Yakutsk, a city in Siberia, is renowned for its extreme cold, with temperatures recorded as low as -64.4°C, making it the coldest city in the world. Located on permafrost, the city's buildings are constructed on stilts to prevent the ground from melting beneath them. Yakutsk's economy is heavily reliant on the diamond mining industry, with the Alrosa group operating eleven of the twelve Russian diamond mines in the region. These mines supply about 20% of the world's raw diamonds, and the city's infrastructure and economy are largely funded by Alrosa, a company directly controlled by the Russian state. Yakutsk experiences a long winter that lasts from October to May, with average January temperatures around -40°C. In January 2023, the temperature dropped to -62.7°C, a record not seen in twenty years. The city also has extreme summer temperatures, with averages exceeding 26°C in July, giving it the world record for the greatest annual temperature range. The region is also rich in oil, gas, and gold, adding to its economic potential. Yakutsk is six time zones east of Moscow and lacks direct rail connections. It is linked by the "Road of Bones," a road built by prisoners of the Gulag under Stalin's regime. The city's economic future is vulnerable to fluctuations in global diamond prices and the depletion of accessible diamond deposits. Journalist Sylvain Tesson wrote about Yakutsk in 2011 for Le Figaro, and a niche extreme tourism industry has developed, with agencies offering expeditions to the region. Nearby, the village of Oymyakon holds the record for the lowest temperature in a populated area, with -71.2°C, but it is too small to be considered a city. Despite its harsh conditions, Yakutsk remains a place of fascination, drawing attention for its extreme climate and unique economic and historical significance.