A 300-kilometer highway that exists only in sub-zero temperatures

Nature · Published 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the Russian Arctic, a seasonal road made of ice and snow serves as a vital but perilous lifeline. This video explores the extreme conditions of a route that literally melts away when spring arrives.

Connecting the remote towns of Salekhard and Nadym, this 300-kilometer winter road is a feat of Arctic engineering. It remains navigable only during the harshest months when temperatures plummet as low as -50 degrees Celsius.

The route presents a constant hazard: as temperatures rise toward -20 degrees Celsius in the spring, the ice begins to thaw. This transition transforms the highway into a slippery trap, making it one of the most dangerous seasonal roads in the world.

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