2 - Oymyakon

Question 1

Where is Oymyakon?

Answer 1

Siberia

Question 2

What is special about this place?

Answer 2

It’s the coldest inhabited place on Earth

Question 3

How cold does it get?

Answer 3

-60C or lower

Question 4

How hot can it get in summer?

Answer 4

it can rise above 40C

Question 5

What is the consequence of the large variation in temperatures?

Answer 5

unstable ground due to the thawing of permafrost

Question 6

What is one adaptation that improved the durability of buildings?

Answer 6

building on 2m stilts to prevent thawing of permafrost due to the heat from the building

Question 7

Up to how deep can the permafrost be?

Answer 7

1500m

Question 8

What are some of the chllaneges faced by the inhabitants?

Answer 8

• Run out of anesthetics because so many people get frostbite, many amputations, hospitals full of people with frostbite
• Permafrost - can’t have straight buildings
• Gas pipes break from the ice - gas leakage
• Mosquitos (in the summer)

Question 9

What does the economy rely on?

Answer 9

mining - gold and coal

attract workers from Russia for high wages

Question 10

What is the position of the local communities?

Answer 10

They have limited power, they depend on mining for jobs but have minimal say in environmental and political decisions

Question 11

What are the opportunities in Oymyakon?

Answer 11

• Rich mineral deposits (gold & coal)
• employment (mining)

Question 12

What are the challenges?

Answer 12

• Inaccessibility - located in remote arctic circle location, minimal flights and suplly chains
  *Extreme cold - can reach -60C
• Permafrost - requires special engineering for both building foundations and burial practices
• short working season - time avaliable for surface and agricultural activity is just weeks long