Do you think you can stand extremely cold temperatures? Well, you better give it a second thought because, in this article, we are to list down and discuss the 10 coldest places on Earth where the lowest temperatures ever have been recorded.
You may want to put a coat on because we are about to get started with our list!
Dome Argus
Dome Argus is a massive ice sheet found in East Antarctica. Reaching an elevation of 4,093 meters, it is the highest rooftop of the icy plateau of Antarctica. As one of the coldest places on earth, Dome Argus receives around 3 cm of snowfall every year. The Scott Polar Research Institute gave the place Dome Argus its name, which is inspired by Greek Mythology.
If we dig up the enormous ice sheet of Dome Argus, 2,400 meters, we would discover Gamburtsev Mountain Range, which is equivalent to the European Alps in size. It is one of the strangest facts about Antarctica, which astounds everyone. Another big reason behind Dome Argus being one of the driest regions on earth is because it is 1,200 kilometers far away from the nearest coastal region. The temperature here can go as low as -130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Denali National Park
The peak of the Denali mountain rises 6,190 meters high above sea level, which makes it one of the highest mountains in the world and the tallest peak in North America. This mountain was previously known as McKinley. It is situated in one of the most seismically active regions in North America.
Located in Alaska, the region where Denali is found is among the coldest places in the world. The place is famous among travelers and adventure seekers because of its astounding natural features. There are five glaciers that flow through the slopes of Denali. July is the warmest month to visit Denali in Alaska as the average temperature during the month is 19 degrees Fahrenheit. However, during the winter season from November, all the way till March the temperature can go as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Denali Alaska was -58.3 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913.
Verkhoyansk
Verkhoyansk is a town in Russia, which is known for its extremely cold temperatures. It is situated in the Verkhoyansk district. Located on the banks of Yana River, it is a district of the Sakha Republic in Russia. It falls within the Arctic Circle, which is why Verkhoyansk town experiences cold and dry temperatures throughout the year.
This Russian town is named after the Verkhoyansk range, which is a part of the Eastern Siberian System, one of the most prominent mountainous zones in the region. The place experiences below-freezing temperatures all year round for most of the year, which makes it very hard for people to carry on with their day-to-day activities. During the winter season, the temperature can drop to -48 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, the warmest month in Verkhoyansk is July, which experiences around 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit on average.
Oymyakon
Oymyakon is a rural area located in the Sakha Republic on the banks of the Indigirka River. The name Oymyakon means “frozen river”. It is one of the coldest places on earth, thanks to the region’s unique topography because of which, winds are trapped within the valley, resulting in an unbearably cold and dry climate. Temperatures in winter can drop to a whopping -65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why schools are closed and there are little to no public activities outdoors during the long and extremely cold season.
Due to its inhabitable conditions, the place is home to even less than 1000 residents who have adapted their lifestyle to survive in extremely cold temperatures. It is also located in one of the remotest parts of the country. You won’t find many real estate agents selling homes in this hard-to-reach corner of Russia because there isn’t any housing demand.
North Ice
Located in the northeastern part of Greenland, North Ice is a coastal region. It is one of the most fascinating places for geologists and scientists to take a close look at the natural history of earth dating back to the ice age. This is why a research station was established here to carry out a broad survey of different factors related to the seismology, physiology, geology, and glaciology of the place. The place remains frozen through winter and temperatures don’t rise much even in summers. The coldest ever recorded temperature in North Ice is -66 degrees Fahrenheit.
North Ice is now completely deserted because of its extremely dry and hostile environment, as well as unbearably cold weather conditions.
Klinck Research Station
This is another very famous research station location in Greenland — the largest island on earth. The entire island is sparsely populated because most of the places in it have remote locations and almost uninhabitable weather conditions. The giant ice sheet covers most of the Island and establishing a research station or facility in this kind of place with nature can’t be tamed was a very tough one.
The Klinck Research Station in Greenland is situated in proximity to the highest point of the ice sheet that blankets the island. The entire region is exposed to very inhospitable weather conditions, which is why it experiences dry and cold continental climates almost the entire year. In December 1991, the lowest temperature recorded in the region was around -92 degrees Fahrenheit.
Snag, Yukon
Snag is a village in Canada, which is surrounded by a breathtakingly beautiful mountainous region. It is located in a bowl-shaped valley. The unique topographical features of the region greatly add to the natural beauty of this place. People can also enjoy the views of the White River and its tributaries from this valley. The rural locality of Snag is located in the Yukon territory of Canada. The place can be reached via the Alaskan Highway.
Snag is very popular for its subarctic climate, which means the village experiences pleasant weather during the entire summer season, which is usually quite shorter than winter. Talking about the winter season, it usually starts from November and stretches all the way till April. The lowest recorded temperature in the region where Snag is located is around -81 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s probably the lowest temperature ever experienced by any place located in North America.
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is one of the most prominent research facilities run by the United States of America in the Antarctica Plateau. The station is found in a very high region of the South Pole. Amundsen-Scott Research Station has been established at a height of 2,835 meters above sea level.
This Antarctic research station was set up in the late 1950s. Before the establishment of the Amundsen-Scott Research Station, there was no human presence in this plateau of Antarctica, which is located in one of the most central regions of the South Pole. Since this research facility is located in one of the coldest regions on earth, blizzards are very frequent, especially during the Antarctic winter. Temperatures of the place can drop below -73 degrees and the environment becomes absolutely inhabitable. If people go outside without properly covering themselves, they could get frostbite and hypothermia. These medical conditions could be fatal if they are not treated immediately.
Vostok Research Station
Vostok Research Station was established by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s in Antarctica. Vostok Station means east station in the Russian language. The place has been named after Vostok, the ship that carried the crew of the First Russian Antarctic Expedition. Located about 808 miles (1,300 km) away from the South Pole, the Vostok Research Station is right in the middle of the ice sheet located in East Antarctica.
This station is in one of the remotest regions on earth and is situated at an elevation of 3,488 meters above sea level.
The region where Vostok Research Station is located experiences sub-zero temperature throughout the year, which makes it quite challenging for scientists and engineers working and staying in this region of Antarctica. Vostok gets dangerously cold during the Antarctic winter. The temperature in the area can go as low as -132 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dome Fuji
Dome Fuji is located in the Antarctic Plateau. It was discovered in the 1960s when a group of explorers and scientists from the Soviet Arctic Expedition came across it. The elevation of the dome is 3,700 meters. It was converted into an Antarctica base to study the weather conditions of the region as the place experiences insanely low temperatures.
It is a cold desert that gets a very little amount of precipitation per year. Due to the very cold and dry weather conditions, the place only receives 25 millimeters of rainfall, that too in the form of ice crystals. The lowest recorded temperature at the Dome Fuji Antarctica base is -112 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, during the summer season, the temperature occasionally rises as high as -22 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the average temperature of the regions is around -65 degrees Fahrenheit.
There you have it — a detailed round-up of the 10 coldest places on earth. Despite way below freezing temperatures, people still live in these places and have adapted their lifestyles to almost uninhabitable living conditions. Well, if you think that’s fascinating, you would surely be even more surprised to know that there are many different regions around the world where the sun never sets.
