Oymyakon / Road of Bones in winter 2009

Short stop with car at shaman sacrificial pole between Tomtor and Oymyakon, Eastern Russia, January 1 2009. Outside temp ca -45 C. The man in red parka refused to leave a cigarette to the genius and two weeks later fell seriously ill with heart failure! Don't mess with the spirits... (He has now recovered)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Oymyakon
• Tomtor
• Cold
• Winter
• Snow
• Shaman
• Sacrifice
• Yakutia
• Russia

[Kriegru]

there's very dry air in that area, so -40 C feels like about -17 C in Moscow (without wind), it's not that cold. But -35 C in Moscow (with much more humidity) with a good wind produce pretty unforgettable feelings: imagine -25-28 C in Helsinki or Stockholm and you'll get the picture.

[AndreGrisell]

@Kriegru Well, that's actually not true. At those low temperatures, the air can't retain almost any humidity at all. Any water will condense. This physical law is valid as well in Moscow as in Oymyakon. The relative humidity when we were there was around 70%, but in absolute numbers, the water content is negligible. The reason it feels colder at -30 in Moscow than in Siberia is purely psychological and has to do with expectations only. This illusory effect has been scientifically proven.

[dazzini82]

BULLSHIT!!! Its only about -20 or maybe -30!!! U lying bastards! U wud be dead in 5 mins opened up like that!!! BTW what a rap video!

[AndreGrisell]

@dazzini82 Oh, yes? Well, check out the official weather data for Oymyakon on Jan 1, 2009, then! For instance on wunderground com. If you don't know how, you can ask a friend of yours to show you.

[japtca]

@AndreGrisell i saw your videos from Siberia. So, wich one is colder, Oymyakon or Verkhoyansk?

[AndreGrisell]

@japtca Well, they haven't sorted that out yet. It's obviously one or the other, although there are several other places in Yakutia that are almost as cold. My guess (only a theory) is that Verkhoyansk is more 'stable' in the winter, with temperatures more or less constantly below -45 C in December-January. In Oymyakon it's not extremely unusual with temperatures in January of -20 C. On the other hand, when it gets cold in Oymyakon, it gets REALLY cold there. -60 C happens a few days every year.

[AndreGrisell]

@japtca Today, for instance, November 29 2010, it's -53 C in Oymyakon according to the Russian Weather service (currently the coldest place on Earth since it's summer in Antarctica!), but "only" -46 C in Verkhoyansk.

[tiestocronaldo]

well, you cannot hide in bushes because steaming breath at those low temperatures :)

[LegendaryxEyes]

I checked the temperature of Batagay and right now it says it's -43 or so, on the 13th of December. And the site says that it's the coldest place at the moment. But wow, it really does look beautiful out there.

[999myname999]

NOT MINUS 45 NA NA ITS LIKE MINUS 30 TO THE MAX UR HEAD WOULD HAVE FROZEN IN OPEN LIKE THAT

[lokkstokk]

@dazzini82 hey man, I was born there and I have lived for 17 years in that place. Don't talk shit, we DO have -40 and below each winter. And it's completely normal as long as you are used to that and when you have enough clothes on you:)