We, I and other Yakutians, are often asked about Oymyakon. The last time we forwarded received questions to a local resident. His name is Nikolay N. Krivoshapkin, 50-year-old driver, who was born, grew up and live the whole life in Oymyakon. Nikolay tried to describe what life in the coldest place on Earth looks like. He says:
“In winter the average temperature is −51°С, in summer +27°С. But that’s average. In December and January temperature usually do not drop below −55°С −57°С. The lowest temperature I’ve ever experienced in my life was −67.7°С. I wasn’t surprised, because Oymyakon is considered to be the Pole of Cold, the coldest place in the northern hemisphere with the lowest degrees, -71,2°С, registered.”
What is the style of life?
“Don’t know how even to explain. To me, it is never-ending struggle with myself and nature. In short summer period, we need to stockpile hay for caws, firewood for heating houses. Caws spend the whole winter staying in cow-houses – special barns of small size, daily we have to carry hay and water to the cow-houses, and also clean these houses three times a day. In winter we need to chop firewood, stoke the stove. We use stove heating. Household chores we need to combine with the main job. All the housework we do manually. Our life is the constant work. We are running round like a squirrel in a cage.”
“In central, western and eastern parts of Yakutia, climate is much softer than here. There winter may have -40°С-45°С only and summer may last all three months and have +30°С +35°С. There any crops, potatoes, cabbages, tomatoes and other kinds of vegetables may grow, and lands are flatter. People living there have better conditions. That’s why they have many cattle and horses breed. That’s the reason why most Yakuts are based there, not here. Small indigenous nations, Evens and Evenks, prefer to live in remote northern area; they herd reindeer and hunt for living.”
Houses, struggle with cold, clothes
“We construct all our private houses out of wood, namely larch logs. Larch can keep temperature pretty good, thanks to it, in winter it is warm inside, in summer fresh. We made stoves out of bricks, stock them with firewood. That’s the way we keep houses protected from cold. In contrast to private houses, administrative buildings – school, kindergarten, hospital, offices, sports buildings, culture center (dom kultury, in Russian), are stone and heated by boilers.”
“We wear fur coats, fur hats and fur boots. Winter boots and coats are made of reindeer skin, and hats out of foxes and Arctic foxes. Besides, we put on several sweaters, warm underwear, and wool foot wrap rags. Without these clothes we couldn’t stand cold, especially when we spend the whole workday outdoors. With temperature as low as –50°С and without all mentioned protection layers, a man can get chilblain (thermal burn) just in 30 minutes and be frozen to death in one hour.”
“Foreign tourists often visit our village. All their high-technological parkas, sweaters, socks and boots cannot resist extreme cold. Even Japanese’s coats with electric warmers couldn’t keep warmth. When it was below –50°С, their outer clothing got frozen and numb, and when they got inside warm houses, the outfit started cracking and turned out to be useless.”
When we wake up
“It depends on where a certain person works. School opens door at 8.30 am, hospital and administrative offices at 9.00 am. Caws owners get up very early; they need to give cattle water and hay, milk them and clean barns; everything described must be done before breakfast and going work…”
To be continued
Similar Posts:
- More about Oymyakon, the Pole of Cold
- How to dress in Yakutia in the middle of winter?
- How do the people of Yakutsk survive in extreme cold?
- Life in Yakutsk in winter
- Life in Oymyakon
