Friday, Mar 29 2024
All Cities
Choose Your City
'The few descriptions of Irkutsk had spoken of it as the Paris of Siberia'
0

Classes cancelled at the world’s coldest school as temperature in Oymyakon plunges to -60C

By 0 and 0 and 0
03 December 2021

0

Elsewhere in Yakutia schools stay open until it reaches -50C while primary age pupils can skip classes at -45C. Picture: Spiridon Sleptsov

Unlike the rest of Yakutia, the senior pupils in Oymyakon are expected to attend unless the air temperature goes below -55C. 

The youngest students, aged from seven to eleven, are allowed to stay home only when the weather goes to bone-freezing -53C. Any milder than this, and there’s no excuse for missing classes. 

This week saw all 107 pupils of Oymakon secondary school named after Nikolay Krivoshapkin miss school on Wednesday and Thursday.

The wooden school was built in 1932; it serves Oymyakon and two nearby villages - Khara Tumul and Bereg Yurde.

Classes cancelled at the world’s coldest school as temperature in Oymyakon plunges to -60C


Classes cancelled at the world’s coldest school as temperature in Oymyakon plunges to -60C


Classes cancelled at the world’s coldest school as temperature in Oymyakon plunges to -60C


Classes cancelled at the world’s coldest school as temperature in Oymyakon plunges to -60C


Classes cancelled at the world’s coldest school as temperature in Oymyakon plunges to -60C
Secondary school at Oymyakon, the world's coldest permanently inhabited place in Yakutia, and the outdoor views of Oymyakon. Pictures: Semen Sivtsev, The Siberian Times


Lessons start 9am when it’s still dark, as December sun rises only by 10am, and finish 5pm when it is already dark.

Pupils walk to school with their parents and often with dogs, too; students from the neighbouring villages take a bus. The ride takes approximately fifteen minutes. 

We at The Siberian Times had a special greeting from two of the school seniors students, Vera Shpneva and Sayaana Vinokurova, who made a short break between their Zoom lessons to arrange a hot water ‘fireworks’ display in the -60C cold. 

‘The temperature today is -60C, it’s very cold and we are not at school, though lessons continue by Zoom. 

‘We would like to run out quickly to shoot a short video for you, with hot water fireworks as a special greeting from -60C at Oymyakon!’, Sayaana said. 

-60C hot water firework from Vera (right) and Sayaana, left, two senior school pupils at Oymyakon secondary schoolClasses cancelled at the world’s coldest school as temperature in Oymyakon plunges to -60C   

The hot water firework recipe from Sayaana and Vera (it might require a visit to Yakutia!): 'Take a cup of hot water, make sure the outside air temperature is below -35C, and carefully (!) throw the hot water in the air to create a stunning ‘firework’ over your head’.

Elsewhere in Yakutia schools stay open until it reaches -50C while primary age pupils can skip classes at -45C.

Tags:

Comments (3)

Wow! Thanks for sharing. I am in awe!
Helena, Massachusetts, USA
06/12/2021 01:19
7
0
"Shiver me bones" that feels freezing cold from here...but the pictures are beautiful to look at & girls you're both stars "Take a Bow".
Jaker, Dundalk
05/12/2021 12:42
6
1
Thanks, Vera and Sayaana for the beautiful fireworks! Keep up the good work of studying! Best wishes, from Lene in Denmark.
Lene, Denmark
04/12/2021 03:47
9
1
1

Add your comment

We welcome a healthy debate, but do not accept offensive or abusive comments. Please also read 'Siberian Times' Privacy Policy

Name

Town/Country

Add your comments

The views expressed in the comments above are those of our readers. 'Siberian Times' reserves the right to pre-moderate some comments.

Control code*

Type the code

* obligatory


News

Business

The Bank of Russia official exchange rates of foreign currencies
EUR99.53USD92.37GBP116.65Other...