Oymyakon

Oymyakon is a rural locality (selo) in the Sakha Republic, Russia. It sits in the remote northeast of Yakutia, on the Indigirka River valley near the Oymyakon River, within the Oymyakonsky District. The settlement is widely known for its extreme winter temperatures and is commonly cited as one of the coldest permanently inhabited places on Earth.

Climate and environment: Oymyakon has a subarctic climate with long, severely cold winters and short, cool summers. Winter temperatures routinely fall well below minus 40 degrees Celsius, and the all-time low of minus 67.7 degrees Celsius was recorded there in 1933. The ground is perennially frozen (permafrost), and the area experiences pronounced seasonal daylight changes, with very short days in winter and longer days in summer.

Population and economy: The locality has a small permanent population of a few hundred residents. Economic activity centers on traditional livelihoods such as animal husbandry and fur trading, supplemented by local services and, in recent years, tourism related to the extreme climate and local culture.

Name and history: The name Oymyakon derives from the Oymyakon River. The area has a history of indigenous settlement, with peoples such as the Yakuts (Sakha) and Evenki contributing to the region’s cultural and economic development, including reindeer herding, hunting, and trade.