Coldest Places in the World: Life in Earth's Frozen Habitats

The coldest places on Earth may be unimaginable for some people but these frozen habitats are real and have one thing in common: freezing and sub-freezing temperatures. From the wasteland of Antarctica to the chilling temperatures in Siberia, the list is long but the majority of places remain unchanged, mainly due to their geographical location in the extreme north or south, beyond the tropics and subtropics regions.

Some of the coldest places in the world are inhabited by humans and animals, adapting to the extreme cold temperatures and the latter being long-time residents of these harsh environments. Meanwhile, some plant species can survive the cold habitats but is different compared to the conditions provided by warmer, sunny places near the planet's equator.

Coldest Places on Earth

The coldest places on Earth vary each year depending on the average temperature and environmental conditions in an area or region at a certain point in time.

Up until now, the high ridge on the East Antarctic Plateau in the icy continent of Antarctica remains the coldest place in the world, with winter night temperatures dropping to -135.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-57.7 degrees Celsius), according to data provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The coldest spots in this plateau occur downhill from the ridge, along a 620-mile stretch between to summits. Antarctica's record holder received its title after scientists analyzed 32 years' worth of satellite data from NASA's Earth-observing fleet. The data shows that the record low was observed on August 10, 2010.

Before the East Antarctic Plateau reached the top of the list, Vostok Station in Antarctica held the title as the world's coldest place. This Russian research station is located is in the continent's inland Princess Elizabeth Land, 808 miles from the South Pole in Antarctica.

Life in Frozen Habitats

Aside from the uninhabited lands of Antarctica, where only scientists and their colleagues reside, there are also other places in the world with extreme cold temperatures where humans live.

For instance, the small town of Oymyakon in Siberia, Russia, is one of the world's coldest inhabited places. In 1933, meteorologists recorded its lowest temperature of -67.7 degrees Celsius, reaching its peak cold levels. This extreme temperature, along with the average lows from -50 to -40 degrees Celsius, makes Oymyakon the coldest town on Earth.

Evidence shows that Oymyakon is very cold because of its two main valleys beside it. These natural barriers also support the movement of cold air into the town, where it almost traps it inside, leading to constant frigid temperatures, especially during the winter months in the northern hemisphere.

Others on the list of the coldest places on Earth include Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica; Denali, Alaska; Klinck Station, Greenland; North Ice, Greenland; Yakutsk, Siberia; Snag, Canada; Prospect Creek, Alaska; and Verkhoyansk, Russia.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), exposure to extreme cold temperatures can lead to frostbite or hypothermia, making such conditions life-threatening.