Right now in the United States, we are suffering the onslaught of one of the most aggressive snowstorms felt in years. Because of how important it is to keep up-to-date on the situation, the Inquisitr reported the latest news pertaining to it. For certain people needing to travel last Thanksgiving , the snowstorm delayed flights and caused roadways to be hazardous. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the worst news as the storm left many people buried in blankets of snow — some needed assistance just to get out. There is even one story of a mother in her vehicle who was trapped in the snow that thought she’d never be found. Because of that thought, she wrote “ goodbye ” letters to her daughters.
Even though the northwest snowstorm is terrible, it is nothing compared to the coldest place in the world. Most people may not believe such a claim (especially those who have dealt with the snowstorm), but all you have to do is take a gander at these amazing photographs for your opinion to change!
According to an article by Weather and followed-up by RYOT , photographer Amos Chapple took a trip to Oymyakon, Russia, to take pictures of the place. Just last month, the average temperature was -38ºF — but the daily average is -58ºF. For location reference, Oymyakon is a two-day drive away from Yakutsk, the regional capital which has the lowest winter temperatures of any city in the world.
Just by the harsh temperatures alone, it is amazing that anyone would even bother living in such a place or even that such a place exists. The warm spring nearby is the primary reason why there is even a Oymyakon. Originally, the town was used as a stopping point for reindeer herders to water their flocks in the warm springs. It is also the warm springs that gave Oymyakon its ironic name, which means “unfrozen water.” It isn’t necessarily used for reindeer herding anymore — but for some reason, people still live there. Of course, they have to make many adjustments living in such an extremely cold area. If one were not to adjust, they’d experience what Amos Chapple did during a moment of unpreparedness.
“I was wearing thin trousers when I first stepped outside into minus 47ºC. 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.”
Some of the adjustments includes not wearing glasses outdoors because they stick to the wearer’s face. However, that is menial compared to the fact that the frozen ground makes it difficult to install working indoor plumbing, ergo outhouses are still used. Digging graves is a chore which requires the locals to make a bonfire just to warm up the ground. Heated garages must be used for vehicles because if left out in the cold, it will not start. Then there is, of course, the risk of frostbite, which may happen after only a few minutes in the harsh temperatures.
If you want to see what life is like for people living in Oymyakon, check out the gallery of pictures Amos Chapple took of the city attached below.
Now that you’ve read the details and seen the gallery of Oymyakon, what are you views of it? Does it sound like a place you’d like to at least visit, or is this a place you will avoid at any cost?
[Images via Amos Chapple]
