Top 10 Coldest Places On Earth!

The world is characterized by varying weather patterns. Around the equator, countries experience a tropical climate which is characterized by rain and long periods of sun. This has, in turn, resulted in the growth of rainforests in some locations and deserts in others. For nations that exist between the Tropic of Capricorn and Cancer which are both above and below the equator, they do experience up to 4 weather patterns in a year. They include summer, winter, autumn, and spring. For areas located above the said latitudes especially as you travel towards the poles, the weather is characterized by cold and low temperatures. If you are looking for an area where the season of chapped lips, cracked knuckles and putting on of five layers of clothing, then it’s time you knew about the coldest places on earth.

Here are the top 10 coldest places on Earth.

10. Rogers Pass, Montana, US

Number 10 on the top 10 coldest places on Earth is Rogers Pass. Located in Montana, US the pass is adjacent to Helena National Forest. The location is traversed by the Montana Highway 200. The pass is known to be the best route between the cities of Great Falls and Missoula. The location rises 5,610 feet (1,710 meters) above the sea level. The area is popularly renowned for being the location with the coldest temperature in the US and outside of Alaska. In 1954, a low temperature of -70 degree F (-57 degree C) was recorded.

9. Stanley, Idaho

Located in Custer Country, Idaho, the city has a population of 63 people according to a 2010 census. It is number 9 on the top 10 coldest places on Earth. The area is characterized by an alpine subarctic climate that results in very cold winters and warm summers. During the year, frosts do occur. Stanley’s cold weather is characterized by its location which is in a protected valley that traps cold air from the surrounding mountains. This creates temperature inversions. The lowest recorded temperature was 0 degree F (-17.8 degrees C).

8. Mount McKinley, Alaska

Also referred to as Denali, it is the highest mountain peak in North America. It has a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level. It is known to be the third most prominent and most isolated peak after Aconcagua and Mount Everest. The peak is located in the Alaskan Range and it’s the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserves. The lowest recorded temperature has been -22.9 degrees F (-30.5 degrees C) and wind chills as low as -59.2 degrees F (-50.7 degrees C).

7. Fort Selkirk, Canada

This is a former trading post located at the confluence of the Pelly River and the Yukon River. It located in Yukon, Canada and today, it is widely renowned as a historic site that is owned and managed jointly by Selkirk First Nation and the Yukon Government Department of Tourism and Culture. In the past, it was an important supply point but was abandoned in the mid-1950s after the Klondike Highway bypassed it and the Yukon River traffic died down. Another factor that led to the abandonment of the location is the extreme cold conditions. The location is not accessible by any road but via boat and plane. The lowest temperature ever recorded is -74 degrees F.

6. Snag, Yukon

The snag is a village found on a small, dry weather side road located 25 kilometers east of Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada. It is number 6 on the top 10 coldest places on Earth having recorded a low temperature of -81.4 degrees F (-63 degrees C). This was on February 3rd, 1947 and during the same duration, another town, Fort Selkirk claimed an even lower temperature of -85 degrees F (-65 degrees C). The town is located 180 kilometers northeast of Snag. As of 2006, no population was recorded resulting in the census for the location being closed.

5. Oymyakon, Russia

The area is located in the Sakha Republic, Russia which is along the Indigirka River. This is 30 kilometers northwest of Tomtor along the Kolyma Highway. It is known as one of the coldest permanently inhabited places on Earth. As of 2011, a census-estimated that the area had a population of 500 inhabitants. It is characterized by an extreme subarctic climate. In 1924, a low temperature of -71.2 degrees C (-96 degrees F) was recorded. This was noted as the lowest recorded temperature in a habitat center. On February 6th, 1933, a low temperature of -67.8 degrees C (-90 degrees F) was recorded. Such low temperatures have only been recorded in Antarctica.

4. North Ice, Greenland

This is a research station located in North Greenland. It belongs to the British North Greenland Expedition. The expedition was conducted between 1952 and 1954. It is located on the inland ice of Greenland. At an altitude of 2,341 meters (7,680 feet) above sea level, it is number 4 on the top 10 coldest places on Earth. The lowest recorded temperature was -66.1 degrees C (-87 degrees F). This was marked as the lowest temperature ever recorded in North America. The British Expedition was led by Commander James Simpson.

3. Verkhoyansk, Russia

It is located in the Verkhoyansk district found in Sakha Republic, Russia. The area is located close to the Yana River near the Arctic Circle. It is 57 miles (92 km) from Batagay which is the administrative center of the district. The town has recorded a population of 1,311 inhabitants as of a 2010 census. It holds the Guinness World Record of the greatest temperature range on earth at 189 degrees F (105 degrees C). Considered as the Northern Pole of Cold while the other is Oymyakon, the lowest temperature ever recorded was – 93.6 degrees F (-69.8 degrees C). This was on February 8th, 1892.

2. Eismitte, Greenland

Also referred to as Mid-Ice, Eismitte is the site of an Arctic expedition which is located in the interior of Greenland. The expedition took place during the period of July 1930 and August 1931. During the expedition, the life of renowned German Scientist Alfred Wegener was claimed. The words Eismitte refers to Ice Center in German. The area is known to be one of the coldest locations in the North Hemisphere having recorded the lowest temperature of -53 degrees F (-47.2 degrees C).

1. Vostok, Antarctica

This is a Russian research station located inland Princess Elizabeth Land in Antarctica. It was founded in 1957 and lies south of the Pole of Cold. It has the lowest reliably measured natural temperature on earth of -128.6 degrees F (-89.2 degrees C). At the research station, ice core drilling and magnetometry are carried out. The station was named after Vostok, the lead ship of the First Russian Antarctic Expedition.