close
5 of the Planet’s Coldest Places

5 of the Planet’s Coldest Places

February 24, 20131632Views

Anyone who has powered through a cold, snowy winter knows that freezing weather can be difficult to endure, but in a strange way, it can also be exhilarating, because you had the stamina to make it through. Some areas of the world are accustomed to weather that takes winter to the extreme, and might fall out of their boots laughing at what we consider to be cold weather. These five coldest places on the planet experience temperatures that are almost unimaginable when compared to having to shovel several feet of snow for a few months out of the year.

 

Antarctica

via US Embassy New Zealand
via US Embassy New Zealand

The coldest place on the planet is the continent of Antarctica. This remote region is covered in ice but gets very little precipitation, so it’s technically a desert. Temperatures rise to 50 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit along the coast during the summer, but for most of the year, inland areas generally remain frigid. The lowest temperature recorded in Antarctica was taken at the Vostok Research Station on July 21, 1983. The temperature was -128.56 Fahrenheit, and is the lowest temperature on the planet ever recorded.

 

Oymyakon, Siberia

via Maarten Takens
via Maarten Takens

Another of the planet’s lowest outdoor temperatures was recorded in the town of Oymyakon in the Siberian region of Russia. A temperature of -90 degrees Fahrenheit was taken there on February 6, 1933. Summer outdoors temperatures in Oymyakon reach into the mid 60s, but temperatures generally remain below freezing from September to May. Oymyakon is a town with a population of about 500. People go to work even on the chilliest days, and school is only called off if the temperature dips below -61.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Verkhoyansk, Siberia

via Google Images
via Google Images

Verkhoyansk in Siberia is another town in Russia with some of the world’s most frigid temperatures. The temperature of -93.1 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded on February 5, 6 and 7 in 1892. Temperatures in Verkhoyansk run into the high 60s during the warmest months, but remain below freezing between October and April.

 

Snag, Yukon Territory

via Google Images
via Google Images

The chilliest place in North America, and one of the coldest places on the planet, is Snag in the Yukon Territory of Canada. Outdoors temperatures in the town of Snag remain below freezing from October to March, and during the winter months are usually below zero degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest temperature recorded in Snag was -81.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezing air is trapped in the region by the surrounding mountains, which also block rainfall and carry voices over many miles.

 

North Ice, Greenland

via ilovegreenland
via ilovegreenland

North Ice in Northern Greenland is the last on our list of the five coldest places on Earth. North Ice is a British research station that was mainly used by the British North Greenland Expedition between 1952 and 1954. On January 9, 1954, a temperature of -86.8 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded.