Ice Kingdoms: 20 of the coldest cities in the world
From the open cold steppe of Siberia to the far north of Canada and Scandinavia, on Earth there are cities where winter is not just a season but an entire lifestyle. These cities constantly battle frostbite, are built on permafrost, and people going outside need to wear more clothing than even a mountain climber on a high altitude expedition. Check out 20 of the coldest cities in the world that are home to courageous people who have adapted to the extremely cold weather which most of us can hardly even imagine.
1. Yakutsk, Russia — The Coldest Major City on Earth
Yakutsk regularly experiences bone-numbing winter lows around −40 °C and was once recorded as cold as −64.4 °C, making it the coldest city in the world with a significant population. Buildings are often raised on stilts because of frozen ground and residents adapt to severe ice fog and limited sunlight.
2. Oymyakon, Russia — Coldest Inhabited Place on Earth
Although technically a rural settlement, Oymyakon deserves mention. Here, historic lows have plunged below −67 °C, earning it the title of the coldest permanently inhabited location.
3. Norilsk, Russia
One of the northernmost industrial cities in the world, Norilsk endures long, dark winters with average temperatures well below freezing and severe polar conditions.
4. Verkhoyansk, Russia
Situated deep in Siberia, Verkhoyansk competes with Oymyakon for extreme cold, often recording bitter winter temperatures thanks to its isolated location within a valley.
5. Yellowknife, Canada
The capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, Yellowknife sees frigid winters with lows that have dipped to −60 °F (about −51 °C), pushing life here into true Arctic conditions.
6. Barrow (Utqiaġvik), USA
At the northern tip of Alaska, Barrow sits above the Arctic Circle and experiences months of polar night, continuous sub-zero temperatures, and fierce winds.
7. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The coldest capital city in the world, Ulaanbaatar’s annual average temperature drops below freezing. In winter, the city battles dust, smog, and winds that make sub-zero conditions even harsher.
8. Astana (Nur-Sultan), Kazakhstan
This Central Asian capital endures brutal continental winters where the mercury often plunges visibly below −20 °C.
9. Helsinki, Finland
While not as extreme as Siberian cities, Helsinki’s long, dark winters and icy winds from the Baltic Sea make it one of Scandinavia’s coldest urban centers.
10. Moscow, Russia
Moscow’s infamous Russian winter brings icy blasts and snow, with average lows often below −10 °C in the coldest months.
11. Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, duniya ke sabse northern capital cities me se ek hai. Samundar ke paas hone ke bawajood, yahan ki sardi kaafi tez hoti hai. Winters me barf, icy winds aur ghane baadal chhaye rehte hain. Din bahut chhote ho jaate hain aur sunlight limited hoti hai, jo is city ko aur bhi zyada thanda mehsoos karati hai.
12. International Falls, USA
International Falls ko “America’s Icebox” kaha jata hai, aur iska reason bilkul saaf hai. Winters me yahan temperature regularly sub-zero me chala jata hai. Lakes jam jaati hain aur barf ka cover mahino tak bana rehta hai. Yeh shehar United States ke sabse thande shehron me gina jata hai.
13. Fairbanks, USA
Fairbanks Alaska ke andar sthit ek shehar hai jahan winters behad extreme hoti hain. Yahan temperature −30°C ya usse bhi neeche chala jata hai. Winter months me din bahut chhote aur raaten kaafi lambi hoti hain. Permafrost aur heavy snowfall yahan ki everyday reality hai.
14. Whitehorse, Canada
Whitehorse, Yukon ka capital city hai aur lambi, barfili winters ke liye jaana jata hai. Yahan temperatures kai mahino tak freezing ke neeche rehte hain. Snowfall heavy hoti hai aur spring bhi kaafi der se aati hai. Cold weather ke bawajood, yeh shehar apni natural beauty ke liye mashhoor hai.
15. Murmansk, Russia
Murmansk Arctic Circle ke andar sthit ek important port city hai. Winters me yahan extreme cold, snowstorms aur icy winds common hain. Kuch mahino tak sun bilkul nahi dikhta, jise polar night kaha jata hai. Iske bawajood, Murmansk ek active aur inhabited shehar bana hua hai.
16. Novosibirsk, Russia
Novosibirsk Siberia ka ek bada aur industrial shehar hai jahan winters kaafi kathin hoti hain. October se April tak thand ka asar bana rehta hai aur temperatures −20°C se bhi neeche gir jaate hain. Snow-covered roads aur frozen rivers yahan ka normal scene hai.
17. Ust-Ilimsk, Russia
Ust-Ilimsk deep Siberia me sthit ek city hai jahan winter lagbhag poore saal chalti hui lagti hai. Rivers poori tarah jam jaati hain aur thand spring tak chhutti nahi. Yahan rehne wale log extreme cold ke aadatshuda hote hain.
18. Magadan, Russia
Magadan Russia ke Far East region me sthit hai, jahan coastal winds aur Arctic air milkar winters ko aur bhi zyada kathin bana dete hain. Snowstorms, freezing temperatures aur rough weather yahan ka common experience hai.
19. Kuopio, Finland
Kuopio Finland ka ek important city hai jo apni lakes aur forests ke liye jana jata hai. Winters me yeh poora shehar barf se dhak jata hai. Temperatures consistently low rehte hain aur frozen lakes daily life ka hissa ban jaati hain.
20. Yellowknife, Canada
Yellowknife Canada ke Northwest Territories ka capital city hai aur duniya ke sabse thande shehron me gina jata hai. Winters yahan bahut lambi aur extreme hoti hain, jahan temperature −40°C tak gir jata hai. Lakes poori tarah jam jaati hain aur icy winds thand ko aur bhi zyada mehsoos karati hain. Is shehar me rehna strong adaptation aur resilience ka behtareen example hai.
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