Norilsk, the worst city to live in

Author: Cristi Rules. Translated by: McManus McFry. Category: Tourism


The question of a “non-tourist destination” has never crossed my mind. Well, not until I happened upon one today. The city of Norilsk, in Siberia, was completely off limits to tourists until a short while ago, and that’s not to say that it’s any more accessible now. A permit is required to go in.

Throughout the Web it's known as "The worst city to live". How else would you describe a city where life expectancy is just 46 years old, where low temperature is around minus 55ºC, where snow is black because of pollution and where trees hunch bare and lifeless within a 48 kilometre radius due to acid rain?

Norilsk is a young city that was born into existence with one main purpose: mining development. This has quickly placed it at the world's top ten of the most polluted cities.

The most fascinating thing about this impossible urban phenomenon is the fact that we can't find another city with more than 100.000 inhabitants which is so close to the Pole. It's the biggest, most northern city in the world.

Don't you find the decadence of this city kind of attractive? Isn't it curious?

Below you can watch an interesting video about Norilsk.

We will never be able to see it with our own eyes. Nevertheless, if Norilsk ever was open to tourism, only a few people brave enough would muster the courage to venture deep into this city to discover such a different kind of life.


Original post: La peor ciudad para vivir: Norilsk