A Day in the Life of a Family in the Coldest Village on Earth (−64°C, −84°F) Yakutia, Siberia

kiun b

Description  Hi! I'm Kiun B, I was born and grew up in the coldest city on Earth - Yakutsk 🥶   I'm a native Siberian and I'm here to share some stories and crazy experiences of growing up in the coldest inhabitant region on Earth, Yakutia.   Welcome to my channel 💙

Transcript

00:007 a.m. In a frozen remote village in Yakutia, the temperature dropped to minus 54 degrees Celsius.

00:13Despite the chilly weather, life here doesn't stop. Alena, a mother of three,

00:18begins her morning routine by waking her children.

00:23Eight-year-old Sayana, the eldest, is a primary school student.

00:28But due to today's extreme cold, the school has closed its doors.

00:32Meanwhile, the nursery that six-year-old Kunnei attends keeps its schedule unchanged,

00:37unaffected by the harsh conditions outside. This means Kunnei must still go to nursery.

00:44Alena, a middle school teacher, faces the daily challenge of getting her children ready

00:49and herself to work on time. Her workday starts at 8 a.m. and both the nursery and her school

00:56still operate despite the freezing temperatures, meaning Alena and her children do not have the

01:02option to stay at home today.

01:10The preparation for leaving the house is meticulous. Sayana, although her school is closed today,

01:16dresses warmly to accompany her mother and her siblings to the nursery.

01:20The family layers up with thermal wear, multiple sweaters, heavy coats and accessories that covers

01:27every inch of exposed skin. The youngest, two-year-old Ersan also attends a local nursery school.

01:39In Yakutia, it's typical for children to start daycare as early as two months old

01:44and continue until they begin primary school at age 7.

02:01The family sets out on their cold, dark walk to the nursery. The morning remains dark because the

02:08sun only appears for a few hours each day during the winter.

02:15The children hardly ever see daylight, spending most of their time inside, save from the severe cold outside.

02:31In Yakutia, even a 10-minute walk can be challenging,

02:34as the cold seeps through any layer of clothing.

02:58Finally, Alena and her children reach the nursery.

03:01The severity of the cold becomes evident, as she noticed that little Ersan is complaining of pain

03:06in his fingers from the cold air. A reminder of the tough conditions these children often face.

03:13In Yakutia, nurseries usually serve children from 2 months up to age 7. These centers help teach reading,

03:34writing and basic math before the children start school.

03:38Nurseries usually operate from 8am to 6.30pm. They are often public, funded by the government

03:46and free of charge, making them accessible to everyone. Meals are also provided on a crucial part

03:53of the day. Children eat four times a day at the nursery school, which includes first breakfast,

03:58second breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, ensuring they receive enough calories to cope with the harsh winters.

04:07Many public buildings, including schools and nurseries in Yakutian villages use central heating systems,

04:14unlike the houses. These systems are usually powered by centralized boilers

04:19that distribute heat through a network of pipes with coal often used as a fuel.

04:32Alena and her family live in the western part of Yakutia,

04:36the coldest region on Earth, home to about 10,000 inhabitants.

04:40Here, the winter are long and harsh, yet residents continue their daily routines,

04:46braving the frigid temperatures to head to work. Primary schools suspend in-person classes

04:51when temperatures drop below minus 45 degrees. Susayana is attending her classes from home today.

05:10Despite the severe cold, Alena, Sayana's mother is at work today. The middle school, unlike the primary

05:20schools, remains open and its students are attending classes in person. Alena is a music teacher and teaches

05:29her classes in Sakhal language, native to the residents of Yakutia. The Sakhal language is part of Siberian

05:35and Turkic branch of the Turkish languages and is spoken by around 450,000 native speakers.

05:41Locals are typically bilingual, fluent in both Russian and Sakhal.

