Swimmers braved -22°F and dove into icy waters in Yakutsk, Russia, known as the world's coldest large city, in a tradition many believe boosts immunity. | Reuters

Yakutsk (Якутск) is Russia's capital of the Sakha Republic in Siberia, famous as the world's coldest major city, built on permafrost with winters dropping below -40°C, where life adapts with buildings on stilts, cars running constantly, and activities like freezing water turning to ice instantly. Fueled by mining, it's a rapidly growing hub near the Arctic Circle, preserving history in its Mammoth Museum and Permafrost Institute, showcasing life where extreme cold shapes daily routines, infrastr