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The Coldest City in the World: Yakutsk — Reading Comprehension

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MS-ESS2-1

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This NGSS-aligned science passage introduces middle school readers to Yakutsk, the coldest city on Earth. Students will discover how people live in this extreme environment, what permafrost is, and how buildings are designed to prevent thawing the frozen ground. The passage also connects to climate science, highlighting how melting permafrost can release greenhouse gases and how scientists study ancient fossils preserved in the ice. It is ideal for teaching about Earth's systems, human-environment interaction, and adaptation in extreme conditions. This reading activity supports NGSS standard MS-ESS2-1 and enhances science comprehension skills.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Yakutsk is known as the coldest city on Earth. Located in eastern Siberia, Russia, it lies just below the Arctic Circle. Winters in Yakutsk are extremely cold, with temperatures dropping as low as -50°C (-58°F). The average winter temperature stays around -40°C (-40°F) for months. Because of this, Yakutsk has become an important example of how people can adapt to extreme climates.

The city sits on permafrost, a layer of soil that stays frozen year-round. Buildings in Yakutsk are constructed on stilts or raised platforms so that the heat from inside doesn’t melt the ground beneath. If the permafrost melts, it can damage roads, pipelines, and buildings. This makes engineering and city planning very important in Yakutsk. Scientists also study permafrost here to understand climate change, since melting permafrost releases greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide into the air.

Despite the harsh conditions, over 300,000 people live in Yakutsk. The local people wear fur-lined coats and boots to stay warm and rely on public buses with strong heaters to travel. Cars are often left running to prevent engines from freezing. Schools and businesses operate all year, and life continues, even in the bitter cold. The city also hosts cultural festivals, such as the “Cold Pole Festival,” celebrating life in the extreme north.

Yakutsk plays a role in science, too. Researchers study frozen fossils of mammoths and ancient plants found preserved in the ice. These discoveries help scientists learn about Earth’s past climate and ecosystems.

Yakutsk shows how humans can survive in one of the harshest places on Earth. It reminds us of the power of nature and the need for smart solutions to live with it.

Fun Fact: In winter, people in Yakutsk throw boiling water into the air and watch it turn into ice crystals before it hits the ground!

What is Yakutsk best known for?

Its warm summersBeing the coldest city on EarthBeing a coastal cityIts large deserts

Where is Yakutsk located?

Western CanadaNorthern AlaskaEastern Siberia, RussiaSouthern Norway

What is permafrost?

A kind of Arctic birdFrozen soil that never thawsA type of thick ice sheetWater that freezes in winter

Why are buildings in Yakutsk built on stilts?

To make them tallerTo prevent floodingTo avoid melting the permafrostTo allow snow to fall off easily

What would likely happen if the permafrost melted?

Temperatures would drop lowerPeople would leave YakutskRoads and buildings could be damagedThe city would become warmer

What do scientists study in Yakutsk’s frozen ground?