Kandovan, Iran

Kandovan means “beehive” in translation, and the village looks like anthill from afar. Its residents have been cutting niches in the rock for more than 700 years. Later, these niches were extended. Many caves are used as shelters for sheep and barns. Currently, about 1,000 people live in Kandovan. Their way home goes through steep stairs and narrow streets. Even though living conditions are tough, Kandovan has electricity and internet, and its hotels and restaurants operate during the tourist season.

Coober Pedy, Australia

Coober Pedy, a small mining town, is hidden in the heart of Australia’s deserts. It became world-famous as residents built underground houses in order to hide from terrible heat and dangerous animals. They stand out in the local landscape of orange sun-scorched lands with almost no water.

Besides, Coober Pedy is known as the town of opals: about 30% of the global reserves are concentrated here. An opportunity to make good money has already brought about 1,700 people to these harsh places.

Isortoq, Greenland

Isertoq is a settlement located in 5 km from the Greenland ice sheet. The ground is covered with snow year-round here, while air temperature often reaches -45°C.

The central part is very cold, so people live in small squat houses on the coast which is slightly warmer and not so windy. Also, it is often covered with sea fog.

Isortoq is one of the smallest villages of the Sermersooq commune. According to the latest data, its population is less than 100 people.

Citta di Castello, Italy

Citta di Castello resides on the picturesque slopes of the Apennines in the floodplain of the Tiber River at the northernmost point of Umbria. Every year it turns into a large lake due to rains and mountain mudslides. Most domestic buildings are made of bricks because waters rapidly destroy local sandstone. Nevertheless, about 40 thousand people live here. Mostly, they are old people who cannot afford to move to a better place.

Atacama, Chile

The Atacama is considered the aridest desert in the world. It is located high above the sea level and has a very rarefied atmosphere that intensifies solar radiation. The Humboldt Current cools down the lower layers of the air and restrains rain from falling. Thus, the region’s air humidity is the lowest on the Earth – 0%.

The major part of the desert lays in mountains that do not have glaciers. The rivers coming from the Andes form salt lakes which quickly dry up leaving a thick salt cover. The residents of this area have to use mist eliminators to collect some water.

La Rinconada, Peru

This small mining town resides in the permafrost zone of the Peruvian Andes. It is considered one of the most inaccessible places on the planet. Staying at an altitude above 5,000 meters is quite dangerous for a human. However, people manage to live here. Moreover, they also work in the mining industry.

Despite the harsh climate, lack of oxygen, and tough living conditions, the local population has increased notably over the past decades. Mostly, these people came from the poorest villages to work on a rotational basis. Notably, only one narrow, winding, and very steep road leads to La Rinconada, and it takes several days to get there.

Verkhoyansk, Russia

Verkhoyansk is located in the center of Siberia on the banks of the Yana River which remains frozen most of the year. The sun warms the ground no more than 5 hours a day, and the temperature often drops below -60°C.

In memory of the lowest temperature recorded in January 1885, citizens built a memorial saying “Verkhoyansk – the pole of cold in the Northern hemisphere of the Earth”. That time, the temperature fell to its historical minimum of -67.8°С.

Slightly over 1,000 people live in Verkhoyansk. Interestingly, extreme tourism is becoming popular over the past years.