabitants, descendants of the local tribes, or B descendants of people that were sentenced convicts during the Tsarist or Communist Russia. You are right, few people would consider moving to live there but once born there, you have few options to move away. The nearest big city is also very cold, as far as I know :)
Load More Replies...You'd have to be off your nut to live there. I grew up in Northern Alberta, and the coldest weather I've ever been out in was...below -50C. It was hard to tell because the thermometer bottomed out at -50. That kind of cold is physically painful, no matter how well you're dressed. Exposed flesh freezes in seconds. Death from exposure can happen in minutes. No thank you.
It's not a deadly place at all. I was born little bit west and love frost! At temperature -45C I and many children played on a street with snow. My chilhood was excellent, and frost give you reason running quicker, i.e. to like sport!
Load More Replies...That was really nice to see, wouldn't want to live there. Thanks for the images.
A Muscovite calls his friend in Yakutsk: - Hallo Kolya, they say on the tv that it's terribly cold over there, minus 50 centigrades! - Naaah, it's minus twenty at the worst! - But I see a reporter on the main square of Yakutsk in front of a thermometer showing minus 50 centigrades! - Aaah, OUTSIDE, yes, it's possible.
If you were Lithuanian, Latvian or Estonian in the 40s you would be taken to a train an transported like an animal to those places just for being teacher, doctor, businessman etc. And you would be happy if you arrived alive...
If they only have meat because crops won't grow there, what do they feed the cattle?
Thats the first thing that came to mind. I understand its thd coldest so i wonder about importing goods. Their diets must be horrible if they only eat meat and fish (assuming)
Load More Replies...Poor dog :( it is chained outside and has no where to escape of course it is freezing there no matter how thick its fur is
a dog on a chain, in this temperature... I wish his owner tried the same, maybe he'd learn some compassion before freezing to death
These people won't survive on climate with positive temps. American calls his friend in Russia: - Serozha!!! HELP! Here is -20C, we are freezing, can't go to work! What do you do when it gets -20 in Russia and you wait for the bus? - Nothing special, drink few beers, the kids eat ice-cream... The Russians are though people. :)
beautiful but i couldn't handle outside toilet. talk about freezing your a*s off.
this photos make me think of the frozen town in Silent Hill:Shattered Memories
These photos are from many years ago. But still, always interesting to look at though.
Why posting something that has been online for the last few years??? I've read the same article twice in dailymail.co.uk in the last 4 years..... lame "journalism"
A Muscovite calls his friend in Yakutsk: - Hallo Kolya, they say on the tv that it's terribly cold over there, minus 50 centigrades! - Naaah, it's minus twenty at the worst! - But I see a reporter on the main square of Yakutsk in front of a thermometer showing minus 50 centigrades! - Aaah, OUTSIDE, yes, it's possible.
I'm from tropical country. I fell unwell when I visited another country on winter days. Maybe I could die if I moved to this village
Beautiful place though...great courage to live in such a harsh climate!
Wow and I was complaining my fingers were almost frozen to my camera when I was shooting in -2 degree weather. I will never complain about shooting in the cold again. These are beautiful photos. Thank you for taking them and sharing with everyone enabling us to get a glimpse into this village those who live there.
Yikes no thanks I moved to Arizona from Boston years ago- even though I'm from a New England family I still hate being cold!
Eliminates a lot of BS and BS people... you don't play it straight - you are dead... simple russian logic...
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