Science & Technology

Coldest place on Earth discovered

By T.K. Randall
December 9, 2013

Image: Antarctica - Petermann Island
Credit: W. Bulach / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) America's National Snow and Ice Data Centre made the discovery using data from satellite instruments. The recorded temperature is so low that anyone out in it for even a short space of time would see their eyes, nose and lungs freezing up within minutes.The reading of -91C was recorded on Dome Fuji at a height of more than 12,000ft. Antarctica has long held the record for the world's coldest temperatures with the previous record holder being Russia's Vostok research station which recorded a temperature of -89.2C during the winter of 1983.

By contrast the coldest recorded permanent settlement, the Russian village of Oymyakon, has seen temperatures as low as -71.2C. With an average temperature of -50C, the population of 500 people are permanently subjected to some of the worst winter weather conditions on the planet.

Source: Daily Mail

Tags: Antarctica