Winter in Oymyakon, Russia

© Alexandr Berdicevschi/Getty Image

Northern 'Pole of Cold'. Oymyakon, Russia

Oymyakon, Russia, is one of a few places claiming to be the coldest spot in the Northern Hemisphere, a northern 'Pole of Cold.' Centuries of evolving meteorological technology means some historic cold temperatures are considered more accurate than others. The record for ultimate cold is a hot debate.

Oymyakon's claim may be strongest, though. The Siberian town has a verified low-temperature record of minus 89.9 degrees Fahrenheit in 1933 – though if local lore and a Soviet-era monument are accurate, the true low was notched a decade earlier at minus 96.2.

By the way, the southern Pole of Cold blows all claimants to the northern record away like fresh-fallen snow: Russia's Vostok Station, in Antarctica, once recorded a low of minus 128.6! Think the Russians brought the cold with them?