60 Minutes Australia is a long-running investigative news program known for its in-depth reporting and captivating storytelling. In a classic segment, the team ventured to Oymyakon, a tiny Siberian village known as the coldest inhabited place on Earth. The news report shows what life is like a place where temperatures regularly plunge below minus 50°C.
The expedition began with a treacherous two-day drive along the infamous “Road of Bones.” This horiffying named highway, constructed by political prisoners under Stalin’s regime, is a grim reminder of its deadly history—its very foundation is said to contain the bones of those who perished during its construction. Traveling across frozen rivers, mountain ranges, and dense forests, the team finally reached Oymyakon, a village of just 547 residents at the time of filming.
Upon arrival, the intensity of the cold became immediately apparent. The record low of minus 71.2°C was recorded here in the 1920s by geographer Robert F. Even at minus 45°C, the locals considered it a mild day. Frostbite is a constant danger, and exposed skin freezes within minutes. Yet, the Yakut people, with their distinctive Asiatic features, thrive here, living much as they have for centuries. Daily life involves melting blocks of ice for water and enduring the lack of modern plumbing—an outdoor “thunderbox” toilet is a harsh reality in such freezing conditions.
The program highlighted fascinating experiments showcasing the extreme cold, from instantly freezing boiling water into snow to hammering nails with frozen bananas. Despite these conditions, the community finds ways to flourish. Local fishermen like Igor rely on ingenious ice-fishing methods to sustain their families, and reindeer herding remains vital to the region’s history and culture.
In summer, Oymyakon transforms into a mosquito-filled swamp, with temperatures soaring to 35°C—a stark contrast to its icy winters. Though life here is undeniably tough, the townsfolk embrace their unique existence with pride and resilience.