OYMYAKONSKY DISTRICT: Dozens of runners braved extremely cold temperatures in Russia’s Yakutia region for a marathon run through spectacular forests, with the air temperature hovering around -50C (-58F).
Oymyakonsky district, also known as “Cold Pole” is one of the world’s coldest regions with a permanent human population. Such weather is common for the region in winter, with all-time lowest temperature recorded being -67.7C (-89.9F) in 1933.
While attempting a marathon even in perfect weather conditions poses a serious challenge for an athlete, running it during extreme cold only adds a level of difficulty. Runners were seen with their hair and eyelashes white with snow, and opted for hot water instead of cool for rehydration.
