Just Dress Warmly, In Layers Like A Cabbage: Russians Living In Yakutsk, The Coldest Place On Earth

Temperatures dropped to -50 degrees Celcius in Yakutsk during the prolonged cold wave in the Siberian city, also termed as the coldest place on earth. 

Situated at a distance of 5,000 km east of Moscow, Yakutsk is the capital city of the Sakha Republic, Russia. The mining town is about 450 km to the south of the Arctic Circle, where locals often witness the thermometer temperature regularly drop below -40.

"You can't fight it. You either adjust and dress accordingly or you suffer," said Anastasia Gruzdeva, outside in two scarves, two pairs of gloves and multiple hats and hoods as per an NDTV report. "You don't really feel the cold in the city. Or maybe it's just the brain prepares you for it, and tells you everything is normal," she added as the city is shrouded by icy mist.

Another resident, Nurgusun Starostina, a frozen fish seller at a market that requires no fridge or freezer, said there were no special secrets to deal with the cold snap. "Just dress warmly," she said. "In layers, like a cabbage!"

The residents have forged a number of hacks to deal with the excessive cold in the region. Since the indoor plumbing freezes in harsh winters leaving no availability of water supply, most people use outhouses for their daily needs. Vehicles, including cars, are parked in well-heated garages with a layer of protection. The engines are left running in case of leaving the vehicles outside, even through the night so that the engine does not seize.

Since farming is not possible in the region as no crops grow in freezing temperatures, the Yakutians are dependent on a meat-oriented carnivorous meal.