Picture by Pavol Krhnyavy

The Pole of Cold International Tourist Festival will take place in Tomtor, Oymiakon uluus. This is the very region of Yakutia to be considered as the coldest place in Siberia and the Northern Hemisphere. Winter lasts here for 9 months. The lowest temperature registered in Tomtor is -71.2°C (-96.16°F). The Pole of Cold Festival 2006 is held by the Ministry of Business and Tourism of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).

Pole of Cold, a unique place on the Earth, is located in Oymyakon Uluus (district) of Sakha Republic, Yakutia. This is the only place in the world with permanent, year-round human habitation at such low temperatures. The average temperature of January is - 61°C (-77.8°F). Since 2001 the Annual Pole of Cold Festival takes place there. The major event of the Festival is the auto tour Yakutsk-Oymyakon, 1270km (789mi) of snowy trails including 403km (250mi) of regularity rally. Although this event is an extreme sport it also includes sightseeing, visiting museums, ethnographic complexes and historic places.

>>> More pictures by Pavol Krhnyavy.

Contacts:

• Tel: +7 (4112) 34-09-27

>>> How to call Yakutia