In this chilling documentary‑style video, we explore what happens to the human body in −84°F (−64°C) conditions in Yakutsk, Siberia — the world’s coldest city.
From frostbite, hypothermia, and respiratory challenges, to how locals adapt physiologically through diet, heat, and daily life choices, this is more than survival—it’s adaptation.
You’ll hear first‑hand accounts from people who live in extremes, extracting lessons in human resilience, science, and health.
Whether you're interested in cold exposure science, extreme weather, or human biology, this video delivers insight, research, and stories from the edge of what we can endure.
🔍 Topics discussed include: • How frostbite develops, & how to prevent it • Effects on circulation, skin, lungs & mental health • Adaptation strategies: clothing, housing, nutrition • Long‑term effects of extreme cold exposure
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✅ Learn more: TOC of the video, timestamps below to jump to sections (frostbite / adaptation / mental health etc.).
00:00What happens to our body living in the coldest city on Earth, where winter temperatures can
00:06plumb to minus 64 degrees and a thick fog obscures the sun for most of the year?
00:11This is not a scene from a science fiction movie, but the reality of living in Yakutsk.
00:19I was born and grew up in Yakutsk. Yakutsk is the capital city of the Saha Republic
00:24in the far northeast part of Siberia. The average temperature in January hits minus 50 degrees,
00:31yet in Yakutsk life doesn't stop. We still go outside, go to school and work.
00:38Getting frostbite on hypothermia in Yakutia is almost as common as the cold itself.
00:43I often end up with mild frostbite, especially on exposed parts like my nose and cheeks.
00:49The moment I feel numbness, I often rush to a warm place like a mall or a heated bus station.
00:55But the tricky part about frostbite is that many don't realize they have it,
00:59because it numbs the nerves, causing damage without immediate pain.
01:04In Yakutia, we take this issue seriously and have specialized hospitals. Every year,
01:10thousands of people get help from doctors who know how to handle even the worst frostbite.
01:15Many of those who suffer from severe frostbite, risking the loss of fingers or limbs, are often
01:21homeless people. Surviving in such harsh conditions is nearly impossible, so the government builds more
01:28shelters to provide warmth and protection for the homeless. Another reason people get severe
01:33frostbite is because Yakutia is so big, covering over 3 million square kilometers, which is almost the
01:40same as the size of India. Traveling between villages can take up to 48 hours, and such cold car batteries
01:48can freeze, leaving travelers stuck in the taiga forest, which can be fatal. Sadly, every year about
01:56hundreds of people freeze to death in Yakutia. Vitamin deficiency, especially vitamin D, is also a
02:04significant concern in Yakutia due to our extreme climate and limited exposure of sunlight during
02:11the long winter months. As you might know, vitamin D is crucial for our bone health, our immune function,
02:18and overall well-being. I've been dealing with vitamin D and anemia for as long as I can remember.
02:23I recently finished my vitamin D and iron pills, and I wanted to see if they actually helped. And this time,
02:29I also wanted to take my sister to do the medical checkup, so we went to the hospital together.
02:36Our healthcare system here is quite good. It operates on a universal healthcare model,
02:41supported by government-funded compulsory medical insurance. This ensures that every citizen and
02:47resident has access to a free basic healthcare services. I belong to a private clinic that accepts
02:53compulsory medical insurance, providing a blend of public and private care. While consultation
02:59with doctors are free, some tests do require a fee, although is not usually high. Getting a blood
03:06biochemistry and vitamin D tests only cost me $90. The insurance covers a wide range of essential
03:13services such as emergency care, hospital stays, diagnostic procedures, disease treatment, and maternity care.
03:22While we wait for our results, let's talk about another common issue here, and it's a seasonal
03:27affective disorder. In winter, the lack of sunlight and the constant cold can really get you down.
03:33It's tough to even step outside when you need to bundle up in hundreds of layers, so we spent quite
03:39a lot of time indoors. But staying indoors all the time can make you really feel tired, sleepy, and I can
03:45feel how my mood is dropping. Finding help for mental health is not easy in Yakutia, especially in the remote
03:51areas. But even in Yakutsk, I don't really know where to go to see a therapist, and not many people
03:57here are used to the idea of talking to a therapist. That's why I've been using BetterHelp, and it's been
04:02a huge help to connect to a therapist online, and this is a paid partnership with BetterHelp. I've been
04:08in therapy for more than one year already, and having a therapy session has helped me understand myself
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05:06The extreme cold in Yakutia can also cause health problems like infertility. Dressing warmly is crucial,
05:13but some teenagers choose style over warmth, risking their health and future fertility due to the cold
05:20affecting their internal organs. Infertility here can also arise from vitamin deficiencies,
05:27often because we don't get enough vitamins from our diet, especially vegetables.
05:33Having a baby can be challenging, but the government offers strong support for families. Giving birth is free,
05:39a new mom can stay in the hospital for up to a week to recover. They also get a generous maternity leave
05:46of up to 140 days with paid plus additional unpaid up to 3 years with job protection. Plus the government
05:54provides a monthly allowance which is about 40% of the mom's salary until baby is one and a half years old.
06:02And for each child, families receive financial support of $9,000 for the first child and $2,800 for each
06:12additional child. In Yakutia, the freezing air can also really stress your breathing. And it's also
06:19the most common health problem we face. So during the really cold days here, we often cover our face
06:25completely and it's not only protect our skin, but it also protects our lungs. And I also heard many times
06:31from the newcomers who came to visit Yakutia for the first time how the air in Yakutia is difficult to breathe.
06:39Recent studies have also shown that we in Yakutia tend to age faster. While cryotherapy is known for its
06:46health benefits, including slowing down aging, our situation is more complex. Research has found that
06:53our long-term adaptation to the harsh climate leads to us biologically aging three to four years faster
07:01than Caucasians. This accelerated aging is believed to be due to our increased metabolic rate as our bodies
07:08work harder to generate the energy needed for the warmth. It's a very interesting studies because I always
07:14thought that living in Yakutia is slowing down our aging. And I'm wondering what do you think about my age?
07:21You can write down your guess in the comments. And if you guess my age, I will give a like. So let's go back to
07:28the day when we received our test analysis and let's see how everything turned out.
07:33So we have got our analysis. Our vitamin D is pretty low. Mine is a bit higher than Diana. Diana's is like 27.5 and the minimum is 30, but mine is
08:0238.9.
08:04So thank you so much for watching. Be healthy and I hope you enjoyed this video and see you in the next video. Bye!
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