January 25, 2026

World's Coldest Place Gets Its Time in the Sun


World's Coldest Place Gets Its Time in the Sun
Ah yes, Dutch. What a delightfully weird and strangely comprehensible language. FrankVD, YouTube.

On Jan. 23, Russian state news outlet Izvestia reported with pride that a Dutch "survival YouTuber," FrankVD, has brought a new level of attention to Yakutia.

FrankVD, famous for his survival challenges that place him on desert islands, in the middle of the ocean, and deep in the jungle, spent, according to the clickbait-y title of the video, a hundred hours in Yakutia. During his time, he apparently met with locals, visited a local street market (no refrigeration required), experimented with ice, and wondered at permafrost, which had frozen the earth solid more than six feet under the surface. He even tried an ice bath.

Yakutia, and its capital, Yakutsk, are among the coldest places on earth, with average annual temperatures of just 17.6 degrees Fahrenheit. During his time there, Frank experienced temperatures as low as -50 degrees F.

With that in mind, we suppose that spending some time in Yakutsk in January qualifies as a survival video.

Perhaps the best part is the following faux-Dutch comment on the video: "Deze guy is de meest underrated youtuber in Europa denk ik deze man doet zooooo veel extreme challanges en survival's."

It's no wonder that some Yakutians have turned to unique measures to keep themselves, and their livestock, warm.

 

You Might Also Like

Running Out of Doctors and Nurses
  • August 20, 2025

Running Out of Doctors and Nurses

Russia's health care system is running out of doctors, nurses, and hospitals. Some regions have no oncologists or cardiologists.
A Regional Disparity
  • July 18, 2024

A Regional Disparity

Authorities spent ten times more money on barrage shelters in Moscow and the Moscow Oblast than in regions bordering Ukraine.
Wacky Winter Weather
  • February 26, 2020

Wacky Winter Weather

The weather has been all over the place in Russia, and future forecasts predict more of the same.
Bovine Brassieres
  • December 30, 2020

Bovine Brassieres

A dairy farmer in Russia's coldest village has found a way to keep his cow's udders warm in the dead of winter.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955