World’s Coldest Town Exposed: Phones and Cars Freeze at -68°C

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Apart from the North and South Poles, the coldest town in the world is a small village in northeastern Siberia, Russia, called “Oymyakon.” The lowest temperature ever recorded here was -67.7°C (1933), which is not far off from Antarctica’s record low of -89.2°C. Oymyakon still has a population of around 500 people, and during winter, even phones and cars often freeze and break.

Oymyakon is under the jurisdiction of the Sakha Republic, situated at an altitude of 741 meters. It has long, harsh winters, with the coldest month (January) averaging -46.4°C, and short, cool summers, with the warmest month (July) averaging 14.9°C. The town’s name comes from the Sakha language, meaning “unfrozen water.” According to locals, when you pour water on the ground here, it freezes before it even hits the surface.

Despite the extremely harsh climate, there are still residents living here—about 500 people of the Sakha ethnic group, who mainly raise dairy cattle and reindeer. When winter temperatures drop below -48°C, kindergartens close, and when they fall below -54°C, elementary schools shut down.