20+ Facts About the Far North That Will Make You Want to Hug a Heater

The north inhabits the popular imagination of many people as an extremely cold country. Now imagine a region, within the territory of that nation, which is seen by the Russians themselves as extremely cold. This is the far north of the biggest country in the world that both scares and fascinates people. Some fall so strongly in love with it that they move there; others flee as quickly as possible, never to return to that icy place.

The uniqueness of the winter cities of the Russian north interested us so much from awesome.club, that we decided to investigate further what life is like in this place with extreme weather. In this post, we are going to share our discoveries and, at the end, we will have a bonus: a place in Russia where whales can be seen close to the beach.

In the Republic of Komi, the same thing happens. We carried out the collection and then returned to the car with two bags full of delicious white mushrooms. © entropic / pikabu

“I was shocked that there were such large seagulls as a fire extinguisher

Heuglin Gulls. That’s what these noisy and chubby birds are called. In the summer, they start making noise at 4 am. © SuperMisha / Pikabu

“I, all made up (it was a Friday), asked my friend: ‘Where are we going to have fun? I’m ready to go.

He replied: ‘let’s stay at home. In Novo Urengoy everyone works and then goes home. People go to big cities to have fun.’

I didn’t believe it. I asked three more times. When I understood that it was neither a joke nor a mistake, I cried.” © Ksushagrach / Pikabu

I live in the Kolyma region. I remember one day it was — 62°С at home (as a curiosity, now it is — 47°С). Anyway, that day, Elementary School classes were canceled when the temperature reached —50°C. The high school students continued to study, but the heaters broke in the cold. After that, everyone stayed at home. © Muhomorph / Pikabu

Some apartments are donated to the municipal government of the city of Vorkuta. One of the administration officials said that citizens donate an average of 1-2 apartments per month.

Once, I answered a call from an unknown number, it was a boy. He said that he had been living in central Russia for a long time, but that he had an apartment in Vorkuta and needed to pay the bills for that apartment. He wanted to get rid of the property. He couldn’t sell because nobody wanted to buy. He asked what he could do. I said: “Look! Look for a homeless person with ID and donate to him”. A month and a half passed. He called back: “I got it”.

In Vorkuta, many buildings are abandoned. On one side of the street, you can see buildings with residents. On the other side, buildings abandoned forever, with broken glass and rubble. © KOT268 / Pikabu

To bring even more joy, each year the city of Salekhard promotes a festival during which, on the facades of buildings, drawings depicting the Arctic are placed. “Icebreaker” ships, the Polar Urals (a mountain range in northern Eurasia) and polar bears with reindeer can be seen.

Cities in the world that are above latitude 45°, with temperatures below zero are “united” in a community called Winter Cities. The community concept is “Winter is your resource.” Community members suggest working on the “permanent winter” concept at all levels: starting with building designs that protect from the wind, to the so-called “February patio”, with cushions, blankets and heaters.

Frozen raw meat or fish, which are then sliced ​​and served with salt

“The bus stops in the far north are not spaces with plastic and iron roofs where people wait for a circular. They are real concrete buildings, like a bunker.”

“In the summer, don’t even come without a raincoat and rubber boots. And don’t forget the bug spray. I forgot and almost made lunch for the mosquitoes. And, in winter, don’t forget your wool-lined boots.” © KOT268 / Pikabu

Icicles form on eyelashes, hair, eyebrows, and beard

The “tanks” are a heritage from the beginning of the oil exploration period, when workers came from all over the country to explore this region. The pioneers settled in wagons and large iron vats to move from place to place with ease. The fact is that, nowadays, many still live in these tanks, in the Salekhard region, because they couldn’t find a better place.

“In the city of Norilsk, it snowed for five days, the volume expected for two months. The snow reached the second floor of some houses.”

“Isolation from the rest of the world limits access to all types of products. Therefore, what arrives in the region has very high prices”

Cucumbers “Masha” — 0.330kg

30 reais / kg (approximate)

10 reais (approximate)

Even in the face of the difficulties imposed by the climate, it is possible to appreciate, here, an incredible and unique nature. An example is the spectacle of beluga whales singing. They are also called polar dolphins. The whales, which are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, can be seen in certain tidal situations from June to August in Mys Belujiy (Cape Beluga), in the Solovetsky Islands (an archipelago in the White Sea). You can watch whales very close to the beach.

Would you like to get to know the north of Russia, with all its cold weather and beauty? We are curious, leave your comment.