Yakutsk: 10 Interesting Facts

This chapter highlights the beauty and mystery of the capital of Russia's largest and coldest region...

Yakutia is an amazing permafrost region located in the northern part of Eastern Siberia. More and more tourists are eager to visit this far northern region every year in order to experience the extreme cold, immerse themselves into the local culture and explore the region's natural treasures such as the famous Lena Pillars Nature Reserve, sand dunes of Tulukany, the Buluus Glacier and more.

Yakutsk serves as the starting point for most travelers exploring this region. Here, everyone can find something that appeals to them: History buffs will be thrilled by the Mammoth Museum, which presents unique paleontological discoveries. Those who are eager to immerse themselves in the northern atmosphere, should head to the ice cave museum, Kingdom of Permafrost, located just 10 kilometers from the city. Even in summer, temperature stays below zero, so it's recommended to take warm clothing to fully enjoy the exhibition.

We have gathered some captivating facts about Yakutsk that are bound to surprise you:

1. Yakutsk is the oldest city in Siberia. It outdates Novosibirsk by 261 years and Irkutsk by 29 years.

2. Yakutsk is a prime example of a city with a sharply continental climate. The average January temperature hovers around -40 °С, but it can drop to -60 °С. At the same time in summer, the city warms up to +40 °С. As a result, the annual temperature range approaches nearly 100 °С there.

3. Due to harsh weather conditions, Yakutsk airport is frequently closed to incoming flights.

4. Although there aren't any ancient monuments in Yakutsk, you can get a glimpse of what the pre-revolutionary city looked like in the Old City district. There are replicas of residential and administrative buildings of the XIX century, which were carefully recreated from photographs and paintings after the devastating fire.

5. Mas-wrestling is a national sport popular not only in Yakutia but worldwide. During competitions, participants sit opposite each other, pushing their feet against the board and tugging on a short wooden stick, engaging various muscle groups. Since 2014 Yakutsk has been the host of the World Mas-Wrestling Championship.

6. Buses and minibuses are the only means of public transport available in Yakutsk. The city lacks a railway system, so a trip from Moscow by train will take you only to Nizhny Bestyakh station, located 30 km from Yakutsk.

7. Yakutsk is home to the world's only museum dedicated to Khomus (Jew's harp) music, collecting over 1,700 khomus and rare relict instruments from musical folklore of various cultures.

8. Yakutsk is frequently nicknamed the city on stilts, as most of the buildings are constructed on piles, extending about 6 meters deep, due to permafrost. This is done to prevent the buildings from heating the ground and disrupting the stability of the construction.

9. Yakutsk has a library for blind and visually impaired people founded in 1967. It offers people access to books in any available variety of formats and mediums. Today, over 2,000 people take advantage of its services.

10. The famous Shergin shaft lies at the center of Yakutsk, a significant monument in Russian history and science, reaching the depth of 116.6 m. In 1827, a merchant Fedor Shergin began excavating the yard of his house on Kulakovsky Street. This shaft is well-known, as the first-ever negative rock temperatures were measured here.

Yakutsk is truly the northern gem of Russia, filled with so many secrets and mysteries waiting for you to explore. A visit is a must if you want to appreciate this city! Did you know that Siberia is not only vast but also incredibly diverse?