Verkhoyansk is located 650 km north-east of Yakutsk, in the basin of the Yana river and its distributies – the Batagay, the Adycha, the Dulgalakh, the Sartan.
The Verkhoyansky region (map) lies in the area of permafrost. The depth of bedding is 300-500 m. Eighty percent of region territory is in the Arctic Zone and surrounded by the Verkhoyansky range (the absolute hieght is 2365 m).
The Pole of Cold, the 1st or 2nd?
An average temperature in January is about -46C-48C, in July +16C+18C.
Since 19th century, Verkhoyansk has been considered to be the coldest place in the northern hemisphere (certainly, there is opposite opinion, Oymyakon is the coldest.) The first meteorological monitoring was conducted here by a political exile, ethnographer Ivan Khudyakov in 1868-1870. In December 1869 he registered minus 63C and his record gave G. Wild, a Russian meteorology founder, the reason to name Verkhoyansk the Pole of Cold.
However, the lowest temperature, -67.8C (−93.6F), was recordered a little bit later by an exiled revolutionary Sergey Kovalik.
What does Verkhoyansk have?
- Agriculture industry (meat and milk cattle breeding, fur farming, reindeer-raising centre).
- Mining industry, geological research activity.
- Some tourism.
- Museums.
- A river port, an airport.
Key facts:
- City population is 1,434 (2002 Census).
- Founded in 1638 by Cossacks.
- Located initially 90 km south-west of the modern town.
- In 1775 it was moved to the left bank of the Yana River
- Recognized as the third-smallest town in Russia (in 2002), larger than only Magas and Chekalin.
- Between the 1860s and 1917 the town was a place of political exile.
How to get to Verkhoyansk?
By plane and car/boat
First, you fly to Batagai with Polar Airlines or Yakutia Airlines. Flights are done every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. One way air ticket costs for 9120 RUB/approx. 380 USD, round trip 18240 RUB/approx. 760 USD. Afterwards, you may reach Verkhoyansk by car or boat along the Yana river.
By car, in winter only
Please, read posts From Yakutsk to Verkhoyansk with a 4WD car and Long-distance taxi rates within Yakutia?
What are Verkhoyansk dwellers proud of?
- Frost. Read above.
- Mountains. Especially of Kihilyakh Pillars.
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