Verkhoyansk, Russia
Located deep in the heart of Siberia and 3000 miles east of Moscow, Verkhoyansk is one of the coldest cities in the world. Referred to as the Cold Pole, the city is well-known for its endless winters, with the Yana River frozen solid nine months of the year.
Winter temperatures fall between minus 60 and minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and from September to March, the city averages fewer than 5 hours of sunlight every day. For most of its history Verkhoyansk was used as an exile city by czars and Soviets.
Lake Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo/Rwanda
Renowned as one of the great lakes of Africa, Lake Kivu is located along the border between Congo and Rwanda. But deep below its surface, the lake houses over 2.3 trillion cubic feet of methane gas and 60 cubic miles of carbon dioxide, which, if released, can spark a methane explosion, incite lake tsunamis and kill the two million residents that call the basin home. Trying to think positive? The gas will likely be released only if volcanic activity occurs below the lake.
Dallol, Ethiopia
If Verkhoyansk is the coldest city in the world, then Dallol, Ethiopia is the antithesis. Located five hours outside of Ethiopia’s center in the Danakil Desert, Dallol is known by locals as “the Gateway to Hell”. It’s an apt title for the hottest inhabited place on Earth, where temperatures in summer reach up to 148 degrees Fahrenheit.
Average temperatures hover around 94 degrees Fahrenheit, but that’s of little relief to the locals. To add fuel to fire, the rugged region is a revelation of salt flats, active volcanoes and regular earthquakes. Unsurprisingly, given the settlement’s inhospitable climate and lack of infrastructure.
Somalia
Since the civil war began in 1990, Somalia has been divided into over two dozen warring groups. Disease, famine, and ineffective governance have contributed to the rise of terrorist factions, which have further cracked Somalia’s already fumbling foundations, embroiling it in crime and violence.
Famine is a perennially devastating issue in in Somalia, and from 2010 to 2012 it claimed the lives of over 260,000 people. According to an annual ranking by Foreign Policy and the Global Fund for Peace, Somalia is the most failed state in the world. Tourists, suffice to say, are non-existent.