Yakutsk

The Lena River defines the setting of Yakutsk — its immense floodplain and seasonal ice conditions shape daily life in a city built on permanently frozen ground. Capital of the Sakha Republic, Yakutsk is one of the world’s largest cities in a permafrost zone, where buildings rely on specialised foundations and winter temperatures can be severe. Founded in 1632 as a Russian fort, it developed into the main administrative and cultural centre of northeastern Siberia. Sakha traditions remain central to the city’s identity, particularly during the summer Ysyakh celebrations. View additional webcams nearby to better understand how Yakutsk relates to the Lena River basin and Sakha Republic.

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