New Delhi: It is tough to live in cold places, so spare a thought for those residing in Oymyakon. It is the Earth’s coldest permanently inhabited human settlement whose average winter temperature hovers around −50 degree Celcius. It is a village located at the “Pole of Cold” on the left bank of the Indigirka River in Sakha, a republic in Russia’s far east and believe it or not, around 2,000 people live in those harsh conditions. If it seems barely true, then read on to find out more about this place.
Oymyakon and the irony in its name
In early October, an anticyclone begins to form in Sakha and Yakutia with increased atmospheric pressure. It marks the beginning of polar nights during which the Earth’s surface sharply cools down with the permafrost beneath. In Europe, Oymyakon is considered a climate regulator and meteorological stations closely monitor it. The name Oymyakon ironically means ‘unfrozen water’ and it possibly came from a local spring.
Also, other sources say that the place was possibly named after the Oymyakon River, whose name reportedly comes from the Even word ‘kheium’ which means “unfrozen patch of water”. Another source states that the Even word ‘heyum’ means “frozen lake” and the river probably got its name from there.
Survival in Oymyakon: A great challenge
The population in Oymyakon has to brave the extremely harsh living conditions where the average winter temperature is -50 degree Celcius. The inhabitants have very limited scope on the frozen land and are mainly engaged in breeding cows, horses and reindeer, hunting, fishing, gathering and logging. Earlier, the Indigenous Evens were nomads who worked as reindeer herders but later they were forced to form a permanent settlement in the area and build cattle farms in the 1930s.
For several months, plane do not land in Oymyakon due to cold. While most of the houses have partial central heating, there is no indoor sanitation. Most toilets are long drops out on the street as it is very difficult to dig plumbing through the permanently frozen soil. The garages have heating system and sometimes, the cars are kept running so that they don’t freeze in that temperature. It is even difficult to bury the dead in Oymyakon. It takes up to three days to dig the grave due to freezing ground.
The heat generated using hot coals help thaw the snow and after that, the grave is dug. Since no crops can be grown in the Oymyakon, the diet of the people is based on meat. People tend to eat frozen raw Arctic fish, whitefish, white salmon, reindeer meat and frozen raw horse liver. A prominent cuisine of Oymyakon is ice cubes made using horse blood and served with macaroni.
Oymyakon, Russia, holds the title of Earth’s coldest permanently inhabited settlement, enduring average winter temperatures around -50°C. Despite the extreme conditions, approximately 2,000 people call it home, surviving through reindeer herding, hunting, and unique adaptations. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
