The tiny village of Oymyakon in Russia is regarded as the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth. It averages -58°F during the winter months. In 1924, Oymyakon reached a record-breaking -96.16°F.
Known as the ‘Pole of Cold’, photographer and adventurer Amos Chapple recently visited the freezing village, as well as the city of Yakutsk (the city nearest to Oymyakon). He spent 5 weeks documenting the everyday lives of the people living in an extremely harsh and cold region.
Thanks to the amazing photos he took, we now have some ideas of what it’s like to live in a place where almost everything is frozen.
An outhouse such as this one is a household must for many of the residents here since the completely frozen ground makes it impossible to run water pipes into their houses.
Amos Chapple
Amos Chapple
According to Chapple, residents drink Russki chai (Russian tea) to deal with the extreme cold. In case you’re wondering, Russki chai is their term for vodka.
Amos Chapple
Shoes hanging frozen in a shed.
Amos Chapple
Amos Chapple
Gas stations especially those in isolated locations are open 24/7.
Amos Chapple
Oymyakon is basically too cold to grow vegetables so residents rely on animal husbandry and municipal work (including those at heating plants) for income.
Amos Chapple
The steam from people, cars, and factories create a thick fog during winter which lingers through the coldest weeks.
Amos Chapple
Amos Chapple
Amos Chapple
A swirl of freezing mist surrounds a local woman as she enters a Preobrazhensky cathedral.
Amos Chapple
A university student on her way home stops for a photograph.
Amos Chapple
Oymyakon means “unfrozen water”.
Amos Chapple
A home covered in frost in Yakutsk.
Amos Chapple
A woman is photographed walking over an ice-encrusted bridge.
Amos Chapple
Burying the dead is a taxing job in Oymyakon. Because the ground is frozen, large fires must be lit to warm the soil prior to burials.
Amos Chapple
Amos Chapple
This Communist-era monument reads ‘Oymyakon, the Pole of Cold’. It marks the record-breaking temperature of -96.16°F or -71.2°C in 1924.
Amos Chapple
This tiny guest house is known as “Cafe Cuba”. It is located in an isolated, frozen wasteland along the road. Chapple was stranded here for 2 days.
Amos Chapple
Amos Chapple
Thanks to its thick fur, an East Siberian Laikas puppy can keep its adorable self warm despite the extreme cold.
Amos Chapple
Amos Chapple
Chapple found it hard to meet the villagers during his visit. “The only people outside were either dashing between houses with their mitts clasped to their faces, or were drunk and looking for trouble.”, he said in an interview.
Amos Chapple
Amos Chapple
Credit: Amos Chapple