For a long time, it was believed that the coldest places on Earth are limited to Antarctica. In December 1957, the Soviet research station Vostok was founded on this continent. As a result, people have the opportunity to regularly measure temperatures. The lowest was -89.2 degrees Celsius. This temperature minimum was recorded in 1983.
It would seem much lower. However, while investigating cracks in the ice surface near the ice ridge between the Fuji Dome and the Argus Dome in the eastern part of Antarctica, the researchers recorded a temperature of –94 degrees Celsius. It should be noted that there is a Japanese Arctic station on the Fuji dome. In this area on August 3, 2004, the temperature minimum was set equal to –91.2 degrees Celsius. Well, everything is clear with Antarctica, but where else on the blue planet are the coldest places?
The city of Verkhoyansk, located in Yakutia, is of interest. A little more than a thousand people live in these harsh and cold places, and the city is the northernmost in the Republic of Sakha. In addition, Verkhoyansk is considered the Pole of Cold for the entire Northern Hemisphere. Here, in February 1892, a temperature of -69.8 degrees Celsius was recorded. Currently, the lowest temperature is -67.8 degrees Celsius.
The village of Oymyakon is also located in Yakutia on the banks of the Indigirka River. Less than 500 people live here, and they all sincerely believe that the status of the Pole of Cold rightfully belongs to their village, and not to Verkhoyansk. This is explained by the fact that in 1924 a geological expedition recorded a temperature in these places equal to –71.2 degrees Celsius. Today, the absolute minimum is -64.3 degrees Celsius. This cold point is located near the local airport.
Residents of Oymyakon believe that the Pole of Cold is located in their village
Northyce is located in the northern part of Greenland. This is a former polar research station, its staff included the Danes and the British. These courageous guys recorded the coldest temperature ever recorded in North America on January 9, 1954. It was equal to -66.1 degrees Celsius.
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Eismitte in northeastern Greenland can compete successfully with Northyce. The Greenland polar station was located here in the early 30s of the last century. Its premises were dug right in the snow or laid out of snow blocks. The minimum temperature was recorded here, equal to -64.9 degrees Celsius. The usual average temperature today, in February, is –47 degrees Celsius.
In the northern part of Alaska there is a small settlement of Prospect Creek. Once it served as a haven for numerous mountain expeditions. At present, people have left these places. In the month of January 1971, the coldest temperature in Alaska was recorded here. It was equal to -62 degrees Celsius.
In the western part of Montana (USA) there is a place called Roger Pass. It is 1710 meters above sea level. Here on January 20, 1954, the thermometers froze at around -57 degrees Celsius, which became a record for America, excluding Alaska. Montana also has the town of Loma. It is notable for its record temperature change per day. So in the morning of January 15, 1972, the temperature was -48 degrees Celsius, and by the afternoon of the same day it rose to +9 degrees Celsius. These are the miracles that happen in Montana.
Canada also has the coldest places on Earth. Here you can name the village of Fort Selkirk. It is located in the eastern part of the country in the Yukon territory. Once upon a time life was in full swing there, but since the mid-50s of the last century, no one has lived in the village. It recorded a temperature of -58.9 degrees Celsius.
The Yukon Territory is also home to Sneg Village. It is located in the valley of the Belaya River. For a long time, it existed at the expense of a military airfield, which was closed in 1968. Nowadays, people do not live in the village. Here, on February 3, 1947, the military recorded a temperature of -63 degrees Celsius. Snag is located 180 km northeast of Fort Selkirk.
So, we examined the coldest places on Earth. But this list, of course, is not complete. Look at the map - the North is huge. There are lands there that no man has ever set foot on. And therefore, it is not at all excluded that there are areas with no less cold temperature regimes than those listed above.
Vitaly Shipunov