The Coldest Places on Earth You Will Likely Never Visit

Our planet is a beautiful mix of life, landscapes, and weather. But in some faraway places, temperatures fall so low that staying alive becomes a serious struggle. While people often judge a place by how comfortable or useful it is, one of the clearest ways to spot Earth’s most extreme frontiers is by how cold they get.

Some of these frozen places still have small communities of people living there. Others are almost completely empty, with only a few scientists or tiny forms of life able to survive. Climate experts often describe these areas as places of “thermal extremes,” where weather conditions behave very differently from what most of us know. Learning about these icy regions shows both the power of nature and the strength of the people who manage to live in such harsh conditions.

Comparative Extremes: A Snapshot of the World’s Deep Freeze

To understand just how extreme these places are, it helps to compare them by their lowest recorded temperatures and whether people actually live there.

Location	Country/Region	Record Low Temperature	Population Status
Vostok Station	Antarctica	-128.6°F	Research Scientists Only
Plateau Station	Antarctica	-123.1°F	Inactive/Uninhabited
Oymyakon	Russia	-89.9°F	Permanently Inhabited
Verkhoyansk	Russia	-89.7°F	Permanently Inhabited
Snag	Canada	-81.4°F	Historically Inhabited

Verkhoyansk, Russia

Verkhoyansk is known for having one of the biggest temperature swings in the Northern Hemisphere. This Russian town sits along the Yana River near the Arctic Circle and goes through huge changes between summer and winter. In the middle of winter, the average temperature stays around -49.7°F, turning the area into a world of deep frost.

Still, the town is best known for the record it set in 1892, when the temperature dropped to an incredible -89.7°F. Even with such brutal cold, life continues there. In 2010, the town had a population of 1,311 people, showing that people can survive even in places where the air itself feels painful. Experts say Siberia’s “dry cold” can feel a little easier to handle than wet cold, but at this level, bare skin can freeze within minutes.

The Frozen History of Snag, Canada

Hidden in the White River valley of Yukon, the small village of Snag holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded in North America. It is located near Beaver Creek, just off the Alaska Highway. Snag first became active during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1800s. Later, it also served as a military airfield.

In 1947, when a few local residents and airport workers were still there, the temperature dropped to a shocking -81.4°F. A weather observer named Gordon Toole said his breath made a hissing sound as it froze in the air, a strange effect known as “pittering.” The airfield eventually shut down in 1968, but Snag still stands as a symbol of how severe winters in northern Canada can be.

Oymyakon, the Inhabited Pole of Cold

Oymyakon is often called the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth, and that title is well deserved. Located in Russia’s Sakha Republic along the Indigirka River, this village is home to about 500 people living in a land of permafrost, frozen roads, and engines that can stop working if left off too long.

The ground stays frozen so deeply that building and plumbing are constant problems. Indoor plumbing is very difficult because pipes can freeze and burst almost immediately. In 1933, the local weather station recorded a low of -89.9°F, making Oymyakon famous as the Northern Pole of Cold. Children there only stay home from school when temperatures fall below -67°F. Life in Oymyakon may sound almost impossible, but the people there keep going, supported in part by a diet of frozen fish and reindeer meat.

The Desolation of Plateau Station, Antarctica

Far to the south, Plateau Station is known as the second coldest place ever recorded on Earth. This former American research station was built in 1965 in one of the most remote parts of Antarctica. July is the coldest part of the year there, and it was during that season that a temperature of -123.1°F was recorded.

Although an expedition visited the site in 2017, the station has mostly been taken back by snow and ice. Today, only its tall weather mast can still be seen above the surface. Scientists explain that the great height of the Antarctic plateau, together with the total lack of sunlight during winter, creates a natural “cold trap” where temperatures drop much lower than almost anywhere else on Earth.

Vostok Station, the Peak of Earth’s Cold

The coldest place ever measured on Earth is Vostok Station, a Russian research base high on the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Sitting at an elevation of 11,444 feet, Vostok is not only important for weather records. It is also a major center for studying Earth’s magnetic field and ancient climate through deep ice-core research.

In 1983, the station recorded the lowest natural temperature ever measured on Earth’s surface: -128.6°F. Life there is marked by distance, darkness, and isolation. During the long winter, the number of people there drops to just 13. Vostok is one of the most remote research stations in the world. It also sits above Lake Vostok, a huge lake buried under thick ice and sealed off from the surface for millions of years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth?
The lowest naturally recorded temperature on Earth’s surface was -128.6°F. It was measured at Russia’s Vostok Station in Antarctica on July 21, 1983.

Can people really live in temperatures below -50 degrees?
Yes. People in places like Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk have learned how to survive by wearing heavy protective clothing, keeping vehicles running so they do not freeze, and eating foods rich in fat and protein to help their bodies stay warm.

Why is Antarctica colder than the Arctic?
Antarctica is colder because it is a huge landmass covered by a thick sheet of ice, much of it at high altitude. The Arctic, on the other hand, is mostly an ocean covered by sea ice, and the water underneath helps hold and release heat, which softens the cold a little.

Can tourists visit these places?
Some tour companies do take travelers to places like Oymyakon during the winter. But places such as Vostok Station and Plateau Station are not normal tourist destinations. They are mainly limited to scientists and support teams because the conditions are dangerous and there is almost no visitor infrastructure.