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27 - 28 March, 2004
THE POLE OF COLD FESTIVAL
The Pole of Cold International Tourist Festival will take place
in Tomtor, Oymiakon ulus. This is the very region of Yakutia
to be considered as the coldest place in Siberia and the northern
hemisphere. Winter lasts here for 9 months. The lowest temperature
registered in Tomtor is -71,2?C.
The Pole of Cold Festival 2003 is held by the Ministry of
Business and Tourism of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) in cooperation
with the Republic Public Interstructural Executive Committee
on the Pole of Cold that will coordinate international motor
rally.
Highlights
The participation of the well-known symbols of Christmas and
Russian New Year Celebration - Santa Clause (Rovaniemi / Helsinki)
and Ded Moroz (Veliky Ustug, Russia).
The exhibition of traditional cloth, food and art of the
northern peoples.
The Even Reindeer Breeders Competition (reindeer sledding,
lasso throwing, jumping over sledges, and other sport activities).
Special Guests
Centuries have past, but it happened only in
2003. Winter heroes - Santa Clause, of Lapland, and his Russian
colleague Ded Moroz, of Velikiy Ustug, – have eventually decided
to visit the coldest spot in Siberia. Only by now they realized
that WINTER STARTS IN YAKUTIA (the motto of the festival).
By the way, according to the Yakutian legend, the father
of winter is Chyskhaan (The bull of frost – in translation).
Santa Clause and Ded Moroz plan to see Chys Khan on the Pole
of Cold and get his blessing to spread winter across the world.
Santa Clause and Ded Moroz's current mission is to promote
travel opportunities in Yakutia including the Pole of Cold
Destination, to attract investments for the development of
local tourism industry.
For more information check out www.arctictravel-yakutia.com
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23 February, 2004
The Cold Pole became very popular this year.
First travellers at 2004 were group of 5 meteorology amateurs from Germany .
Reinhardt Wurzel, Friedhelm Kohler, Volker Rosenmayer, Reinhard Rasch, Richard Reisser were in Yakutia from January,13 till January, 31. By the way two of them - Wurzel and Kohler - came to Oymyakon for the second time. First time they had come at 1999 and registered temperature – 61,3”C.
 They liked the trip so much that they decided to gather another group and come back. But this time they were not so lucky. The lowest temperature they register at Jan, 19, 2004 was “only -58,9'C”. Meteo hobbyists decided to check another Pole of the Cold – Verkhoyansk. But they “catch” only -54'C there. It seems that very warm acceptance by local people influenced on athmosphere.
More photos:
While the German group was ‘on test' in Verkhoyansk, another group of ‘pioneers' rushed to conquer Cold Pole at Oymyakon. 
That time there was film group of wellknown channel ‘Discovery' consisting of 3 persons: Geoff Mackley, charming Rachael Wilson and Mark Whetu from New Zeland. They were accompanied by translator Rob Walker (USA) and Vyacheslav Ipatiev (TourServiceCenter).
Discovery's purpose was survey of Oymyakon conquer by Geoff Mackley for Dangerman series, that will soon come on Discovery channel. Yes, just Oymyakon examines the courage of such brave man.
For details about this project of Discovery look at
http://www.pioneertv.com/press4.asp
http://www.rambocam.com/siberia.html
http://www.geoffmackley.com/sitedir.html
And already February, 3 next group of pole conquerers went for Oymyakon – meteorologists from Alaska...
But it seems that record of visits will be broken at March 27-28, when annual Tourists Festival starts on Pole, and where traditionally Santa Claus and Chiskhaan (the Lord of the Cold) wellcome guests.
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