06:05In the afternoon, Radomir, the father of the house, returns from work. He works as a cameraman for

06:16a local TV channel. While his wife Alena and their children are out, Radomir ensures that the home

06:22stays warm by tending to the stove. During the cold winter days, he fires up the stove four times daily

06:31to maintain a comfortable temperature. In addition to the heating stove, Radomir and his family use a

06:39heating boiler to warm the house. This setup costs them about $300 each month for heating and electricity.

07:01In the village, many families engage in cattle breeding and share the yield with their friends

07:12and relatives. Throughout the summer, Radomir helps his relatives with hay harvesting, which is crucial

07:19for sustaining their cattle through the winter. In return, Radomir receives meat from his relatives,

07:25which will sustain his family throughout the year. Now Radomir plans to take the frozen meat to a meat

07:34cutting station, where it can be properly cut and stored for the upcoming winter.

07:55So, here on the summer, Radomir wants to take the frozen meat.

07:58So he's not going to make the frozen meat.

07:59So, your friends, your friends, areråds, the dead and alive.

07:59So the king is breaking down, and the family's children.

08:08But what is his family doing?

08:17So, did you want to keep their own story?

08:17How good are you here with them?

08:22Meanwhile, after returning home, Alena takes over caring for her children.

08:26She reads them tales in Saha language,

08:28ensuring they stay connected to their culture and mother tongue.

08:33Alena dedicates most of her time to teaching her kids.

08:36She nurtures their musical talents by teaching them to sing and play the piano.

08:52Alena and Radomir believe that providing love, warmth and kindness

09:07is essential to giving their children the best upbringing.

09:11In Yakutia, families are usually very close-knit,

09:14with parents offering unwavering support to their children throughout their lives.

09:19This support often continues as the children start their own families,

09:24and when the parents grow older and need care,

09:26it's common for them to live with their children, who then take care of them.

09:31It's uncommon for elderly people to go to nursery homes,

09:34and there are only a few such facilities available.

09:40In the harsh climate of Yakutia, where winter temperatures often plummet to extreme lows,

09:45managing the water supply is crucial for both survival and comfort.

09:50Nikander, a dedicated waterman, works every day to provide water for the residents.

09:56The cold environment presents unique challenges for water systems.

09:59Nikander stick to the traditional water supply system,

10:03getting water from a nearby river.

10:05This method continues to be prevalent due to the small population

10:09and the challenges of installing modern plumbing, as pipes often freeze.

10:15To ensure a reliable source of hot water, many homes and buildings in Yakutia,

10:20including Alena's family's home, are equipped with water boilers.

10:24These boilers are essential not only for domestic activities,

10:28such as cooking, cleaning and bathing, but also for heating the home.

10:32Alena pays 25 dollars each time for 2 cubic meters of water,

10:38and monthly they use 6 cubic meters of water, which is 75 dollars a month.

10:51With the water now being delivered, Alena is set to prepare dinner.

11:05Using the beef that Radomir had previously prepared,

11:08she begins cooking a hearty beef soup. Soup is a staple in this frigid climate,

11:13as it provides essential warmth to both body and soul during the cold days.

11:21To save water, Alena and her children wash the dishes in a bowl.

11:28From an early age, Sayana and Kunei have been actively helping around the house.

11:35They assist with washing dishes, cleaning and cooking.

11:38Even their younger brother Ersan is learning the importance of contributing to the household chores.

11:51This evening, Alena is preparing a nourishing meal, consisting of a hearty soup and traditional Yakut pancakes for dinner.

12:00This is a glimpse into the life of a family living in one of the harshest environments on earth.

12:25Yet, they find joy and warmth in their familial bonds and the comfort of their home.

12:43This evening, I'll be happy to meet you at the time of a meal.

12:46When the food comes at the home, I've been watching a laboratory for different walks of life.

12:52I've been praying for the day of my husband.

12:52And I've been praying for the day of his life.

12:54I have been praying for the day of your home.

12:57I cannot help you in a hospital without saying that.

12:57Lord have been praying for the heart.

13:01I have been praying for the day of my family.

13:03I have been praying for the day of my art.

13:04I am praying for the day of my child.

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