This mini-documentary about the coldest city in the world is so charming

Kiun B’s YouTube videos are mini-documentaries about her life and the lives of the 800 people who live in her hometown of Yakutia, Siberia, also known as the coldest city in the world. The creator, who narrates the videos, says she and her community are from the region. The enchanting mini-documentaries show their customs, culture and daily life – which looks very different when it is 95 degrees Fahrenheit below zero outside.

This episode follows a family throughout the day, including waking up before the sun to feed the oven fire and melt ice for drinking water. They put on layers and layers of insulated clothing to walk short distances outside – or long distances, in the case of the schoolchildren who bundle up to commute to class every day. The stories are humbling, especially when you sit in your cozy home and watch the Yakutians do so hard and backbreaking work to keep their homes running through the winter. (Don’t worry, it gets hot in the summer – and there’s a video about that too!)

This documentary has that easy, informative Nat Geo vibe that makes it an undeniable family viewing experience during the holidays, for example. But the creator and narrator, originally from Yakutia, gives it a more grounded tone and of course a better insight into life in the city.

While it’s never a good idea to put an entire culture on one YouTube channel, I knew nothing about Yakutia or the contemporary lives of Siberia’s indigenous people before watching these videos, and they introduced me to something that I might have done. never learned anything else. And who hasn’t wondered how the people living in the harsh climate of Siberia make it all work? Getting that question answered – and learning how those people thrive from a cold I can’t even imagine – is a great way to spend 20 minutes.