How to Survive the Winter
The first week of February of this year brought arctic temperatures to New England, freezing ponds (and pipes), closing schools, and forcing us all indoors to avoid the dangerous cold. The Mount Washington Observatory, perched at the top of the region’s highest peak is no stranger to extreme temperatures. But the 127-mile-per-hour winds that blew in, coupled with a minus 47-degree temperature helped set the record for the lowest wind chill likely ever recorded in the United States (minus 108 degrees).
An image from the Mount Washington Observatory on February 4, 2023 when record-setting wind chills hit the area.
The frigid temperatures that helped set the record atop Mount Washington didn’t last long and now that the sap is running in our maple trees this week it seems we’ll survive the rest of the winter here in New England. I’m breathing a little sigh of relief! But there are plenty of places in the world with harsher winters than what we experience. Recently in our Nature Links classes, we explored what it’s like to live in Yakutia, the coldest place on earth.
Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic, is a vast region located in the northeastern part of Russia. The region covers an area of over three million square kilometers and is known for its extreme climate. Temperatures can drop as low as -60°C (-76°F) in the winter and rise to 35°C (95°F) in the summer.
Experiencing winter in Yakutia requires grit. With temperatures regularly plummeting to -50°F and below during the long winter months, life in Yakutia is characterized by a constant battle against the weather. The people who call Yakutia home have adapted to the harsh climate by wearing layers of warm clothing, and harvesting ice from the Lena River, which freezes solid for half the year (the temperatures are too cold for traditional plumbing indoors).
In a fascinating documentary series, we learned about what it’s like to live in Yakutia during the winter from the perspective of a nine-year-old boy named Arian. The 17-minute episode follows Arian as he readies himself for school in the morning and follows him throughout his day. As long as it’s above -65°F, schools are open in Yakutia! Arian brushes his teeth using melted river ice and dresses for his 10-minute walk to school. As soon as he leaves his home, icicles immediately form on the little boy’s eyelashes. Later that day, Arian chops firewood for his family and goes ice-fishing with his father. Despite the extreme cold and hard work that Yakuts must endure, the boy and his parents speak about their appreciation for their way of life and their connection to nature.
Learning about life in Yakutia sparked a lively discussion among Nature Links participants about the ways in which our own lives are similar to and different from Arian’s. Ultimately, it made us all appreciative of the privileges we enjoy that allow us to stay comfortable, even on our coldest days. Sometimes, all we need is a little change of perspective to feel warmer and a bit more grateful.
