Earth's lowest temperature was measured at a Soviet Antarctic station: −89.2 °C at Vostok on 21 July 1983.

1933 · 1983 · apart: 50 years

The northern Pole of Cold lies in Yakutia, where Oymyakon recorded −67.7 °C in 1933.

◍ Show on the globe

The event

• Record cold at Vostok Station1983 · Antarctica. On 21 July 1983 the Soviet Antarctic station Vostok, founded in 1957, recorded −89.2 °C, the lowest temperature ever reliably measured on Earth. Beneath the station, under almost four kilometres of ice, lies the huge subglacial Lake Vostok.

20th century

More amazing facts

• 1932 The Emu War was the idea of World War I veterans.
• 1932 LEGO means 'play well' in Danish.
• 1932 The commander of the Emu War admired the enemy.
• 1932 · 1969 Claims that the Great Wall is visible from the Moon were printed in 1932, 37 years before anyone got there.
• 1933 · 1938 The chain reaction was conceived to spite Rutherford.
• 1934 Until 1934 people in Turkey were not required to have surnames.

All amazing facts (1064) →