winter Yakutia

A picture of Anastasia Gruzdeva, 25, in deep winter with frosty eyelashes went viral: now she shows her summer look, covered in mosquitoes.

Yakutia in a white blanket as temperatures dip to minus 6C as winter 'comes too soon'.

As temperatures sunk to minus 50C and below, schools and kindergartens were closed for the world's hardiest children.

Elsewhere in Russia’s coldest region desperate authorities spike clouds to induce rain and tame wildfires.

Now the fun begins: tourists swimming in -60C and momentous meeting between the seasonal icons Chyskhaan and Grandfather Frost.

Fast-freezing clothes, hot water fireworks, ice and snow bathing, vodka lollipops, dog sledging - see our report from the Kingdom of Cold.

Topsy-turvy summer swings from Saudi-heat to freezer in Arctic north of Russia’s largest region of Yakutia.

Model Amina Karat, 34, poses on the Saamys-Kumaga sands in Yakutia.